Herkula Farbwerke St. Vith S. A.
Surface treatment
Company Overview and Heritage
Herkula is a venerable company with over 120 years of experience, tracing its origins back to 1894. Owned by a foundation since 2012, the company's core business revolves around the development, production, and distribution of specialized inks, varnishes, and coating materials primarily for the cable and plastics industries. Herkula operates two state-of-the-art R&D laboratories, including one established in Aachen, Germany, in 2018, to foster innovation and develop customized solutions. The company's global footprint extends to over 66 countries, supplying more than 475 industrial companies with its high-quality products.
Specialized Product Portfolio
Herkula offers a comprehensive range of specialized products under distinct brands. The 'FibreCoat' line provides UV inks and UV matrix materials for optical fiber cables, ensuring distinction and protection. These UV inks are compatible with all market-available coloring lines, achieving speeds up to 3000 m/min, and come in 12 standard shades meeting Munsell, BT, and FT specifications, with UV-LED compatibility. The portfolio also includes UV and UV-LED Tight Buffer, Compact Fibre Unit (CFU), and Ribbon matrix materials, offering various mechanical properties, including flame retardant and high-temperature resistant options, with excellent strippability. Herkula also develops 'Continuous Inkjet Inks (CIJ)', including MEK-based and MEK-free series, designed for various plastic substrates like PVC, polyolefinic, PTFE, and silicone, focusing on adhesion, contrast, and stability. These inks are suitable for nozzle diameters between 40-75 µm and frequencies up to 140 kHz. The 'MarCablo' brand provides solvent-based inks for printing and marking on plastic insulated wires and cables, suitable for Gravure Printing, Line Marking, Offset Printing, and Ring Marking on materials such as PVC, PE, and PU, known for their excellent adhesion and high production speeds. For decorative applications, the 'RotoDecor' line offers solvent-based and UV-curing inks and varnishes for printing imitation wood and marble effects on plastic parts, complemented by UV-curing protective coatings for enhanced durability.
Innovation and Customer Collaboration
Herkula places a strong emphasis on innovation and close customer relationships. Its dedicated R&D laboratories work collaboratively with clients to develop bespoke solutions that address specific industry challenges and emerging needs. This commitment is evidenced by its involvement in forward-looking projects, such as the Federal Ministry of Education and Research-funded 'Inertial Fusion (IFE): Materials and Processes – Targetry Hub' project, where Herkula contributes to developing innovative materials for fusion power plant targets. The company actively participates in international exhibitions like Wire Eurasia, Wire India, IWCS, Wire China, and Wire Düsseldorf, demonstrating its ongoing engagement with industry trends and its commitment to serving its global customer base with expertise and cutting-edge products.
