What Corrosion Innovations does

Corrosion Innovations, headquartered in Houston, Texas, develops and manufactures proprietary chemical surface preparation products designed to eliminate metal-substrate contaminants — soluble salts (nitrates, chlorides, sulfates) and sulfides — that are the leading cause of premature coating failures and cathodic corrosion. The company positions itself as the only market participant addressing non-soluble sulfide removal. Its portfolio spans three product lines: the proprietary Corr-Ze™ line (Corr-Ze 100 concentrate and Corr-Ze 200 ready-to-use gel), the Chlor*Rid™ surface decontamination and salt-testing product line acquired from Milliken & Company in March 2023, and the HoldTight® surface preparation line acquired in February 2024. Manufacturing is performed at ISO 9000-certified facilities on the Gulf Coast, East Coast, and West Coast, with batch manufacturing, random sampling, and 2015 GHS-compliant safety documentation.

The company serves industrial customers across oil and gas (primary), infrastructure, defense, aerospace, power generation, and marine markets, with named reference customers including BP, Shell, Chevron, BHP Billiton, ENI, Murphy Oil, Noble Energy, and NASA Kennedy Space Center. Corrosion Innovations' products carry approval listings from major coatings manufacturers (PPG, JOTUN, Carboline, Sherwin-Williams, Hempel), creating embedded specification lock-in across the industrial coatings ecosystem.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid direct-sales and distribution model: the company runs a sales-led enterprise motion via a 'Schedule a Demo' flow, complemented by a global authorized distributor network of 'hundreds of distributors' built in part through the March 2023 merger with its former master distributor CRW Consulting & Distribution. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Founded in July 2020 as a partnership of five entities and privately held, the company has completed multiple acquisitions to consolidate the specialty chemical surface preparation category, while expanding into adjacent verticals and geographies.

Name

Corrosion Innovations

Legal name

Corrosion Innovations LLC

Website

https://corrinnovations.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Corrosion Innovations is a Houston-based specialty chemical company that manufactures proprietary surface preparation products — Corr-Ze, Chlor*Rid, and HoldTight — to remove contaminants from metal substrates and prevent coating failures, serving oil and gas, infrastructure, defense, aerospace, power generation, and marine industrial customers through direct sales and a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Corrosion Prevention Chemicals

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing (3255)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty & Functional Coatings (Anti-microbial/Anti-slip/Insulating) (IMAIAKAM)

Keywords

• Corrosion prevention coatings
• Metal surface preparation
• Industrial coating chemicals
• Soluble salt removal
• Cathodic corrosion protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Surface Preparation Products: Sale of proprietary chemical products (Corr-Ze 100, Corr-Ze 200, Chlor*Rid, HoldTight) for metal surface preparation and corrosion prevention. Products are sold in various packaging sizes (5-gallon pails) as concentrates or ready-to-use formulations. Revenue is generated through direct sales and distribution network.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Corrosion Innovations manufactures and sells proprietary chemical surface preparation products that remove metal-substrate contaminants (soluble salts such as nitrates, chlorides, and sulfates, plus sulfides) from industrial metal surfaces before coating application. Its three product lines—Corr-Ze™ (liquid concentrate and ready-to-use gel), Chlor*Rid™ (decontamination and soluble salt test kits), and HoldTight® (flash rust prevention)—are sold to industrial asset owners and coatings applicators to extend coating service life and reduce corrosion-related failures.

Product overview

Corrosion Innovations offers a portfolio of surface preparation products for metal substrates across three main product lines. The core Corr-Ze™ line consists of Corr-Ze™ 100 (liquid concentrate) and Corr-Ze™ 200 (ready-to-use gel), which eliminate contaminants at the microscopic level to prevent corrosion and improve coating adhesion. The Chlor*Rid™ line (acquired from Milliken in 2023) provides surface decontamination, passivation products, and soluble salt testing kits. The HoldTight® line (acquired in 2024) offers additional surface preparation solutions. All products work together to ensure coating systems have higher bonding strength and longer service life by eliminating residual contaminants that standard abrasive blasting or washing cannot remove.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Corr-Ze™: Metal surface preparation and rust removal product line including Corr-Ze 100 (concentrate that makes 500 gallons when mixed with deionized water) and Corr-Ze 200 (ready-to-use gel). These products eliminate contaminants, prevent corrosion, and improve coating adhesion for metal substrates.
• CHLOR*RID™
• HoldTight®

Products and services

• Corr-Ze™ 100 Liquid corrosion prevention concentrate supplied in 5-gallon pails; each 5-gallon pail typically yields 500 gallons of ready-to-use product when mixed with deionized water. Eliminates rust, MIC, and soluble salt / sulfide contamination at the microscopic level to improve coating adhesion for industrial asset owners and coatings applicators.
• Corr-Ze™ 200 Ready-to-use gel corrosion prevention product supplied in 5-gallon pails. Goes beyond the microscopic level to prevent corrosion and improve coating adhesion on metal substrates for industrial asset owners and coatings applicators.
• Chlor*Rid™ Surface Decontamination & Passivation Products Surface decontamination and passivation products for removal of soluble salt contaminants (nitrates, chlorides, sulfates) from metal substrates prior to coating. Sold to industrial asset owners and coatings applicators across oil & gas, infrastructure, marine, and power generation.
• Chlor*Rid™ Salt Test Kits Soluble salt testing kits for detection and measurement of residual nitrates, chlorides, and sulfates on metal substrates. Used by coatings inspectors and asset integrity teams to qualify surfaces before coating application.
• HoldTight® Surface Preparation Products Surface preparation products for metal substrates designed to prevent flash rust and improve coating adhesion. Trusted globally for superior metal surface preparation across industrial coatings applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces project costs by up to 50%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HoldTightcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 20 February 2024Corrosion Innovations acquired HoldTight, a distinguished specialty chemical company. This acquisition expanded the product portfolio to include additional surface preparation solutions.
• Milliken & CompanycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 16 March 2023Corrosion Innovations acquired the Chlor*Rid product line from Milliken & Company. The acquisition included surface decontamination, passivation products, and salt testing kits for soluble salt detection and removal.
• CRW Consulting & Distribution, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 March 2023CRW was the master distributor for Corrosion Innovations starting in 2020. The merger in March 2023 combined the manufacturer and master distributor into one entity, significantly enhancing product and consulting offerings. The merger was described as a natural fit based on shared history.
• Corrosion Prevention Technologies LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2020Founding partner and sponsor of Corrosion Innovations. Located in Pasadena, TX. One of the entities merged to form the current company structure.
• MATTR Solutions, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2020Founding partner and sponsor of Corrosion Innovations. Located in Houma, LA. Contributed to the formation of the company in July 2020.
• WirxGroup LLCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2020Founding partner and sponsor of Corrosion Innovations. Located in Winlock, WA. Part of the initial partnership formation in July 2020.
• Lester Contract Management, LLCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2020Founding partner and sponsor of Corrosion Innovations. Located in Quitman, AR. Led by Marlin Lester who later became President and CEO.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cortec Corporation: Cortec manufactures specialty corrosion inhibitor chemicals (VpCI technology) for industrial and packaging applications. It is the closest direct peer as a specialty chemical manufacturer focused on corrosion prevention and surface treatment chemistries sold into industrial OEM, oil & gas, and infrastructure customers.
• Daubert Cromwell: Daubert Cromwell produces corrosion protection chemicals, VCI films, and rust preventive liquids used in industrial and packaging contexts. It is a direct peer in the specialty corrosion prevention and surface preparation chemicals category serving industrial manufacturers.

Broad incumbents

• PPG Industries: PPG is a major global coatings manufacturer and current approval partner of Corrosion Innovations' Corr-Ze products. As a broad incumbent, PPG has the scale, captive distribution, and R&D to either continue approving or to internalize competing surface preparation chemistries.
• Sherwin-Williams: Sherwin-Williams is the largest North American coatings manufacturer with both industrial protective and architectural segments. It is an approval partner today and a broad incumbent that competes for the industrial coatings project wallet and could vertically integrate surface prep chemistry.
• AkzoNobel: AkzoNobel is a global paints and coatings major with marine, protective, and industrial segments. It is a broad incumbent in the protective coatings end markets Corrosion Innovations serves, with the ability to bundle or substitute competing surface preparation offerings.
• Axalta Coating Systems: Axalta is a global coatings company serving industrial, refinish, and transportation end markets. It is a broad incumbent competing for protective coatings specification decisions where surface preparation chemistry choices are made.

Emerging players

• Hempel: Hempel is a global coatings manufacturer focused on marine, protective, and decorative segments and a current approval partner of Corr-Ze. It is comparable as a focused protective coatings player where surface preparation chemistry is specified alongside the topcoat system.
• Jotun: Jotun is a Norwegian global coatings manufacturer with strength in marine and protective coatings, and a current approval partner of Corrosion Innovations. It overlaps in target markets (offshore, marine, infrastructure) where surface prep chemistry is a key specification input.
• Carboline: Carboline is a US-headquartered specialty manufacturer of high-performance protective coatings and linings. It is an approval partner today and a focused emerging player in the protective coatings segment where Corrosion Innovations' chemistry is specified.
• Tnemec Company: Tnemec is a US specialty manufacturer of high-performance protective coatings for water/wastewater, industrial, and architectural markets. It overlaps with Corrosion Innovations in protective coatings specifications where substrate preparation chemistry drives coating system performance.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Corrosion Innovations