ENGEL is strengthening its technological leadership in foaming by acquiring its long-standing partner, Trexel Inc. Trexel will continue to operate independently, maintaining its own sales, service, and R&D teams.

Headquartered in Massachusetts, USA, Trexel is a pioneer in physical foaming and is renowned for developing and commercializing MuCell technology, a microcellular foaming process used in injection molding. The company will also remain dedicated to the footwear segment without any changes.

“We are convinced that this technology (physical foaming) holds tremendous potential. With ENGEL in the background, Trexel can operate independently while benefiting from the global strength of our group,” said Stefan Engleder, CEO of the ENGEL Group.

Going forward, Trexel will operate as Trexel GmbH, with its headquarters in Austria. The existing sites in the USA, Germany, and China will remain unchanged, ensuring continued sales and service for the global customer base.

(Left) Stefan Engleder, CEO of the ENGEL Group, shared company updates during the press conference at K 2025.

Foaming: A Strategic field for the future

ENGEL has collaborated with Trexel for many years. Together with initiatives in chemical foaming, the acquisition further solidifies ENGEL’s leadership in physical foaming.

“Through this acquisition, we are accelerating the further integration of MuCell into the injection molding process. We also now have the ability to scale more easily — because we are convinced that foaming is a growth market,” added Engleder.

This technology is also a key building block for enhancing sustainability, as foamed products are lighter, require less raw material, and contribute to a reduced carbon footprint.

Turnover expected to drop 7%

In financial year 2024/25, ENGEL achieved a turnover of 1.5 billion euros. For the current year, turnover is expected to decline by around seven per cent to 1.4 billion euros, reflecting the broader economic slowdown in many regions.

“Our industry faces major tasks - from digitalization and skills shortage to the circular economy,” said Stefan Engleder. “We focus on well-thought-out innovations with real customer benefits - and on partnerships at eye level.”

“Every crisis is an opportunity to position ourselves more clearly – by truly listening to our customers and delivering solutions that provide real benefits,” he concluded.