Hempel A/S is a Danish coatings manufacturer founded in Copenhagen in 1915 by Jørgen Christian Hempel, then 21 years old, with an initial capital of DKK 300. The company began by producing ready-mixed marine paints - Hempel reportedly delivered his first order himself by bicycle. Today it is headquartered in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark, employs more than 7,000 people, and operates in over 80 countries. Since 1948, the company has been owned by the Hempel Foundation, which was established to support the company's long-term development.
The company develops and manufactures coating solutions across six principal segments:
- Protective coatings - for infrastructure assets such as bridges and power stations
- Marine coatings - for ocean-going vessels and related applications
- Container coatings - formulated for shipping containers
- Industrial coatings - for a range of industrial assets and settings
- Decorative coatings - for residential homes and other structures
- Yacht coatings - specialist coatings for the leisure marine market
Hempel's technical work spans coatings development, manufacturing, and sustainability-oriented applications including asset-life extension and reducing environmental impact. The company's engineering and R&D activities support a global supply chain serving customers across the marine, infrastructure, industrial, and residential sectors.
