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Forbo makes floor coverings, construction adhesives, and the conveyor and power transmission belts that keep factories and warehouses moving.
Forbo makes the things that go under your feet and the things that keep factories running. It sells three big product families: floor coverings for offices, schools, and hospitals; adhesives used in construction; and belts that move goods along conveyor lines or transmit power inside machines. The customers are mostly businesses, not homeowners — commercial builders, industrial plants, logistics operators, and distributors who resell the products.
The flooring side is where Forbo is best known. Its biggest claim to fame is linoleum, a natural floor covering made largely from linseed oil, wood flour, and other renewable materials. That gives it a distinct story in a market crowded with synthetic vinyl. Architects and builders pick it for schools, hospitals, and public buildings where durability and a green credential both matter. The adhesives business sells the glues and compounds that hold floors and other building materials in place, which means it often rides along with the same construction projects. The third leg, belts, is the quiet industrial engine. Factories and warehouses need belts to move boxes, food, and parts along production and sorting lines, and machines need belts to transfer power. This segment sells to industrial and logistics customers, and it tends to be steadier and more technical than the flooring side. Competitors include big flooring players like Mohawk Industries and Tarkett, plus a long tail of belt and adhesive makers.
Forbo is headquartered in Switzerland and has been around in various forms since the 1920s, building its current shape through acquisitions and brand-building. The business is cyclical in the sense that it depends on construction activity and industrial spending, so a slowdown in building or factory investment hits it. Its strengths are trusted brands, a strong position in linoleum, and a spread across three different end markets that don't all move together. It earns money by selling these products through distributors and directly to large customers, and it returns cash to shareholders partly through dividends.
Saved answer · last researched 15 Nov 2026