Special Materials Company (SMC)

What Special Materials Company (SMC) does

Special Materials Company (SMC Global) is a US-headquartered specialty chemical manufacturer and global supplier founded in 1996 by three industry veterans to serve industrial product niches underserved by larger manufacturers and distributors. The company produces and distributes a diversified chemical portfolio organized across CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Solvents, Elastomers), Construction Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Industrial Water Treatment, Phosphorus Derivatives, High-Purity/Battery Solvents, Plating, Textiles, Mining, and Agriculture. Core chemistries include THPS-based biocides (Avancid®), phosphonates such as HEDP, polyacrylic acid scale inhibitors (AvanShield), flocculants and coagulants (AvanClear), triazine-free H2S scavengers (AvanScav 1450), TCPP flame retardants (FlameLok), and aprotic battery-grade solvents (ethylene, propylene, dimethyl, diethyl, ethyl methyl carbonates). Several products hold EPA registrations or NSF 60 certification, and SMC provides in-house Applications & Quality Control laboratory support through its San Angelo ICC facility.

SMC operates manufacturing in San Angelo TX, Houston TX, Kershaw SC, Pageland SC, and Kansas City KS domestically, plus production in Jiangsu and Suzhou (China) and Vadodara (India), with commercial and distribution subsidiaries in Switzerland (international HQ, since 2011), Dubai (MEA, since 2021), Brazil (2024), and Argentina (2025). Its 140,000+ sq ft San Angelo industrial footprint, owned ISO tank container fleet, private trucking fleet, and acquired Union Pacific rail spur in Kansas City constitute a vertically integrated supply chain that supports tolling and blending, warehousing, transloading, and last-mile chemical distribution.

Revenue is generated through direct specialty chemical sales to manufacturing customers and distributors under quote-based pricing, supplemented by value-added services: tolling and blending, warehouse and fulfillment, logistics and distribution, and customer financing terms. The company operates as a privately held, founder-controlled enterprise led by CEO and Co-Founder Adam Feldman and COO, EVP and CCO Kevin Huber, with reported sales of $224M in the ICIS 2022 ranking (up from $183.4M in 2020/2021). Geographic expansion, product launches in oilfield and construction chemistries, and the 2024 ICC acquisition indicate an active growth posture across both organic and inorganic levers.

Name

Special Materials Company (SMC)

Legal name

Special Materials Company DBA SMC Global

Website

https://smc-global.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Special Materials Company (SMC Global) is a US-based specialty chemical manufacturer and global supplier, founded in 1996, serving industrial markets including CASE, Construction Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Industrial Water Treatment, Phosphorus Derivatives, and Battery/Electronics via owned manufacturing, tolling, and global distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Specialty Chemical Product Sales: Direct sale of specialty chemicals including phosphorus derivatives, solvents, biocides, scale inhibitors, flame retardants, and industrial water treatment chemicals to manufacturing customers and distributors
2. Tolling and Blending Services: Liquid conversions, solution adjustments, neutralization, reactions, and conversions for customers requiring contract manufacturing services
3. Warehouse and Fulfillment Services: Strategic warehousing, flexible filling and packaging options, storage, and distribution services for chemical products
4. Logistics and Distribution Services: Transportation management, ISO containers, private fleet of trucks, rail services for chemical supply chain management
5. Financing Services: Competitive flexible purchase terms offered to customers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Special Materials Company (SMC) is a US-based manufacturer and global supplier of specialty chemicals serving industrial markets including CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Solvents, Elastomers), Construction Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Industrial Water Treatment, Phosphorus Derivatives, High-Purity Battery Solvents, Plating, Textiles, Mining, and Agriculture. The company operates manufacturing, blending, tolling, warehousing, and chemical distribution services through its private fleet, ISO tank containers, rail access, and global subsidiary network.

Product overview

SMC Global is a global specialty chemical manufacturer and supplier offering a diverse portfolio of chemical products across multiple industry verticals including CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Solvents, Elastomers), Construction Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Industrial Water Treatment, Phosphorus Derivatives, Battery/Electronics Solvents, Plating, Textiles, Mining, and Agriculture. The core product portfolio includes phosphorus-based chemicals (THPS biocides, HEDP scale inhibitors, phosphorous acids, polyphosphoric acids), specialty solvents (Dimethyl Carbonate, Propylene Carbonate, PCBTF), battery-grade solvents (Ethylene Carbonate, Diethyl Carbonate, Ethyl Methyl Carbonate), and flame retardants. SMC operates manufacturing facilities in the US (San Angelo TX, Houston TX, Kershaw SC, Pageland SC, Kansas City KS), with international presence through subsidiaries in Switzerland, India, Dubai, Brazil, and Argentina. The company provides end-to-end services including tolling/blending, warehousing/fulfillment, logistics/distribution, and operates its own private fleet of trucks and ISO containers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SMC Oilfield: Division focused on oilfield chemical products including friction reducers, scale inhibitors, biocides, and water treatment chemicals for the oil and gas industry.
• Avancid
• AvanShield
• AvanClear
• AvanScav
• FlameLok

Products and services

• Tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium Sulfate (THPS) EPA-registered biocide (Avancid brand) used as hydrogen sulfide scavenger and microbial control agent in oil & gas, wastewater, pulp & paper, and industrial water systems.
• Hydroxyethylidene Diphosphonic Acid (HEDP) Water-soluble phosphonate scale and corrosion inhibitor (NSF 60 certified) for industrial water treatment, cooling towers, boilers, and oilfield operations.
• Dimethyl Carbonate (DMC) Sustainable, biodegradable VOC-exempt solvent and chemical intermediate used in batteries, polycarbonates, lubricants, polyurethanes, coatings, and biodiesel production.
• Propylene Carbonate (PC) High-performance biodegradable solvent with high polarity and chemical stability for lithium-ion batteries, paints, coatings, cosmetics, agrochemicals, and cleaning applications.
• Phosphorus Derivatives Portfolio including phosphorous acid (crystal, granular, solution), polyphosphoric acid, and phosphate compounds used in water treatment, metal treatment, polymer stabilization, and industrial applications.
• Para-Chlorobenzotrifluoride (PCBTF) Low-VOC specialty solvent with excellent solvency used as a replacement for higher-VOC aromatic solvents in paints, coatings, adhesives, and industrial cleaning.
• Tributyl Phosphate (TBP) Organophosphate ester used as plasticizer, solvent, and chemical intermediate in plastics, elastomers, hydraulic fluids, coatings, and metalworking applications.
• AvanScav 1450 Next-generation triazine-free hydrogen sulfide scavenger for oilfield applications with neutral pH, compatible across upstream and downstream operations.
• FlameLok TCPP Series TCPP and TCPP-based flame retardants for construction chemicals applications including spray foam and insulation.
• AvanClear Flocculants and Coagulants Water treatment chemicals including AvanClear 2182, 2183, 2184 flocculants and AvanClear 5000, 6000 coagulants for produced water treatment in oil & gas operations.
• AvanShield 3500 (Polyacrylic Acid) Oilfield scale inhibitor product for preventing mineral scale deposition in production systems.
• High-Purity Battery Solvents Battery-grade aprotic solvents including Ethylene Carbonate, Diethyl Carbonate, and Ethyl Methyl Carbonate used in lithium-ion battery electrolyte formulations.
• Tolling and Blending Services Liquid conversions, solution adjustments, neutralization, reactions, and conversions services providing cost-efficient manufacturing alternatives for customers requiring contract manufacturing.
• Warehouse and Fulfillment Services Strategically located warehousing across North America and internationally with flexible filling, packaging, storage, and order-fulfillment services for chemical products.
• Chemical Logistics and Distribution Chemical supply chain management including transportation management, ISO container fleet, private trucking fleet, and rail services from manufacturing sites to ports of entry to customer loading docks.

Quantifiable outcome

• ICIS Top 100 ranking improvement from 83rd worldwide (2021) to 93rd worldwide (2023)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Shimmer Chemicals Private LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2025Strategic partnership for establishing SMC Chemicals India Private Limited subsidiary in Vadodara, Gujarat. Shimmer Chemicals, founded in 1994, brings local manufacturing expertise with focus on Agro and Perfumery applications. The partnership enables SMC to diversify manufacturing and supply base while strengthening global footprint.
• International Chemicals LLC (ICC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2024Acquisition completed November 2024 merging SMC's Oilfield business into ICC's operations. ICC continues as wholly-owned subsidiary maintaining 8-acre San Angelo facility with Applications & Quality Control lab, trucking fleet, manufacturing, and 90,000 sq ft warehousing. Creates expanded portfolio for Oil & Gas and Produced Water Treatment markets.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• IMCD: Specialty chemicals distributor focused on niche markets and formulation-driven customers. Directly comparable to SMC's strategy of serving overlooked specialty segments with technical sales and supply chain services.
• Italmatch Chemicals: Specialty chemicals manufacturer focused on oilfield, water treatment, and performance chemicals. Directly comparable to SMC's oilfield business and overlapping product categories including biocides and scale inhibitors.
• BWA Water Additives: Specialty chemical supplier for industrial water treatment. Overlaps with SMC's phosphonate scale inhibitors, biocides, and cooling/boiler water treatment product lines.
• Stepan Company: Specialty chemical manufacturer with phosphorus derivatives, surfactants, and polymer products. Comparable to SMC's phosphorus-based product lines (phosphorous acid, HEDP, polyphosphoric acid) and industrial water treatment focus.

Broad incumbents

• Ashland: Global specialty chemicals company serving CASE, pharmaceutical, and personal care markets. Comparable to SMC's CASE segment strategy and specialty intermediates focus.
• LANXESS: German specialty chemicals manufacturer with significant presence in phosphorus derivatives, flame retardants, and industrial chemicals. Directly comparable to SMC's phosphorus derivatives, TCPP flame retardants, and HEDP scale inhibitors.
• Univar Solutions: One of the largest North American chemical distributors with a broad specialty chemicals portfolio. Comparable as a competitor in the same ICIS Top 100 ranking universe and overlapping customer base across CASE, water treatment, and industrial chemicals.
• Brenntag: Global market leader in chemical distribution with multibillion-dollar revenue. Overlaps with SMC across specialty solvents, oilfield, water treatment, and phosphorus derivatives, and competes directly for enterprise customers.
• Nalco Water (Ecolab): Global leader in water treatment and process chemicals. Competes with SMC's industrial water treatment and oilfield produced water treatment offerings at the enterprise customer level.

Regional players

• Helena Agri-Enterprises: US-based distributor of specialty agricultural chemicals and crop protection products. Comparable to SMC's agriculture segment, including fertilizers, pesticides, and plant growth regulators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-materials-company

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Special Materials Company (SMC)