A Century of Color, Progress, and Family Spirit
FreiLacke looks back on 100 years of company history – shaped by a strong customer focus, technological development, ideas, and above all, the people behind it.
When companies celebrate their roots, they often recall bold founders, decisive turning points, and people who have taken responsibility across generations. At FreiLacke in Döggingen, all of this is part of a story that has now been written for 100 years – a story that shows how closely regional cohesion and international innovative strength can be intertwined.
A Start in Difficult Times
In 1926, Emil Frei senior lays the foundation for what is today one of the most influential industrial companies in the Black Forest. Despite the economic turbulence of the interwar period, he dares to become self-employed and first builds a wholesale business for paints and coatings. His formula for success: a keen sense for customer needs, closeness to people, and the determination to develop solutions for challenges and applications – these laid the groundwork for an extraordinary success story. This philosophy remains deeply anchored in the company’s DNA even 100 years after its founding and is lived out every day by the now more than 650 employees.
As early as 1927, he begins his own production in Döggingen – a bold step that accelerates growth.
Even the Second World War cannot halt development. In 1947, his three sons join the company, and during the post-war economic miracle years, the business grows rapidly. New halls are built, the workforce expands, and in the 1960s the second generation invests in new technologies such as powder coatings, electrophoretic dip coatings, and glass-fiber reinforced plastics.
From the Black Forest to the World
The company grows continuously until the 1990s. The third generation takes over from 2003 and sets clear priorities: international orientation, sustainable production, and a culture of togetherness. Subsidiaries are established in Sweden, England, Russia, and China, followed later by a location in Mexico. Disciplined investments – in modern production halls, a new administration building, or the expansion of powder coating production – turn FreiLacke into a globally sought-after supplier.
At the same time, the company remains deeply rooted in the region: with stable jobs, a training rate of around ten percent, social commitment through the Emil-Frei Foundation, and a lived corporate culture that has been repeatedly awarded by “Great Place to Work”.
Challenges of the Present
The years since 2016 have confronted FreiLacke, like many medium-sized companies, with unexpected tests. The Corona pandemic hits the family business hard: drops in demand, raw material shortages, and global supply chain disruptions require maximum flexibility. A crisis team keeps operations running with a great deal of improvisation and close collaboration. Steps toward digitalization – such as home office, virtual training days, and online communication – accelerate.
Hardly has the pandemic been overcome when the war in Ukraine and geopolitical uncertainties bring new strains. Yet FreiLacke demonstrates stability – thanks to short decision-making paths, a loyal workforce, and reliable customer relationships.
2026: A Medium-Sized Company with Roots and Wings
Today, the company generates sales of around 180 million euros, more than half of it abroad. Over 650 employees work at the headquarters in Döggingen and at international locations. Particularly in demand are the system coating solutions that make FreiLacke one of the few manufacturers to develop all relevant coating technologies under one roof – and which have significantly shaped the term as a pioneer.
Currently, a new Product Technology Center (PTC) is being built, bundling development, application technology, and training. This sets the course for the coming decades.
A Look Ahead: Tradition Meets Innovation
The next 100 years cannot be planned – but FreiLacke has a reliable foundation. This includes innovative strength, sustainable action, a broad international network, and the family spirit deeply rooted in the Black Forest. Many employees have been with the company for decades, some in the second or third generation.
Managing directors Dr. Rainer Frei and Hans-Peter Frei emphasize that it is precisely this combination that ensures future viability: “In the end, it is neither about technologies nor about figures. It is about the people. They are the core of our formula for success – then as now.”
So, right on time for the 100th company anniversary, the next chapter of this Black Forest success story begins. With the new long-term positioning 2032, the strategic course has been set for the coming years. And once again it becomes clear: The best ideas and solutions arise where experience, courage, and people come together.
In the anniversary year, FreiLacke is planning a variety of activities to support social institutions in the region and to celebrate with its workforce, their families, and customers.
