Looser Holding
Looser Holding is a company.
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Leadership Team
Key people at Looser Holding.
Looser Holding is a company.
Key people at Looser Holding.
Key people at Looser Holding.
Looser Holding AG is an international industrial holding company headquartered in Arbon, Switzerland, operating in Europe, Asia, and the United States through three main divisions: Coatings, Industrial Services, and Doors.[1][3][5] The Coatings division develops and markets water- and solvent-based coatings for substrates like wood, metals, plastics, stone, and glass, serving industries such as wood flooring, furniture, food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and construction.[1] Industrial Services provides cranes, modular space systems, sanitary units, floor protection, and fencing for construction, industrial, trade, event, and public sectors, often available for sale or rent.[1] The Doors division produces interior doors and frames, including solid wood, veneered, laminated, and all-glass options, targeted at construction, renovations, specialist retail, and building supplies.[1]
By 2016, the company employed around 2,200-2,300 people across 16-20 facilities, with 2015 net sales of CHF 436 million and an EBITDA margin of 14.8%, reflecting consistent financial strength.[2][4] It became a subsidiary of Arbonia AG (formerly AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holding AG) following a full acquisition on September 15, 2016.[1][2][6]
Looser Holding AG traces its roots to 1928, when Elsa and Emil Looser founded E. Looser & Co. in Arbon, Switzerland, initially focusing on agricultural machinery.[2] The company soon diversified into oil burner development and evolved into a leading European manufacturer of furnace installations under the name ELCO Looser Holding AG, with the Looser family retaining about 50% ownership.[2]
Over decades, it expanded into coatings, industrial services, doors, and temperature control, growing through acquisitions like Invado (a Polish doors company) in 2013.[2] Strategic moves included divesting non-core assets, such as the Feycolor Group (industrial and automotive repair coatings) to MIPA Group in March 2014 to refocus on wood, packaging, and non-stick coatings.[2][4] In 2015, it reviewed strategic options, culminating in its full acquisition by Arbonia AG in September 2016, integrating it into a larger industrial group.[2][6]
Looser Holding AG rides trends in industrial manufacturing and construction tech, particularly sustainable coatings (water-based for wood/plastics) and modular services amid rising demand for efficient building solutions in Europe and beyond.[1] Timing aligned with post-2008 recovery in construction and industrial sectors, where its services like fast-erecting cranes and protective systems addressed labor shortages and event booms.[1][2]
Market forces favoring it include globalization of supply chains (Asia/US expansion) and renovation waves in aging European infrastructure, boosting doors and coatings demand.[1][4] As a subsidiary of Arbonia AG since 2016, it influences the ecosystem by enhancing group capabilities in building products, contributing to consolidated industrial efficiency without direct tech innovation focus.[1][6]
Post-2016 integration into Arbonia AG, Looser Holding's trajectory likely emphasizes operational synergies in coatings and doors, leveraging Arbonia's scale for growth in sustainable materials amid EU green building regulations.[1][6] Trends like modular construction and eco-coatings will shape its path, potentially driving margin expansion through tech-infused services (e.g., smart cranes or advanced formulations).
Its influence may evolve toward deeper B2B ecosystem integration, solidifying Arbonia's position in industrial holdings—echoing its 1928 founding as a resilient Swiss industrial pioneer now amplified globally.[2]
