FreiLacke looks back on 100 years of company history

The paint manufacturer FreiLacke is celebrating 100 years - from a wholesaler of paints and varnishes in 1926, it has become an international company with roots in the Black Forest, whose system paint solutions are in demand worldwide.

When companies celebrate their roots, they often commemorate courageous founders, decisive turning points and people who have taken on responsibility for generations. At FreiLacke in Döggingen, all of this is part of a history that has now been continuing for 100 years - and which shows how closely regional cohesion and international innovative strength can be combined.

In 1926, Emil Frei senior lays the foundations for what is now one of the most influential industrial companies in the Black Forest. Despite the economic turbulence of the interwar period, he ventured into self-employment and first set up a wholesale business for paints and varnishes. His formula for success: A feel for customer needs, his closeness to people and his determination to develop solutions for challenges and applications were the cornerstone of an extraordinary success story. Even 100 years after the company was founded, this philosophy is still deeply rooted in the company's DNA and is practiced in the daily work of the now more than 650 employees.

As early as 1927, he began his own production in Döggingen - a bold step that accelerated growth. Even the Second World War could not stop the development. In 1947, his three sons joined him and the company grew rapidly during the years of the economic miracle. New halls are built, the workforce grows, and in the 1960s the second generation focuses on new technologies such as powder coatings, electrodeposition coatings and glass-fiber reinforced plastics.

The company continued to grow into the 1990s. The third generation took over in 2003 and set clear priorities: international orientation, sustainable production and a culture of cooperation. Subsidiaries in Sweden, England, Russia and China follow, later also a site in Mexico. Disciplined investments - for example in modern production halls, a new administration building or the expansion of powder coating production - make FreiLacke a globally sought-after supplier.

At the same time, the company remains deeply rooted in the region: with stable jobs, a training rate of around ten percent, social commitment through the Emil Frei Foundation and a corporate culture that has been recognized several times by "Great Place to Work".

Like many SMEs, the years since 2016 have presented FreiLacke with unexpected challenges. The coronavirus pandemic has hit the family business hard: slumps in demand, shortages of raw materials and global supply chain disruptions demand maximum flexibility. A crisis team keeps the business running with a great deal of improvisation and close cooperation. Digitalization steps such as working from home, virtual training days and online communication are accelerating.

As soon as the pandemic is over, the war in Ukraine and geopolitical uncertainties bring new challenges. However, FreiLacke is proving stable - thanks to short decision-making processes, a loyal workforce and reliable customer relationships.

Today, the company generates a turnover of around 180 million euros, more than half of which is generated abroad. Over 650 employees work at the headquarters in Döggingen and at international locations. The system coating solutions that make FreiLacke one of the few manufacturers to develop all relevant coating technologies under one roof are particularly in demand and have significantly shaped the term as a pioneer.

A new Product Technology Center (PTC) is currently under construction, which will combine development, application technology and training. FreiLacke is thus setting the course for the coming decades.

The next 100 years cannot be planned - but FreiLacke has a reliable basis. This includes innovative strength, sustainable action, a broad international network and a family spirit that is deeply rooted in the Black Forest. Many employees have been working for the company for decades, some of them in the second or third generation. Managing Directors Dr. Rainer Frei and Hans-Peter Frei emphasize that it is precisely this mix that makes the company sustainable: "In the end, it's not about technology or key figures. It's about the people. They are the core of our formula for success - then as now."

The next chapter of this Black Forest success story begins just in time for the company's 100th anniversary and the strategic course for the coming years has been set with the new long-term positioning 2032. And once again it is clear that the best ideas and solutions are created where experience, courage and people come together. In its anniversary year, FreiLacke is planning various activities to support social institutions in the region and celebrations for its employees, their families and customers (OM-2/26).