Interviews
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7/4/2025
The evolution of Sopro between innovation, sustainability and training
Sopro's general managers Sebastian Kammerer and Jens Schuchmann talk about the company's growth and how to overcome challenges in the German market
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Sopro, part of the Mapei Group since 2002, has achieved steady growth through innovation, sustainability, and strong customer focus. Despite challenges in the German construction sector, it has increased market share through technological leadership and training programs like Sopro ProfiAkademie. The company emphasizes environmental responsibility and supports the labor market with dedicated training activities. Its new sustainable headquarters in Wiesbaden reflects its future-oriented strategy.
It was 2002 when the Mapei Group acquired Sopro, which then had a turnover of 85 million euros and 400 employees. What balance sheet can we make of Sopro's growth?
Sebastian Kammerer: Since the acquisition by Mapei in 2002, we have had an extremely exciting and successful time at Sopro.
We were able to continuously develop and successfully expand our market position. Our investments in modern technologies, research, and sustainable solutions have helped us establish ourselves as a reliable partner for the construction industry in Germany and other European countries.
Today, in addition to its headquarters and production facilities in Germany, Sopro has additional plants in Austria and Poland. Sopro also operates distribution companies in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Hungary. In 2024, the Sopro Group had a turnover of 270 million Euros and employed approximately 720 people. We are very proud to be an essential part of the Mapei Group and to contribute to its success with our expertise and our dedicated team.
In addition to its headquarters and production facilities in Germany, Sopro has additional plants in Austria and Poland. It also operates distribution companies in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Hungary.
How has being part of a multinational group like Mapei helped Sopro's growth? What synergies do you see between the two companies?
Jens Schuchmann: Being part of a multinational group like Mapei has played a crucial role in Sopro’s growth in the last 23 years, providing numerous advantages that have strengthened our market position and expanded our capabilities. The close collaboration between both companies enables a valuable exchange of expertise, leading to greater efficiency and continuous improvement in our products. Mapei’s strong global reputation has also strengthened our credibility, opening new market opportunities. Additionally, the shared supply chain optimizes sourcing, logistics, and cost efficiency, ensuring consistent product availability. With aligned values and a common commitment to sustainability, these synergies have helped us expand, innovate, and better serve our customers.
The new Sopro Bauchemie headquarters in Wiesbaden houses offices, Research & Development laboratories and a training centre. The photo shows a moment from its inauguration ceremony in September 2024.
The German construction market is going through a difficult phase and saw a 6% decline in 2024 and only a very modest recovery is expected in 2025. How is Sopro coping with this difficult economic situation, particularly in the residential construction sector?
Sebastian Kammerer: Yes, we are experiencing a very challenging situation in Germany over the last 2-3 years. The construction industry is very weak due to various, also political, reasons. Residential construction is experiencing a severe crisis in Germany. Building permits in residential construction fell by 26.7% in 2023 and by a further 17.9% in 2024. Sopro is a manufacturer of advanced technologies and materials for the installation of ceramic tiles: this sector accounts for around 85% of our sales. Over the last two years, the tile market in Germany has declined by around 30%.
In these difficult economic times, with unclear political conditions, Sopro was able to generate sales growth of just under 1% in Germany last year and increase its market share in tile technology by 2.5%. The entire Sopro Group was able to increase sales by 2.5% in 2024.
I am convinced that the core of this success is our consistent focus on Sopro's strengths: product innovation, customer service and customer orientation.
With our innovative products coupled with excellent service, we are able to offer our customers the best solutions time and time again. In addition, we have a very loyal customer base, particularly in Germany, which appreciates our products and services. In this context, our Sopro ProfiAkademie training program is also very important to stay in contact with our existing customers and serves as a platform to get to know new customers.
Through Sopro ProfiAkademie we offer various certification programs that bind customers very closely to us and repeatedly highlight the advantages of Sopro-System solutions.
In addition to tile technology, we are now also focusing more and more on the screed, waterproofing, landscaping, road construction and building materials segments, which opens up further sales opportunities for our distribution. In this aspect, too, we can benefit from the broad product portfolio of the Mapei Group.
Despite the current difficult circumstances, we are looking positively to the future and hope that the economic situation will improve in 2025.
3
PLANTS:
Wiesbaden (Germany),
Nowinyi (Poland)
Feldbach (Austria)
5
SUBSIDIARIES
Austria, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, The Netherlands
725
EMPLOYEES
1
HQ
Wiesbaden
270
MILLIONS EURO
Turnover 2024
230,000
TONS
Production capacity per year
What distribution channels do you use for Sopro products? How important is DIY?
Sebastian Kammerer: With the Sopro brand, we are absolutely loyal to the specialist trade. This means that we want to sell the Sopro brand exclusively through the specialist distributors to installers. This is very important to us, and this strategy has enabled us to build up a very good relationship with market professionals in the German specialist trade with this strategy over the last few years.
Of course, the DIY sector in Germany is also very interesting for us and a field that we cannot neglect. We have been serving this distribution channel very successfully for several years with the Racofix brand which is very well known in Germany.
The strategy of using different brands for the two fundamentally different distribution channels has proved to be the right one. We will therefore continue to pursue this strategy.
The new Sopro Bauchemie headquarters in Wiesbaden houses offices, Research & Development laboratories and a training centre. The photo shows a moment from its inauguration ceremony in September 2024.
Sustainability is an increasingly important aspect of the construction market, especially in a country, such as Germany, where concern for the environment has always been high. What is Sopro doing to promote sustainability in construction?
Jens Schuchmann: Sustainability is a core part of our strategy at Sopro, and we are committed to promoting environmentally responsible practices throughout the construction industry. As a company based in Germany, where environmental awareness is particularly strong, we take this responsibility very seriously. Our efforts begin with product development.
We focus on formulating low-VOC-emission, sustainable products that meet or exceed national and international environmental standards. Many of our products carry recognized certifications, such as the EMICODE label issued by GEV (the German Association for the Control of Emissions in Products for Flooring Installation, Adhesives and Building Materials), which underlines their very low emission level of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and their contribution to healthy indoor environments and sustainable building practices.
We also pay close attention to the entire lifecycle of our products — from raw material sourcing and production to packaging and logistics. Our manufacturing processes are continuously optimized to reduce energy consumption, waste, and CO2 emissions.
Beyond our products, we support sustainability by sharing knowledge with the market. Through training and advisory services, we help our partners and customers implement sustainable solutions on-site, ensuring that environmental responsibility goes hand-in-hand with technical performance.
Sustainability is not a trend for us: it’s a long-term commitment that shapes how we think, work, and grow.
There is a large labour and skills gap in Germany, a phenomenon that could undermine the country's growth prospects. How can companies like Sopro contribute to address the shortage of skilled workers?
Jens Schuchmann: The shortage of skilled workers is indeed one of the major challenges facing the German economy, particularly in the construction sector. The handover of the family business from one generation to the next is also a major issue. This is particularly true for the companies specialising in tile installation.
At Sopro, we believe that companies have a responsibility to actively contribute to closing this gap. One way we do this is by investing in training and education.
Through the Sopro ProfiAkademie we offer regular workshops, seminars, certificates and technical support to our customers and partners, helping craftsmen, applicators, and employees in the specialized trade to stay up to date with the latest materials, techniques, and industry standards. This not only supports their professional development but also helps ensure the high-quality application of our products.
Internally, we focus on developing talents through long-term career opportunities within the company. By offering a modern, supportive, and knowledge-driven working environment, we aim to attract and retain skilled workers.
While we cannot solve the national skills gap alone, we are committed to doing our part by sharing knowledge, promoting continuous learning, and supporting the next generation of professionals in our industry.
Sopro has a production plant in Wiesbaden (Germany) with an annual production
capacity of 137,600 tonnes.
What are the prospects for the future of the company? Are you collaborating on major ongoing projects?
Sebastian Kammerer: We have every reason to be optimistic. Even if the economic conditions are still challenging at the moment, we are very well positioned for the future. From our new headquarters, the Sopro Campus in Wiesbaden, we will continue to contribute to the sustainable growth of the Mapei Group. Building on our strong foundation of customer orientation, high-quality service, and innovative products, we are well positioned to continue growing in the European market. With a clear focus on innovation, we will keep expanding our product portfolio — not only within our core tile segment but also into new areas of the market such as screeds, waterproofing, landscaping, road construction and building materials. At the same time, we remain committed to supporting our customers through technical expertise, personalized service, and practical solutions tailored to their needs.
We also see ourselves as a partner in the industry’s development. By offering training and education through our Sopro ProfiAkademie, we contribute to closing the skills gap and raising the standard of craftsmanship. Our long-term commitment to sustainability ensures that we are not only meeting today’s demands but also shaping a more responsible and future-oriented construction industry. We look to the future with confidence, guided by innovation, sustainability, and our commitment to our customers and partners.
A new sustainable headquarters
The new headquarters of Sopro Bauchemie is located in the German city of Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt. Opened in September 2023, the new headquarters covers an area of 20,000 m2 and houses administrative offices, Research & Development laboratories and a modern training centre. The complex consists of five interconnected buildings surrounding a large courtyard. The first building houses the main entrance and offices on three floors, while the second building houses the new training centre and canteen. The third building houses the test room and all related facilities. The modern Research & Development laboratories are located in the fourth building, while the fifth houses technical services and the warehouse.
The project, designed by Onsitestudio, took into account both the functionality of the structure and its impact on the environment. The new building is equipped with a photovoltaic system, charging stations for electric vehicles, over 100 bicycle parking spaces and an efficient wastewater management system. These and many other measures have contributed to the fact that Sopro headquarters applied for a gold certification according to the DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council).
This new, modern headquarters enables Sopro to respond even better to local market requirements and continue to grow sustainably in Germany, providing customers with innovative, durable and high-quality solutions.
All-round support for professionals
To complement the support it offers to professionals in the sector, Sopro has created ProfiAkademie, a comprehensive training programme that enables applicators, distributors, retailers, designers and other professionals working in the construction industry to enhance their technical skills and learn about and adopt more sustainable and innovative methods and materials. Since October 2024, many of the ProfiAkademie's activities have been taking place at the Sopro Campus in Wiesbaden: a state-of-the-art facility offering courses, workshops and certifications, ensuring that participants are constantly up to date with the latest installation technologies and sustainable solutions to many of the issues they encounter in their work.
The training programme is divided into several areas of specialisation:
- Seminars for retailers: courses on products and technical solutions for more effective customer advice;
- Workshops for installers: practical courses to improve installation techniques and obtain Sopro SystemProfi certification;
- Seminars for designers and technicians: in-depth analysis of issues relating to waterproofing and installation techniques;
- Webinars: online training events;
- Certification for installers: courses with official recognition.
All seminars can be easily booked by customers via a digital registration platform: sopro-profiakademie.com
Sopro actively participates in the main trade fairs in the sector, first and foremost BAU, which attracts 18,000 visitors and 2,200 exhibitors to Munich every year. At the 2025 edition of this important event for the construction industry, Sopro participated with a stand that attracted many visitors. The public showed interest in both the demonstrations held several times a day and the new products on offer, such as adhesives for laying large-format ceramic tiles, coloured grouts and materials for waterproofing substrates.
Every two years Sopro dedicates Sopro Profi-Day to its customers, business partners and employees, an event featuring presentations and practical demonstrations on issues relevant to installation professionals, such as the most suitable materials and technologies for bonding ceramic tiles and stone onto heated screeds, the search for qualified personnel and, as in the case of the 2025 edition, the importance of expertise and training. The title of the latest Sopro Profi-Day was “Knowledge is force”, with clear references to the Star Wars film in the decoration of the venue and the T-shirts given to participants at the event. The event proved to be an excellent opportunity for networking and training.
At the 2025 edition of BAU trade fair, Sopro participated with a stand that attracted many visitors.
Photo/Video Gallery
Mapei around the World
2/6/2025
Sopro at BAU 2025: innovation and sustainability for the future of construction
