“Driving Sustainable Bonding Innovation: A Conversation with Renate Fofana, Head of Industrial at Lohmann”

Since 2020, Renate Fofana has been making a significant contribution to the success of the industry segment as Head of Market, building on her extensive experience in shaping Lohmann’s Industrial Segment activities since 2013. With decades of experience in application engineering and product management, she leads Lohmann's efforts to develop much more agile approach in her line of duties with her strong and highly professional team. 

In the following interview, Ms. Fofana reflects on industry trends, Lohmann’s innovation strategy, and the future of sustainable bonding. 


Ms. Fofana, the industrial sector is currently experiencing rapid change. How do you see these developments? 
The industrial sector is indeed at a critical crossroads. Rapid technological advancements, growing sustainability requirements, and shifting global dynamics are transforming the industry. At Lohmann, we see this not as a disruption but as an opportunity to lead with purpose, precision, and partnership. 

What are the biggest challenges and opportunities you see shaping the industrial market today, and how is Lohmann positioned to respond to them? 
Growing geopolitical crises, shortages of raw materials, stricter sustainability regulations, and increasing technological competition – these are just some of the challenges the manufacturing industry is currently facing in my opinion. But I also see this as a chance to rethink business models. Innovation is key to simultaneously drive growth and operate sustainably.

What role does partnership play in Lohmann’s approach to customers and markets? 
Our mission goes far beyond delivering high-performance tapes. It’s about co-creating value through close collaboration, customization, and a deep understanding of our customers’ specific application needs. We are proud to be a trusted partner in enabling smarter, lighter, and more sustainable industrial solutions.

How is Lohmann driving innovation in bonding solutions to support sustainability and efficiency goals in industrial applications? 
Sustainability is a multifaceted field. We naturally consider the ecological aspect in all our developments. Lohmann is ideally positioned thanks to its broad range of technologies. Our sustainable industrial solutions promote the reduction of CO₂ emissions to a minimum. In fact, in 2025 Lohmann was once again awarded the silver medal by EcoVadis – placing us among the top 13% of all companies assessed worldwide in the area of sustainability. 

Can you share a recent success story or customer collaboration that reflects Lohmann’s approach to partnership and problemsolving? 
Debonding on demand is becoming increasingly important to promote unmixed material separation and circularity – enabling adhesive bonds to be separated at different points in the life cycle. One example is our product DC59416, which was developed specifically for the scanner bars sector. It can be removed from PVC profiles without leaving any residue, saving both time and money for our customers. 

Finally, what is your vision for the future of the industrial market, and how does Lohmann plan to shape it? 
I am convinced that the future lies in innovation, sustainability and strong partnerships. My goal for us as a team is to share success stories, market trends and technological developments that are important to our customers, and to use these to shape the future of our industry together.