For nearly four decades, DENIOS has set the global benchmark for the safe storage and handling of hazardous substances. What began in 1986 with a simple spill pallet has grown into an international group with six production sites, offices in 23 countries, and over 13,000 products that protect workers, workplaces, and the environment worldwide. As a family-owned European public limited company (SE), DENIOS serves customers from plastics and metal processing to chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and logistics, always with one mission: protecting people and the environment.
The Challenge: Volume, Complexity, and an Information Vacuum
DENIOS faced a triple challenge when CBAM entered the picture.
First: Volume. As a manufacturer and trader, DENIOS imports substantial volumes of iron and steel components from non-EU suppliers. These imports had historically been tracked through manual processes and Excel spreadsheets. This method worked for procurement but was wholly inadequate for the granular CN-code-level reporting that CBAM demands. Historical import data was incomplete and required extensive manual cleanup.
Second: Regulatory opacity. The European Commission's communication around CBAM requirements was unclear and confusing. This created an information vacuum within DENIOS: nobody could confidently state what exactly was required, which reports were overdue, or what the timeline for authorized declarant registration looked like. Without a clear picture of obligations and costs, it was difficult to secure management buy-in and budget to properly tackle the topic.
Third: Supplier data. DENIOS recognized early that the cost difference between EU default emission values and actual verified data could be enormous. But gathering actual emission data from a complex, globally distributed supply chain proved a daunting task.
The Decision for kolum
DENIOS needed a partner who could cut through the regulatory noise and provide clarity. kolum delivered on three fronts simultaneously: a specialized, CBAM-optimized software platform, expert advisory to translate evolving regulation into concrete action, and hands-on support for internal process design.
Hans-Georg Wehrs, the primary decision-maker for CBAM compliance at DENIOS, valued kolum's ability to lay out the full picture, from the 120-day deadline for authorized declarant registration to the projected cost trajectory (starting at 2.5% and rising significantly through 2030). This transparency was instrumental in securing the internal investment decision.
The Solution in Practice
The kolum onboarding in August 2025 marked a turning point. The platform replaced the patchwork of Excel files and manual tracking with a centralized, digital CBAM management system. Import data that was previously scattered across departments and riddled with gaps was consolidated, cleaned, and structured for automated quarterly reporting.
Q1 and Q2 2025 reports were successfully submitted through the kolum platform. kolum then worked with the DENIOS team to address the backlog of historical reports (Q4 2023 and all 2024 quarters).
A key organizational outcome was the establishment of clear internal ownership. Hans-Georg Wehrs was confirmed as the CBAM lead, with defined interfaces to procurement, IT, and finance. Jakob Braun was tasked with creating detailed process documentation.
Results So Far
From Excel chaos to digital clarity
DENIOS replaced fragmented manual tracking with a centralized CBAM platform, with consolidated import data and automated quarterly reporting.
Regulatory transparency unlocked
kolum's expert guidance translated the EU Commission's opaque communications into a clear picture of obligations, timelines, and cost exposure, enabling cross-departmental alignment across procurement, IT, and finance.
Authorized declarant registration & cost awareness
The 120-day application process for authorized declarant status was initiated with kolum's guidance, and DENIOS now understands the projected CBAM cost trajectory as the basis for strategic procurement decisions.
Outlook
Looking ahead, DENIOS and kolum are focused on closing the historical data gap by submitting the outstanding reports for Q4 2023 and all 2024 quarters to bring DENIOS into full retroactive compliance.
Supplier engagement will scale up next: kolum supports structured supplier outreach, leveraging cross-customer synergies where DENIOS shares suppliers with other kolum clients. In parallel, the purchasing department will develop structured approaches to integrate CBAM certificate costs into supplier negotiations and contract terms.
For a company whose entire reason for existence is protecting people and the environment, CBAM represents more than compliance. It is the opportunity to extend that protective mission into the carbon dimension of its supply chain. With kolum, DENIOS is building the digital and organizational foundation to do exactly that.