Creating GLOBAL Bonds

Founded by João António Koehler, JAKoehler, Lda. is the first company in Portugal to produce Water-Based Adhesives.

For the first time in Portugal, Hot Melt Adhesives are produced with the signature of Colquímica – Indústria Nacional de Colas, Lda.

Colquimica turns its attention to Hot Melt Adhesives, having specialized in its production at a time when its use was being extended beyond the packaging industry, labeling, and personal care products.

In the 80's the new market demands presented new challenges to Colquimica, which made groundbreaking developments in the production of adhesives for application in personal hygiene products, taking into consideration the specificity of each product.

The 80's also marked the growth of Colquimica in the Hot Melt Adhesives market which led to the opening of a new factory. The new technological base allowed the company to increase its production capacity to more than 5.000 tons per year.

Colquimica enters a new era of its history, with the second generation of the Koehler family joining the company. It is in this year that João Pedro Koehler takes over as CEO and in the year after, Colquimica becomes Colquímica – Indústria Nacional de Colas, S.A., having, for the first time, a shareholder structure.

Colquimica quality standards has always been and will always be one of its greatest commitments. The company is certified according to ISO 9001 standards, which recognizes the organization's efforts to ensure compliance with the legal and quality requirements of its products.

As the new millennium begins, Colquimica's export rate reaches 70%, after the entrance of Holt Melt Adhesives in the Spanish, German and Scandinavian markets.

The company's new plant is opened in Valongo, where all Colquimica’s departments are located, from the Administrative Headquarters to the Research, Development and Innovation laboratories, as well as a renewed factory with larger production capacity.

Colquimica is certified by the ISO 14001:2015 norm, for its Environmental Management System, recognizing the company's response to the international demands of Quality, Hygiene and Safety.

After an increase in volume of results, Colquimica drops the SME title, becoming a Large Company.

In the year when it exceeds 90% in exports, the company is a national finalist in the European Business Awards. Another 2012’s highlight is a further increase in production capacity to 40.000 tons per year, with the installation of new machinery, capable of producing Small Pillows.

Colquimica expands abroad and opens the first facilities outside Portugal. The company launches Colquimica Polska Sp. Z o.o., a factory in Poznań, Poland, increasing the group’s annual production capacity to 60.000 tons per year.

Colquimica has now a new shareholder structure, continuing the family succession process. João Pedro Koehler (CEO) and Sofia Koehler (Vice-President), siblings, have equal shares of the group’s total capital.

The company wins the Navigator Company Group’s best supplier award.

A rebranding strategy was adopted to reinforce the brand’s name and position in the adhesives industry, leading to the new identity – Colquimica Adhesives. The company now presents a restructured product portfolio, reflecting its expertise. This rebranding earned a Bronze distinction at the International Business Awards (Stevie Awards).

Colquimica Adhesives obtains one more certification – ISO 45001; which aims at reducing organizational risk and promoting occupational health and safety.

The Group opens a new industrial unit, Colquimica Adhesives Inc., this time in the United States of America, more precisely in Charlotte, in the state of North Carolina, affirming itself more and more as a global organization.