What Koppers does

Koppers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KOP) is a Pittsburgh-based, vertically integrated producer of carbon compounds and treated wood products founded in 1912 and listed on the NYSE since 2006. The company operates through four primary product segments: Railroad Products and Services (pressure-treated crossties, switch ties, bridge timbers, and rail joints, where it is the largest provider to North American Class I Railroads for 25+ years), Utility and Industrial Products (pressure-treated utility poles, crossarms, and piling, where it is the largest American-owned manufacturer), Performance Chemicals (wood preservatives, FlamePRO fire retardants, and CCA chemistries sold in more than 70 countries), and Carbon Materials and Chemicals (carbon pitch for aluminum smelting and graphite electrodes for steelmaking, refined tars, creosote, naphthalene, and the new CPRO™ coating pitch for lithium-ion battery anodes). Underlying technology centers on coal tar distillation (including a 400,000-ton-per-year plant in Nyborg, Denmark) and proprietary wood preservation chemistries, with the vertical model enabling a circular-economy proposition in which 75% of revenue is derived from recycled, reused, or renewable feedstocks.

The company monetizes primarily through quote-based, multi-year direct enterprise contracts with Class I Railroads, investor-owned/cooperative/municipal utilities, aluminum smelters, steel producers, and construction-industry buyers, supported by dedicated sales teams and a network of company-owned manufacturing and treatment plants across North America, South America, Australasia, and Europe. Headcount exceeds 2,100 globally and FY2025 revenue was $1.88 billion with adjusted EBITDA of approximately $257 million (13.7% margin). Recent strategic actions include the April 2024 acquisition of Brown Wood Preserving Company for $100 million (utility pole expansion), the 2024 launch of CPRO™ into EV battery anode materials, the November 2025 divestiture of the Railroad Structures business, and the announced closure of the Stickney, Illinois distillation plant by year-end 2026 with production shifting to Nyborg. The company is led by CEO and Board Chair Leroy Ball, with Eric Brenner appointed CFO effective May 2026 from NOVA Chemicals.

Name

Koppers

Legal name

Koppers Inc.

Website

https://koppers.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Koppers Holdings is a Pittsburgh-based, vertically integrated producer of carbon compounds and treated wood products serving Class I Railroads, utilities, aluminum and steel manufacturers, and construction markets across North America, South America, Australasia, and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Treated Wood Products: Pressure-treated railroad crossties, utility poles, crossarms, piling, and construction supplies. Revenue from direct product sales to Class I Railroads, utility companies, and industrial customers. Includes recovery and reuse services for end-of-life materials.
2. Carbon Materials and Chemicals: Carbon pitch, creosote, naphthalene, and refined tar products sold to aluminum smelters, steel producers, and chemical manufacturers. Coal tar distillation produces essential inputs for multiple industries.
3. Performance Chemicals: Wood preservative and fire-retardant chemicals sold to decking, fencing, construction, and industrial customers in more than 70 countries. Includes chemical engineering services and technical guidance.
4. Utility Services: Full-service pole inspection, maintenance, substation inspections, and storm response services for utility infrastructure customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Koppers is an integrated global manufacturer of pressure-treated wood products (railroad crossties, utility poles, crossarms, piling, construction lumber) and carbon compounds (carbon pitch, creosote, naphthalene, refined tars, and CPRO™ battery anode coating materials) sold to railroads, electric utilities, aluminum smelters, steel producers, and wood-treater customers. The company also provides utility inspection and maintenance services, recovery and end-of-life reuse services, and research and testing services supporting these product lines.

Product overview

Koppers is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds serving critical infrastructure industries. The company operates through four main product lines: Railroad Products (pressure-treated crossties and rail components), Utility & Industrial Products (utility poles, crossarms, piling), Wood Enhancement Technologies/Performance Chemicals (preservatives and fire retardants), and Carbon & Coating Solutions (carbon materials for aluminum, steel, and battery markets). The company also offers complementary services including Recovery & Reuse, Utility Services, Research & Innovation, and Carbon Material Testing. Notably, CPRO™ represents the company's entry into advanced battery anode materials for the electric vehicle market. Koppers' vertically integrated model enables circular economy solutions, transforming industrial byproducts into essential production feedstocks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CPRO: Advanced coating pitch for spherical and natural graphite used in battery anode materials for electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries. Available in three forms: CS (pellets), CD (water-based dispersion), and CP (solvent-based).
• FlamePRO
• Koppers Performance Chemicals
• Koppers Recovery Resources

Products and services

• Railroad Products Pressure-treated creosote crossties, switch ties, rail joints, bridge timbers, crossing panels, and tie pre-plating services for Class I and short-line railroads in North America; extends crosstie lifespan by up to 40 years.
• Utility and Industrial Products Pressure-treated utility poles (largest American-owned manufacturer), crossarms, piling for deep foundation and marine construction, and construction supplies for investor-owned, cooperative, and municipal electric utility and telecom customers.
• Wood Enhancement Technologies (Performance Chemicals) Wood preservative systems (including chromated copper arsenate (CCA) and CLAW Oil Emulsion Technology), FlamePRO fire retardant treated wood chemicals, and industrial wood enhancement products serving decking, fencing, utility poles, construction lumber, vineyard stakes, commercial building, marine, and agricultural customers.
• Carbon and Coating Solutions Carbon pitch (binding agent for aluminum smelting anodes and graphite electrodes for EAF steel production), refined tar, petroleum pitch, creosote, and naphthalene sold to aluminum smelters, steel producers, and chemical manufacturers globally.
• CPRO™ for Advanced Battery Anode Materials Zero-ash, zero-QI pitch coating produced via Koppers patented technology for spherical and natural graphite used in advanced lithium-ion battery anodes; enhances tap density, decreases BET, and improves battery life.
• Recovery and Reuse Services End-of-life management for treated lumber including recovery, real-time data analysis, logistics management, and processing of scrap crossties into crosstie derived fuel (CDF) for alternative fuel sources.
• Utility Services Full-service pole inspection and maintenance including remedial treatments, padmount equipment inspection and repair, substation inspections using proprietary barcode-and-data management systems, and storm response services.
• Research and Innovation Applied research and technical support through the Koppers Global Technology Center (Pittsburgh) and Performance Chemicals R&D Center (Peachtree City, Georgia), including the EPIC corporate innovation program.
• Carbon Material Testing Services Comprehensive testing services including coal tar product testing, coal tar distillation, pilot-scale anode studies (mixing, forming, vibrating, baking, core analysis), microscopy services, and carbon anode testing using chromatography, microscopy, spectroscopy, and rheology equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Extends railroad crosstie lifespan by up to 40 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Brown Wood Preserving CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Acquired in April 2024 for approximately $100 million in cash. Brown Wood manufactures pressure-treated wood utility poles and primarily serves customers in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. The acquisition expanded Koppers' wood preservation capabilities and market presence in the utility pole sector.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hoover Treated Wood Products: Hoover is a U.S. manufacturer of pressure-treated and fire-retardant treated wood products for utility, building, and commercial applications, directly overlapping with Koppers' Utility & Industrial Products and Performance Chemicals offerings.
• Chemical Specialties Inc. (CSI): CSI is a U.S. wood-preservation chemical producer (CCA and ACQ systems) that competes directly with Koppers Performance Chemicals in the treated lumber and pole treatment market.
• Stella-Jones Inc. Stella-Jones is the largest direct competitor to Koppers' Railroad Products and Utility & Industrial Products segments, supplying pressure-treated railroad ties, utility poles, and industrial lumber to Class I railroads and utilities across North America.
• Arclin: Arclin produces specialty chemicals including wood-treatment chemistries and resin systems, competing with portions of Koppers' Performance Chemicals portfolio in industrial and construction markets.
• Rain Carbon Inc. Rain Carbon is a global producer of coal tar pitch, refined tars, and other carbon-based products — directly competing with Koppers' Carbon Materials & Chemicals segment for aluminum smelter and industrial customers.
• Lonza Wood Protection: Lonza's wood protection business (including the former Arch Wood Protection and Viance assets) supplies wood preservatives such as ACQ and CCA alternatives, directly competing with Koppers Performance Chemicals.
• Bell Lumber & Pole: Bell manufactures pressure-treated utility poles and crossarms for investor-owned, cooperative, and municipal utilities — directly competing with Koppers' Utility & Industrial Products business in North America.

Emerging players

• Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd. Himadri is a leading producer of coal tar pitch and carbon black, competing internationally with Koppers' Carbon Materials & Chemicals segment in aluminum and steel end markets.
• Nisus Corporation: Nisus is a smaller specialty chemicals company producing wood preservatives and borate-based treatments for construction and utility applications, competing with Koppers' fire-retardant and preservative product lines.

Broad incumbents

• Eastman Chemical Company: Eastman is a large diversified specialty chemicals producer with adjacencies in coal-tar-derived intermediates and industrial chemicals — a broader incumbent whose portfolio overlaps with portions of Koppers' carbon materials and chemicals offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/koppers-inc.
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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

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 Koppers