Building longevity into every layer

“We are particularly strong in acid-resistant construction and in the rehabilitation of sewers and manholes,” explains Enrico Lengyel. One flagship project was a major acid-resistant construction job for a large industrial plant in Hungary. IPA supplied a wide range of materials and supported extensive testing before winning the contract. “There were many different materials involved and a lot of tests were necessary just to make it onto the shortlist,” recalls Enrico Lengyel. Projects like this illustrate IPA’s role as a specialist partner for complex industrial environments where durability and chemical resistance are crucial. Unlike many companies that depend heavily on newbuild projects, IPA focuses primarily on refurbishment and maintenance – a segment that has proven more resilient in volatile markets. “Infrastructure must be maintained. Sewers, shafts and channels need to be rehabilitated sooner or later,” says Enrico Lengyel. “Of course we also supply new projects, but in newbuilds investors sometimes pull out or plans change. In rehabilitation, the market is consistently stable and we hold a strong position within it.

Close partnerships and a human scale

Although IPA is a compact organization, it operates on an international stage. The company supplies customers across Europe, exports to India and is especially strong in Eastern Europe, while exploring new opportunities in Scandinavia and the UK. Its size is a strategic advantage: lean structures and short decision-making paths enable rapid responses in times of volatile supply chains and raw material shortages. “As a relatively small company we can respond much faster,” says Enrico Lengyel. “Larger corporations need to go through many departments and processes before a product reaches the market. Our flexibility has allowed us to qualify alternative raw materials early and maintain delivery capability when others faced bottlenecks. This agility is underpinned by a strong team culture. With 15 specialists covering purchasing, development, laboratory, application technology and sales, every role is critical. “At our size, it’s pure teamwork,” emphasizes Enrico Lengyel. “No department stands above another – from purchasing, which needs freedom to react to the market, to the lab and sales, which must explain and support our systems precisely on site. The laboratory must translate requirements into workable formulations.” Digitalization and sustainability are shaping IPA’s next chapter. Through its own IPA Academy and application engineering, the company trains customers on products and systems – increasingly via Teams sessions and explanatory videos. “Today everyone is on social media and wants quick, clear instructions,” says Enrico Lengyel. “We want to be present there with concise, helpful content.” In parallel, IPA is testing AI tools to evaluate where they can meaningfully enhance internal workflows. As part of the Bodenbender Group, IPA benefits from shared structures, knowledge transfer and group-wide development initiatives, particularly in digital training and documentation. On the product side, IPA focuses on long-lasting systems and safer raw materials, from epoxy and polyurethane coatings to silicate and furan resins for acid-resistant construction. “We look very closely at new and healthier raw materials,” stresses Enrico Lengyel. “It takes years of development and long-term testing, but for us it is essential that installers can work with substances that are as humane as possible – and that our systems deliver decades of performance. That is our contribution to sustainability.” Looking ahead, Enrico Lengyel wants to grow the company while honouring the legacy of its founders: “Our goal is to be an even stronger partner in the market and to live up to the footprint left by the previous generation. With our expertise, our flexibility and our team – and now as part of the Bodenbender Group – I am confident we will succeed.”