- Business
- Forbo Holding AG, headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, and founded in 1928, manufactures and sells floor coverings, building and construction adhesives, as well as power transmission and conveyor belt solutions; it operates through two main divisions, Flooring Systems and Movement Systems, with production at 25 sites, six assembly centers, and 47 sales organizations across 39 countries worldwide, employing approximately 5,200 people. The Flooring Systems division provides premium commercial and residential products including environmentally friendly natural linoleum under the Marmoleum brand, high-quality vinyl flooring, entrance flooring systems for cleaning and drying shoes, carpet tiles, needlefelt floor coverings, Flotex washable textile flooring, and Eurocol adhesives such as ready-to-use flooring and tile adhesives plus filling and leveling compounds for construction; these serve public buildings, hospitals, schools, offices, homes, and other environments with a focus on sustainability and market-leading linoleum positions. The Movement Systems division, under the Siegling brand, supplies high-quality conveyor and processing belts, plastic modular belts, power transmission belts, timing belts, and flat belts made of synthetic materials for industrial manufacturing, food processing, fitness treadmills, mail sorting, retail, and service sectors. In recent developments, Forbo reported 2024 net sales of CHF 1,122.0 million amid a challenging market, maintained a double-digit EBIT margin at CHF 120.6 million, generated solid free cash flow of CHF 91.8 million, and invested CHF 46.1 million in property, plant, equipment, and intangibles including expansions at the U.S. Flotex plant and Japan production site; leadership changes included CEO Jens Fankhänel departing in April 2025 due to health issues, interim management by CFO Andreas Jaeger who will exit in Q4 2025, appointment of Johannes Huber as new CEO effective September 2025, and Bernhard Merki as Board Chairman, while sustaining a CHF 25 per share dividend.