Grace

What Grace does

W. R. Grace & Co. is a global specialty chemicals and engineered materials company founded in 1832 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with 1,001–5,000 employees and operations spanning the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific through more than 21 manufacturing plant sites. The company operates four core product lines — Adsorbents, Catalysts, Fine Chemicals (CDMO), and Synthetic Silicas — anchored by proprietary technologies such as the world's first synthetic fluid cracking catalysts (1942), RANEY® nickel catalysts (1926), ultra-stable Y zeolite (1964), SYLOID® silica (1949), and the UNIPOL® Polypropylene (PP) Process Technology licensed from Dow Chemical in 2013.

Grace generates revenue through three primary mechanics: (1) direct B2B sales of specialty catalysts, adsorbents, and silicas to refining, chemical processing, plastics, coatings, and pharmaceutical customers; (2) licensing of UNIPOL® PP process technology — including UNIPOL UNIPPAC® advanced process control software, CONSISTA®/SHAC®/MAGNAPORE® catalysts, and the REFLECTN™ digital plant simulator — to a global base of 77+ operating plants and 20+ plants in design/construction, supported by the PPartner Program™ services community; and (3) contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) of custom APIs, cGMP intermediates, regulatory starting materials, and 15 generic APIs at U.S.-based South Haven, MI and Tyrone, PA facilities. The go-to-market is enterprise-led direct sales with quote-based B2B pricing and no public list pricing.

Following Standard Industries' $70-per-share take-private transaction in 2021, Grace operates as the flagship of Standard Industries' Performance Materials platform. In 2025, Grace acquired Chevron's interest in the Advanced Refining Technologies (ART) hydroprocessing catalysts joint venture, making ART a wholly-owned subsidiary and consolidating Grace's position as a global leader in hydroprocessing catalysts for refining and renewable fuels. The company is privately held and no current revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Grace

Legal name

W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.

Website

https://grace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1832

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

W. R. Grace & Co. is a global specialty chemicals company producing catalysts, adsorbents, synthetic silicas, and fine chemicals, and licensing UNIPOL® polypropylene process technology to industrial customers in refining, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and coatings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Polymers & Resins (Engineered Materials) (IMAEABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO (HLAGABAG), Contract Development & Manufacturing for Generics (CDMO/CMO) (HLAIABAI), Small-Molecule Drug Product (Solid/Oral/Parenteral) CDMO (HLAGABAB)

Keywords

• Specialty chemicals manufacturing
• Polypropylene process technology
• Fluid catalytic cracking catalysts
• Pharmaceutical CDMO services
• Synthetic silica products

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices39 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Chemicals Products: Sale of specialty chemicals including catalysts, adsorbents, synthetic silicas, and fine chemicals to industrial customers across refining, chemical processing, plastics, coatings, and pharmaceutical industries. Revenue is product-driven with repeat customer relationships.
2. UNIPOL® PP Technology Licensing: Licensing of UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology to producers globally. Includes process package, catalyst offerings, APC software (UNIPOL UNIPPAC®), and technical services. Generates licensing fees and ongoing royalty stream through PPartner Program™ services.
3. Contract Development & Manufacturing (CDMO): Fine Chemical Manufacturing Services (FCMS) providing custom APIs, cGMP intermediates, RSMs, and generic APIs to pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies. Revenue from clinical through commercial-scale manufacturing. 15 DMFs for generic APIs.
4. AI-Driven Chemical Synthesis Collaboration: Multi-year strategic agreement with Molecule.one to accelerate peptide building block synthesis using AI and automation for pharmaceutical production.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Grace is a global specialty chemicals and materials technology company that manufactures and sells catalysts, adsorbents, synthetic silicas, and fine chemicals, and licenses its proprietary UNIPOL® polypropylene process technology to polyolefin producers worldwide. It also provides fine chemicals contract development and manufacturing services (CDMO) for pharmaceutical and biotech customers. Its products are deployed across petroleum refining, polyolefin production, paints and coatings, personal care, food and beverage, life sciences, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Product overview

Grace operates as a global specialty chemicals company organized into four core product lines (Adsorbents, Catalysts, Fine Chemicals, and Synthetic Silicas) plus a licensed technology platform (UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology). The company also maintains a contract development and manufacturing organization (FCMS/CDMO) for pharmaceuticals. Key product brands include SYLOID® and DAVISIL® silicas, VYVID™ superparamagnetic silica, VYDAC® chromatography resins, CONSISTA® and MAGNAPORE® polyolefin catalysts, ActivCat® FCC catalysts, and SILSOL® drug delivery technology. The UNIPOL® PP Technology platform encompasses licensed process technology, UNIPOL UNIPPAC® process control software, REFLECTN™ digital plant simulator, CONSISTA® and SHAC® catalysts, and UNIPOL® donors. Grace's Fine Chemicals CDMO operates U.S.-based facilities in South Haven, MI and Tyrone, PA providing custom APIs, generic APIs, and regulatory starting materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UNIPOL UNIPPAC®: Process control software for UNIPOL® PP production plants
• CONSISTA®
• VYDAC®
• DAVISIL®
• VYVID™
• SYLOID®
• SILSOL®
• LUDOX®
• ActivCat®
• MAGNAPORE®
• PARAGON™
• REFLECTN™
• PPartner Program™

Products and services

• UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology A licensed polypropylene (PP) process technology platform used by the majority of the world's polypropylene producers to manufacture homopolymers, random copolymers, and impact copolymers, including UNIPOL UNIPPAC® process control software and continuous catalyst improvements.
• UNIPOL UNIPPAC® Process Control Software Process control software sold with UNIPOL® polypropylene licenses to monitor, control, and optimize PP plant operations.
• Catalysts (FCC, Hydroprocessing, Polyolefin, RANEY) Grace's full catalysts portfolio including FCC catalysts and additives (e.g., ActivCat®, PARAGON™), hydroprocessing catalysts (ART Hydroprocessing™), polyolefin catalysts (CONSISTA®, SHAC®, MAGNAPORE®, ACP), and RANEY® skeletal nickel catalysts, sold to refiners and chemical producers.
• Synthetic Silicas Synthetic silica products including SYLOID® silica matting agents for paints and coatings, LUDOX® colloidal silica, PERKASIL® silica, SILSOL® silica for personal care active delivery, DAVISIL® and VYDAC® chromatography silicas for bioseparations, and VYVID™ superparamagnetic silica for diagnostics.
• Adsorbents (Molecular Sieves) Molecular sieve and zeolite adsorbents including SAFETYSORB® and SYLOSIV® used for drying, purification, and contaminant removal in industrial, food, and consumer applications.
• Fine Chemicals Manufacturing Services (FCMS) Pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing services (CDMO) covering custom APIs, generic APIs, registered starting materials (RSMs), and intermediates for the entire drug lifecycle from clinical to commercial supply, including complex chemistries and high-potency compounds.

Quantifiable outcome

• UNIPOL UNIPPAC® APC Software delivers 5-9% throughput increase, 3-6% off-grade reduction, 3% onstream time improvement, 35% monomer efficiency improvement
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature17 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Valuates ReportsminorOthers · 20 April 2026Valuates Reports market research identifies Clariant and Grace as holding the largest market share in the global silica gel desiccant market, valued at $860 million in 2025.
• QYResearchminorOthers · 24 March 2026QYResearch published detailed catalyst market industry report 2026-2032, projecting market growth from $29.36 billion to $38.97 billion at 4.0% CAGR, analyzing Grace as a key market player.
• Molecule.onecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025Multi-year strategic agreement to transform peptide building block synthesis using AI and automation. Molecule.one's AI platform combined with Grace's manufacturing capabilities to improve efficiency and scale in pharmaceutical production.
• Chevron U.S.A. Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 3 November 2025Grace acquired Chevron's interest in Advanced Refining Technologies (ART), the joint venture and global leader in hydroprocessing catalysts. The acquisition supports the refining industry's energy transition, enhances operational efficiencies, and enables Grace to focus on market segments aligned with strategic goals including renewable fuels. ART becomes a wholly owned Grace subsidiary.
• Sohar University and OQminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Grace, Sohar University, and OQ inaugurated the first DCR™ Pilot Plant in Oman. The partnership supports catalyst technology development and training in the region.
• Oriental Energy Co. Ltd.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Oriental Energy selected Grace's UNIPOL® PP Process Technology; Grace expanded operating UNIPOL® PP technology capacity in China with Oriental Energy. Oriental Energy also signed a second UNIPOL® PP Technology license for PC Guangxi.
• PetroChina GuangDongcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Grace marked another Asia polypropylene start-up milestone with PetroChina GuangDong. Partnership for UNIPOL® PP process technology in China's Guangdong province.
• BraskemcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Grace congratulated Braskem for first year of successful operation with UNIPOL® PP technology. Brazilian polyolefin producer successfully operating UNIPOL® PP plant.
• Egyptian Polypropylene ProducercoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025New UNIPOL® Polypropylene Technology licensee in Egypt. Grace welcomed new PP technology licensee representing expansion of UNIPOL® footprint in the Middle East/Africa region.
• Indonesian Polypropylene ProducercoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025New UNIPOL® Polypropylene Technology licensee in Indonesia. Grace expanded its Southeast Asian UNIPOL® PP technology presence with new Indonesian licensee.
• China Coal Shaanxi Energy & Chemical Group Co., Ltd.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Grace licensed second UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology reactor to China Coal Shaanxi Energy & Chemical Group Co., Ltd., representing expansion of UNIPOL® PP licensing in China.
• PC GuangxicoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Grace expanded presence in China with PC Guangxi by signing second UNIPOL® PP Technology license. Oriental Energy-affiliated entity selected Grace technology for second PP plant.
• Standard Industries Challenge (AI/ML for Chemistry)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Standard Industries Challenge puts AI and ML to work for chemistry innovation; Grace participates in this innovation ecosystem to advance chemical synthesis research.
• Nayara Energy LimitedcoreTechnology or Integration · 29 October 2024Grace expanded polypropylene operating capacity in India with Nayara Energy Limited. Startup of Nayara Energy's 450 KTA polypropylene plant in India using UNIPOL® PP process technology.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• PPG Industries: Global coatings manufacturer that is a key customer for Grace's SYLOID® silica matting agents. While not a direct competitor, PPG represents a major downstream channel for Grace's coatings-grade silica products.

Direct peers

• Honeywell UOP: Direct competitor in refining catalysts, particularly FCC and hydroprocessing, serving the same petroleum refining customers globally. Competes head-to-head with Grace's PARAGON™ FCC and ART Hydroprocessing™ portfolios.
• Clariant: Co-leader with Grace in the global silica gel desiccant market and a direct peer in specialty silicas, catalysts, and adsorbents for refining, coatings, and pharmaceutical applications.
• Albemarle Corporation: Specialty chemicals peer with overlapping pharmaceutical fine chemicals capabilities; Grace acquired Albemarle's Fine Chemistry Services business in 2021, indicating direct portfolio overlap in CDMO and catalysts.
• Evonik Industries: German specialty chemicals company with strong positions in silica (AEROSIL®), catalysts, and engineered materials directly competing with Grace's synthetic silicas and specialty catalyst franchises.
• Solvay (Syensqo): Specialty silica producer and broader specialty chemicals competitor with overlap in pharmaceutical excipients, performance silica, and engineered materials serving similar industrial and life sciences customers.

Broad incumbents

• Cabot Corporation: Specialty chemicals and performance materials company with overlap in silica-based products, rubber/industrial additives, and battery materials, serving similar industrial end-markets.
• Dow Chemical: Licensor of UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology to Grace, and one of the world's largest polypropylene producers. Dow is both a critical IP partner and an indirect competitor in polyolefins.
• BASF: World's largest chemical company with overlapping portfolios in catalysts, specialty chemicals, and engineered materials. BASF was also Grace's former rival in polyolefin catalysts before Grace acquired its polyolefin catalyst business in 2016.

Others

• LyondellBasell: One of the world's largest polypropylene producers and a UNIPOL® PP technology licensee customer. Represents both a major licensee (customer relationship) and an indirect competitor through its own PP catalyst and process technology operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wrgraceco
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wrgraceco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wr-grace/mycompany

Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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

M&A13 records

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Grace