Press Release
New shareholder strengthens Kemetyl Group with two additional production sites, establishing Europe’s largest producer of functional fluids for the automotive industry.
Kampenhout, Soest, December 3, 2024 – The Jodima Group accelerates its European growth with the acquisition of its Swedish-Dutch peer, Kemetyl. The newly formed group, which will operate under the Kemetyl name, will be led by Axel Van Ranst, the current CEO and shareholder of Jodima Group. This strategic acquisition marks a significant step in Jodima Group's growth ambitions, creating new opportunities for both organisations and their customers.
With this transaction, the Kemetyl Group now operates four production facilities across Northern and Southern Europe in Jordbro (Sweden), Soest (Netherlands), Kampenhout (Belgium), and Vilobí del Penedès (Spain).
The new Kemetyl Group strengthens its position as Europe’s largest provider of functional fluids for the automotive industry. With an annual consolidated turnover of €170 million, a production volume of 150 million litres of fluids, and 255 dedicated employees, the Kemetyl Group solidifies its market position. The strong geographic synergy of the two groups, comprehensive expertise and experience across a wide range of markets, forms a robust foundation for future investments and developments. The newly combined group will better serve its customers with increased production capacity and, most importantly, a broader range of products and services.
Left to right: Axel Van Ranst (new CEO), Ole Martin Gustavsen (former CEO)
About Jodima Group
Jodima, based in Kampenhout, Belgium, has been a leading manufacturer of windshield washer fluids, coolants, and cleaning agents for 45 years. In 2022, the company embarked on a European Buy & Build strategy. To financially support and guide this strategy, the Belgian private equity fund PE Capital Group joined as a shareholder in 2022.
A major milestone was achieved in July 2023 with the acquisition of Spanish market leader IADA, a company with over 60 years of experience in manufacturing high-quality automotive chemicals (maintenance and care), with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability.
The acquisition of Kemetyl represents a significant step in realizing the ambitious ‘Buy & Build’- strategy. The new group aims to significantly strengthen its position in Europe while laying the groundwork for expansion into the Middle East and Asia.
About Kemetyl Group
Kemetyl Group is an international enterprise specialising in the production and distribution of chemicals and fluids for various industries. With a strong focus on quality and innovation, Kemetyl Group offers a broad range of products, including windshield washer fluids, coolants, cleaning agents, and fuels. The company serves customers in the automotive, retail, and industrial sectors.
Kemetyl Group has operating companies in Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Belgium, Spain, and India. Its global presence makes it a reliable partner for both major brands and smaller players. The existing locations will retain their local, management teams
New CEO
Axel Van Ranst (53) has been appointed as the new CEO of the Kemetyl Group. With over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry and a proven track record in leading international operations (previously with the publicly traded US-based ITW), he brings extensive expertise and vision. As CEO, he will oversee the existing key management and enhance collaboration between the management teams of both groups.
JODIMA GROUP
- The group's ambition is to cover all of Europe in order to be able to follow and serve its international customers in all their developments.
- International group specializing in the manufacture of automotive maintenance and beautification products.
- Active in the professional and retail sector, the group develops its own brands as well as the “private label” collections of its customers.
- Professionalism, service and product quality are its major assets.
- Jodima Group now has 3 companies spread over 2 production sites located in the Brussels and Barcelona region.
JODIMA, a flagship of the Belgian chemical industry
Jodima is an independent Belgian company founded in 1979. Initially oriented towards the import and trade of automotive accessories, the company quickly specialized in the production and packaging of chemical liquids for the automotive aftermarket.
Currently, the company works from its site in Kampenhout (Belgium) of 10,000m² with the most modern robotic installations to blend, fill and palletize various liquids inside and outside the automotive aftermarket.
Today, Jodima is one of the most modern and efficient companies in Western Europe in the field of production of chemical liquids for both cleaning and functional fluids. The company has also diversified into new areas such as construction and agriculture. The production for numerous reputable international brand owners and wholesale distribution companies under Private Label completes the company's development strategy for numerous international customers in Europe.
This means that Jodima is market leader in the automotive segment in the Benelux and wants to expand its activities to other areas within Europe.
IADA,
a weighty ally
In 1957, IADA was founded with the aim of producing an innovative brake fluid to fit out the Pegaso trucks manufactured by ENASA in Barcelona. Since then, the obsession with quality and technological innovation in the development of new products has allowed the company to adapt to the needs of their customers, both national and export. During these years the product range has been expanded, which has grown to include all types of lubricants, coolants, fluids for power steering, fluids for automatic transmissions, additives, greases and a whole series of products for cleaning and maintenance of vehicles. These have been the pillars on which IADA has consolidated its leadership position in the manufacture and commercialization of chemical products for the automotive aftermarket.
The unstoppable process of evolution in which the automotive sector is, makes it vital to develop a decisive policy of innovation, research and development of new products. 10% of IADA’s staff works in the R&D laboratory and are exclusively dedicated to constantly innovating and improving the formulas of the products.
Today, IADA is market leader in Spain in his segment of Automotive functional fluids.
The company is located in the Barcelona area to efficiently export products from that location to various countries in Southern Europe, North Africa, Middle East and South America.
With the integration of IADA within Jodima Group, the future as an important player on the European market is assured for both IADA and Jodima.
Kemetyl
Kemetyl Group is an international enterprise specialising in the production and distribution of chemicals and fluids for various industries. With a strong focus on quality and innovation, Kemetyl Group offers a broad range of products, including windshield washer fluids, coolants, cleaning agents, and fuels. The company serves customers in the automotive, retail, and industrial sectors.
Kemetyl Group has operating companies in Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Belgium, Spain, and India. Its global presence makes it a reliable partner for both major brands and smaller players.
Contact us
You have a question ? We are here to help you. Send us a message and we'll get back to you.
