ORAFOL, a leading company in the development and manufacture of self-adhesive graphic films, reflective materials, adhesive tape systems and advanced polymer films, has acquited a stake in Belgian specialty film manufacturer Group M.A.M., with plans for 100% ownership going forward.
Orafol's new Hall 10 at Orienberg is the enabling factor for becoming the global leader in the rapidly growing market for solar protection films following the partnership with Group M.A.M.
The technology and plastics specialist Orafol has acquired a stake in the Belgian speciality film manufacturer Group Michiels Advanced Materials (Group M.A.M.) with the aim of taking over 100% of the company in the coming years. From 2025 on, special films that minimise the heat input on glass surfaces will be produced in the new Hall 10 at Orafol's Orienberg, Germany, headquarters.
With the gradual acquisition of Group M.A.M., Orafol is thus integrating a new technology into the company and significantly expanding its product portfolio in the field of climate protection solutions, in its new production facility with the latest technologies.
In a first step, Orafol will offer these new solutions for the building and automotive sectors, followed by solar films for the greenhouse hortucultural sector.
The production environment and capacity in the new Hall 10 at Orienberg is the enabling factor for becoming the global leader in the rapidly growing market for solar protection films.
Depositing metals by 'Sputtering'
Wherever there is glass, there is the need for solar protection filmsThe main technology focus of Group M.A.M. is on metal deposition by 'sputtering', whereby a high voltage electrical field is created around the source material.This electrical field creates Plasma and removes material atoms from the source material. The removed material is then deposited on substrate the target substrate. This technology can be used to equip films with spectrally selective properties. Films with these properties have been developed for building and automotive glazing as well as for greenhouses in order to minimise indoor heat input. In buildings or vehicles equipped with these solar control films, less energy is required for cooling by air conditioning systems. Energy requirements, and therefore also CO2 emissions, can be significantly reduced with these films.
Luc Michiels, CEO of Group M.A.M. says: “The unique combined product properties for solar heat reduction in summer and thermal insulation in winter make our speciality films high-performance solutions for energy management and our company a close partner for architects, contractors and building owners. Together with Orafol, we are creating the opportunity to offer our highly developed technology to a global market.“
In acquiring a stake in Group M.A.M., Orafol is integrating this future technology into the company as it did with the acquisition of American start-up company NUPRO LLC in 2021. These investments mark another milestone for Orafol as a developer and manufacturer of innovative protective films. 
Dr Holger Loclair
Dr Holger Loclair, Chairman & CEO Orafol Group says: “With this acquisition, we are laying the next cornerstone for the sustainable development of Orafol in Oranienburg and worldwide. At the same time, this step underlines our claim as a European high-tech company to be a leader in the future markets of our industry. Against the backdrop of climate change, the consistent use of highly developed spectrally selective films will contribute to efficiently reducing CO2 emissions in various sectors.“
With the construction of Hall 10 at its headquarters in Oranienburg, the company has laid the foundations for processing these special films from Q2/2025. The aim is to achieve the widest possible coating widths, maximum precision of the layers and very high requirements for room cleanliness during production. As a first step,
A partnership of trust between two family businesses
Like Orafol, Group Michiels Advanced Materials (M.A.M.) is a family business that traditionally places a strong focus on technology and quality. Above and beyond the common business objective, this connects the partners and is the basis for the trusting cooperation that is now beginning.
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