Tower Products

What Tower Products does

Tower Products is a privately held specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1986 and headquartered in Easton, Pennsylvania, with a second manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida. The company develops, formulates, and sells pressroom chemistry products for the printing industry, including fountain solutions and alcohol replacements (Millennium and AR series), press washes (LO-VO, Infinity Wash, UV Wash lines), plate cleaners, metering roller cleaners, silicone emulsions, roller and blanket care products, smart flexo cleaners (SmartFlex), aqueous/UV/LED-cured coatings (Continuum), digital printhead cleaners (Tower Digital), and screen printing solutions. Several products are FOGRA and ISEGA certified for food packaging compliance, and the company maintains Nestle Guidance Note on Packaging Inks compliance. The business model is B2B sale of consumable chemicals through a tiered channel: a dealer network across the Americas, territory-based technical sales representatives providing on-site troubleshooting, an inside sales team maintaining dealer relationships, and European manufacturing and distribution through the Tower Products Europe BV joint venture with Wifac BV and master dealership with RGP Green Solutions. Revenue also comes from contract blending / private-label tolling services, primarily in propylene glycol and glycol ether chemistries.

The company primarily serves commercial printers, newspapers, packaging printers, and flexographic operations, with a horizontal segmentation approach across offset, digital, flexographic, and screen printing use cases. Pricing is quote-based through dealers and direct sales with no public list pricing; sample requests are supported via the website. The company was acquired by a private investor group (Cooper Watson LLC) in September 2023, completing a merger with Nova Pressroom Products on April 9, 2025. Both Tower and Nova brands continue to operate independently under unified manufacturing infrastructure. Sub-brands include Tower Digital, Continuum Coatings, and SmartFlex. Recent leadership changes include the appointment of Gregory DeCelle as CEO following Jim Veltrie's retirement on December 30, 2025, with Rachel McGrath having served as CEO since the 2023 acquisition.

Name

Tower Products

Legal name

Tower Products LLC

Website

https://towerproducts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tower Products is a US-based specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1986 that formulates and sells pressroom chemistry products including fountain solutions, washes, plate cleaners, silicone emulsions, and aqueous/UV/LED coatings to commercial, newspaper, packaging, and flexographic printers worldwide through dealers and direct technical sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pressroom Chemical Products: Sale of proprietary pressroom chemistry products including fountain solutions, washes, cleaners, coatings, and specialty chemicals. Products sold through dealer network and direct sales team to commercial printers, newspapers, packaging printers, and other printing operations.
2. Contract Blending/Tolling Services: Manufacturing products on behalf of partners in the print industry. Tower provides blending and manufacturing capabilities, primarily in propylene glycol, glycol ether, and glycol ether PNB materials for other brands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tower Products manufactures and sells proprietary pressroom chemistry products for the commercial printing industry. Its portfolio includes fountain solutions, alcohol replacements, plate cleaners, press washes, metering roller cleaners, silicone emulsions, roller and blanket care products, and aqueous/UV/LED-curable coatings for offset, digital, flexographic, and screen printing applications. The company also provides contract blending/tolling services to other brand owners.

Product overview

Tower Products offers a comprehensive portfolio of pressroom chemistry solutions for the printing industry. The product line is organized into distinct categories: Offset Printing (Fountain Solutions & Alcohol Replacements including Millennium series and AR products, Plate Care products, Presswash/blanket washes in multiple formulations for conventional/UV/low-VOC applications, Metering Roller Cleaners, Silicone Emulsions, Roller & Blanket Care products), Digital Inkjet Printing (printhead cleaners), Coatings (Continuum aqueous, UV, and LED-curable coatings in various finishes), Flexographic Printing (SmartFlex anilox cleaners, flexo washes, UV cleaners), Screen Printing Solutions, and Contract Blending Services. The company merged with Nova Pressroom Products in April 2025, expanding their product offerings and geographic reach. Products range from basic maintenance solutions to advanced formulations like FOGRA-approved fountain solutions for high-speed presses, with offerings for food packaging compliance (Nestle Guidance Note).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nova Pressroom Products: Pressroom chemical products for offset and flexographic printing, retained as a separate brand following the 2025 merger.
• Tower Digital
• Continuum Coatings
• SmartFlex

Products and services

• Millennium 4500 Fountain Solution Advanced one-step fountain solution designed for high-speed sheet-fed commercial and packaging presses that run conventional and energy-curable inks; provides appropriate cleaning strength for energy curables without overkill on conventional inks.
• Millennium 5000 Fountain Solution FOGRA and KBA approved one-step fountain solution for high-speed sheet-fed presses with excellent compatibility with UV and LED inks.
• Millennium 1000 Fountain Solution Top-tier one-step fountain solution that works across all types of dampening systems and is especially effective for metal plates.
• Millennium 3000 Fountain Solution Premium fountain solution for pressrooms requiring high performance; excels at preventing etching and keeping chrome rollers clean, especially with metallic inks.
• Millennium 4000 Fountain Solution Cost-effective fountain solution for sheetfed operations looking to optimize economics; prevents counter etching with metallic inks.
• Millennium 6000 Fountain Solution Advanced fountain solution formulated to minimize picture framing and ink piling.
• Millennium 7000 Fountain Solution Fountain solution designed for presses with integrated dampening systems; features a unique buffering system that prevents calcium buildup.
• Millennium SF Fountain Solution Best fountain solution for integrated dampening systems with complex buffering requirements; reduces water roller speeds and ink consumption while maintaining stable pH.
• Millennium DGT Fountain Solution Advanced web fountain solution ideal for pressrooms facing significant challenges; offers strong buffering for demanding conditions.
• Millennium HSW-100 Fountain Solution One-step fountain solution for high-speed web presses with strong buffering system; compatible with a variety of dampening systems for fast clean restarts.
• Millennium HSW-200 Fountain Solution Versatile fountain solution for heat-set web presses; focuses on preventing ink piling and ensuring smooth clean restarts; suited for CTP plates.
• Millennium HSW-500 EU Fountain Solution FOGRA-approved fountain solution for heatset web presses serving European market compliance requirements.
• Premier News Platinum Fountain Solution Mild acid fountain solution tailored for web printers using CTP technology; unique wetting agent minimizes ink emulsification and promotes fast restarts.
• AR-7500 Alcohol Substitute Advanced alcohol substitute that enhances water viscosity in continuous dampening systems; free of harmful air pollutants and safe for unbaked CTP plates.
• Dynamic ARP Alcohol Substitute Versatile alcohol substitute designed to increase water viscosity in continuous dampening systems; reduces ink feedback and offers a cost-efficient alternative to traditional alcohol replacements.
• AR-9500 Alcohol Substitute Premium alcohol substitute that increases water viscosity in continuous dampening systems; compliant with Nestle Guidance Note on Packaging Inks and considered a low migration solution.
• Fountain Additive EPF High-technology fountain solution additive formulated to eliminate picture framing, reduce paper debris on printing blankets, and minimize ink piling.
• CTP Scratch Remover Best-bet product for scratch removal on printing plates; reasonable performance in other applications.
• Universal Plate Cleaner Basic all-around plate cleaner for general plate-cleaning maintenance.
• UV Plate Cleaner FP Best product for removing ink from UV plates without damaging image; food-safe formulation.
• Plate Cleaner & Preserver All-around cleaner with flexibility for use in short-term storage.
• Plate Cleaner 200 High-pH product designed for On-The-Fly (OTF) plate-cleaning applications.
• Plate Cleaner XLT Unique acidic formula designed for image preservation on unbaked plates.
• Premium OTF Plate Cleaner Standard-grade product designed specifically for On-The-Fly (OTF) cleaning applications.
• I.P. Wash Premium water-miscible wash for pressrooms requiring more strength, drying speed, or improved odor.
• Tech Wash IF Economy water-miscible wash safe for equipment and compatible with conventional ink.
• Infinity Wash 1300 UV Entry-level FOGRA offering suitable for UV ink applications.
• Infinity Wash Combi Suitable for pressrooms running a combination of conventional and UV inks.
• Infinity Wash HMK-1 WM Customer-favorite water-miscible Tech Wash in FOGRA-approved formula for conventional ink.
• Infinity Wash HMK-UV Premium wash for energy-curable (UV/LED/EB) ink applications.
• UV Wash 140 High-flashpoint wash offering best performance for chameleon-type and composite rollers.
• UV Wash 700 Economy UV wash offering for UV, LED, and HUV applications.
• UV Wash LED Specifically formulated to work with EPDM compounds in LED UV processes.
• Tower MRC Metering Roller Cleaner Fast-drying solvent blend formulated to clean metering rollers in continuous dampening systems; can also clean back cylinders and be used as fast-drying typewash.
• MRC 100 Metering Roller Cleaner Ultra-fast-drying Metering Roller Cleaner formulated to meet SCAQMD requirements of 100 grams per liter VOC content.
• Momentum Silicone 40 40% silicones solids emulsion for high-end commercial web printing.
• Momentum Silicone 30 30% silicones solids emulsion for commercial web and publication printing.
• Momentum Silicone 20 20% silicones solids emulsion for insert printing including advertising circulars.
• Coatings Cleaner AC Developed to quickly clean toughest aqueous coating without ammonia; also cleans coatings and residual ink.
• Chrome Roller Cleaner Powerful liquid cleaner that effectively cleans and desensitizes chrome dampening rollers, restoring water carrying capacity.
• Deluxe Calcium Rinse Prevents calcium build-ups by emulsifying calcium on contact; formulated to dissolve calcium deposits deep into rubber.
• Calcium Cure Thicker version of Deluxe Calcium Rinse that stays on longer for hard-to-reach areas of the press.
• Super Roller Cleaner Effectively and quickly cleans, deglazes, and conditions ink rollers; also used for fast color changes.
• Transition Roller Cleaner Effectively and quickly cleans LED/UV inks and conditions ink rollers for transitions between UV/LED and conventional inks.
• Tower Roller Paste High-technology cleaning paste for thoroughly cleaning printing rollers without strong solvents or abrasive chemical additives.
• Tower UV Roller Lube Roller lubricant formulated for EPDM and UV roller compounds used in UV printing applications.
• Press and Hand Wipes Multi-purpose pre-moistened hand wipes with grease-cutting formula that lifts away grease, tar, adhesives, wax, ink, and paint.
• Dry Automatic Blanket Cleaning Cloths Premium non-woven material wash cloths that will not break under tension; low-linting for effective automatic blanket wash on any press.
• Pre-Saturated Automatic Blanket Cleaning Cloths Pre-saturated version of automatic blanket cleaning cloths for pressroom use.
• Dynamic Duo Systems Cleaner Two-part ready-to-use fountain solution recirculation systems cleaner that extends fountain solution life by cleaning and removing ink, coating, mold, and paper.
• Metal Plate Additive Fountain solution additive to help desensitize the non-image area of the plate; can be used on metal and polyester plates.
• Knockout Pressroom Cleaner Formulated specifically for the printing industry; dissolves ink on contact and is ideal for cleaning and degreasing hard surfaces.
• Tower Digital Head Cleaner Printhead cleaner for removing ink and other contaminants from print heads used in digital inkjet machines.
• Continuum A7100 Aqueous Gloss High Rub Packaging Coating Folding carton coating with extra slip and rub resistance for sheet-fed and flexo applications.
• Continuum A7000 Aqueous Gloss Packaging Coating Top-selling high-gloss aqueous coating for one or two-sided sheet-fed and flexo applications; compatible with glues and foil stamps.
• Continuum A3000 Aqueous Satin General Purpose Coating Medium-gloss aqueous coating for one or two-sided sheet-fed and flexo applications.
• Continuum A1000 Aqueous Matte General Purpose Coating Low-gloss aqueous coating for sheet-fed and flexo applications.
• Continuum A1401 Aqueous Soft Touch General Purpose Coating Matte coating with soft leather feel for sheet-fed or flexo coaters; can be used as primer for hot foil stamp, glue, or UV topcoat.
• Continuum A7800 Aqueous Gloss Primer & General Purpose Coating Fast-dry work-and-turn high-gloss coating with good adhesion for UV and foil stamping.
• Continuum A7300 Aqueous Gloss Coating with Curl Resistance Aqueous gloss coating with curl resistance for in-line blanket/flexo/gravure-type coaters on lightweight stock.
• Continuum A3300 Aqueous Satin Coating with Curl Resistance Aqueous medium-gloss coating with curl resistance for in-line coaters on lightweight stock.
• Continuum A1300 Aqueous Matte Coating with Curl Resistance Low-gloss aqueous coating with curl resistance for in-line coaters on lightweight stock.
• Continuum A7500 High Gloss Aqueous Coating for Non-Coated Stock Formulated for curl resistance and for use with uncoated and/or text stock.
• Continuum U7000 UV High Gloss General Purpose Coating 100% reactive UV coating suitable for conventional inks; best for inline coating over heatset, UV, hybrid, and HP Indigo inks.
• Continuum U3000 UV Satin General Purpose Coating 100% reactive UV coating suitable for conventional inks; suitable for roller/blanket, narrow web, and flexo applications.
• Continuum U1000 UV Matte General Purpose Coating Low-gloss UV-cured coating for conventional inks; suitable for narrow web and flexo applications.
• Continuum U7200 UV Gloss Coating for Digital Inks High-gloss UV-cured coating specifically designed for use with digital inks.
• Continuum U1401 UV Soft Touch Coating Matte UV-cured coating with soft leather feel for use with conventional inks.
• Continuum L7000 LED Gloss General Purpose Coating High-gloss LED-cured coating for use with conventional inks.
• Continuum L3000 LED Satin General Purpose Coating Satin semi-matte LED-cured coating for use with conventional inks.
• Continuum L1000 LED Matte General Purpose Coating Matte low-gloss LED-cured coating for use with conventional inks.
• SmartFlex Anilox Roller Cleaning Gel Efficiently cleans anilox rollers of any ink type directly on press, reducing costs and maintaining consistent cell volume.
• SmartFlex Foaming Anilox Cleaner Foaming version of high-tech anilox cleaner that clings to rollers during in-line cleaning without overspray.
• SmartFlex High Tech Anilox Cleaner Deep-cleans anilox rollers; effectively removes dried inks and prevents re-deposition during manual and machine applications.
• SmartFlex Adhesive Remover Tackles stubborn residue left from plate adhesives with a unique formula for efficient cleaning.
• Discovery Wash 1171 NF Low-VOC wash for UV inks; suitable for pressrooms with strict environmental regulations.
• Fast Dry Exempt Wash Dries quickly and is gentle on rollers, blankets, and dry offset plates; effectively cleans both UV and conventional inks with minimal VOC content.
• SmartFlex UV Flexo Cleaner Designed for rapid cleaning of UV and solvent flexographic inks; safe for photopolymer plates.
• SmartFlex Flexo-Wash Plus NSF-approved low-odor water-based cleaner ideal for flexographic ink removal; safe for photopolymer plates.
• SmartFlex UV Wash FX Premium wash tackling tough ink removal challenges; ideal for hand cleaning and parts washing.
• Screen Printing Solutions Screen pressroom solutions launched in 2024, designed with a focus on safety, reliability, and environmental responsibility.
• Contract Blending Services Custom manufacturing and blending services for partners; specializes in propylene glycol, glycol ether, and glycol ether PNB based products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple products have received FOGRA approval for performance standards in offset printing applications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Technorol & RWB Boswell GraphicminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Strategic partnership to enhance service offerings in Canadian pressroom market. Partnership aims to improve logistics, warehouse coordination, and pressroom chemistry optimization to increase product availability and operational safety.
• Nova Pressroom ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2025Strategic merger completed April 9, 2025 combining two respected pressroom chemical companies. Merger enhances geographic reach and broadens product offerings. Companies continue operating Tower and Nova brands independently while unifying manufacturing infrastructure for efficiencies and consistent quality.
• Wifac BVminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2018Joint venture to manufacture and distribute Tower technology products in Europe. Wifac BV is a premier distributor of graphic arts products in Europe. Joint venture operates as Tower Products Europe BV.
• RGP Green SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 June 2016European Hub and Master Dealership established at Drupa 2016 for distribution of Tower fountain solution and technology products within Europe, UK, and Scandinavia. Serves market from Rotterdam distribution center for quick access and shipping to other distributors and customers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Prisco (Printers' Service): Long-standing US specialty manufacturer of pressroom chemistry, inks, fountain solutions, coatings, and printing supplies. Directly comparable to Tower Products across product categories, customer base (commercial and packaging printers), and dealer-led distribution model.
• RBP Chemical Technology: Specialty chemical manufacturer serving the printing industry with pressroom chemistry, fountain solutions, washes, and roll cleaners. Closely comparable niche specialty chemical focus, regulatory certifications, and direct sales model.
• Wikoff Color Corporation: Privately held US-based manufacturer of specialty printing inks and coatings with comparable niche focus on commercial and packaging print. Mid-sized specialty chemicals competitor with similar independent ownership profile and custom formulation services.
• Nova Pressroom Products: Pressroom chemical manufacturer recently merged into Tower Products in April 2025, retained as a separate brand. Pre-merger was a near-direct competitor with comparable coatings and silicone emulsion offerings to offset and flexographic printers.

Broad incumbents

• Hubergroup: Global printing inks and coatings manufacturer with significant pressroom chemistry offerings. Comparable through fountain solutions and coatings portfolio, but operates at substantially larger scale with broader geographic footprint and broader product portfolio.
• Flint Group: Major global supplier of printing inks, coatings, and pressroom consumables including fountain solutions and press washes. Larger incumbent operating across multiple print technologies; competes with Tower for packaging and commercial printer wallet share.
• Sun Chemical (DIC Corporation): World's largest producer of printing inks and pigments with broad pressroom chemistry offerings. Overlaps with Tower's coatings and fountain solution categories through its Sun Chemical and SunGraphics product families.
• Baldwin Technology Company: Global supplier of technology, consumables, and services to the printing industry including pressroom automation and cleaning equipment. Adjacent in pressroom workflow with overlapping customer base and sustainability-driven solutions.

Emerging players

• Maratek Environmental: Specialty chemical and recycling solutions provider for the printing industry, focused on pressroom chemistry and waste minimization. Comparable niche positioning around sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Others

• Wifac BV: Premier European graphic arts distributor and Tower Products' JV partner in Tower Products Europe BV. Comparable as a channel partner/distributor of pressroom chemistry rather than a competitive manufacturer; useful as a channel-side peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Tower-Products-Inc-175642029214828
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tower-products-inc.
• Xx.com/towerproducts

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Tower Products