CelluForce
CelluForce is a Canadian specialty materials company and the world's largest producer of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), serving industrial formulators in oil & gas, cosmetics, paints and coatings, and packaging through CNC ingredients (CelluRods®) and formulated barrier coatings (CelluShield™).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CelluForce does
CelluForce Inc. is a Canadian specialty materials company and the world's largest producer of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). Founded in 2010 as a joint venture between Domtar and FPInnovations, the company operates a 300-tonne-per-year CNC plant in Windsor, Quebec — a 700x scale-up from the original FPInnovations laboratory pilot — and is jointly owned by Domtar (NYSE: UFS), FPInnovations, SLB (NYSE: SLB), Suzano (NYSE: SUZ), and Investissement Québec.
The company's core technology is a proprietary sulfuric acid hydrolysis process that extracts crystalline cellulose rods (2–5 nm diameter, ~100 nm length) from PEFC-certified wood pulp. These sulfated CNC particles exhibit high aspect ratio, thixotropic behavior, chemical reactivity, and strength comparable to Kevlar. CelluForce commercializes this technology in two ways: as a functional ingredient family (CelluRods® — including 100P spray-dried powder, 100L and 110L aqueous suspensions, and 100PE excipient grade) sold to formulators; and as a formulated end-use product (CelluShield™, launched September 2025), a water-based barrier coating for recyclable flexible packaging with FDA, Health Canada, EU PPWR, and EPR compliance.
The business model is industrial B2B with a hybrid go-to-market: direct enterprise field sales with technical co-development for orders above 150 kg / 150 L, plus a public e-commerce storefront for small quantities and free samples. Pricing is published for SKUs (e.g., 1 kg CelluRods 100P at $100, 15 kg at $750) and quoted for volume. The company serves 14 verticals — primary focus on oil & gas, personal care/cosmetics, paints and coatings, and packaging, with secondary applications in elastomers, cementitious materials, food and beverage, healthcare, electronics, agriculture, adhesives, lubricants, paper, and plastics. Marketing is content-driven through technical blogs, conference participation (TAPPI Nano), LinkedIn, and email, emphasizing sustainability credentials, regulatory compliance, and material science applications.
CelluForce firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CelluForce
- Legal name
- CelluForce Inc.
- Website
- https://celluforce.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CelluForce is a Canadian specialty materials company and the world's largest producer of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), serving industrial formulators in oil & gas, cosmetics, paints and coatings, and packaging through CNC ingredients (CelluRods®) and formulated barrier coatings (CelluShield™).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CelluForce industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cellulose Nanocrystals (Specialty Bio-Based Materials)
- NAICS
- Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252), Chemical Manufacturing (325), Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (32522)
- SIC
- Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820), Pulp Mills (2611), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nanocellulose & Cellulose Derivatives (CNC/CNF, MCC, ethers/esters) (IMAMALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Biodegradable Coatings & Barrier Layers (paper/packaging barriers) (IMAEAOAH), Compostable & Bio-Based Flexible Packaging (PLA, PHA, Cellulose Films) (IMALABAO), Bio-based Packaging Materials (molded fiber, bio-barrier coatings, compostables) (IMAMALAI), Biochemicals & Bio-based Platform Chemicals (cellulose sugars, lignin derivatives, organic acids) (IMAMALAB)
Keywords
Where CelluForce is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
CelluForce business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- CelluRods CNC Ingredient Sales: Sale of CelluRods cellulose nanocrystal ingredients in powder (CelluRods 100P) and liquid suspension (CelluRods 100L, 110L) forms for use in customer formulations across cosmetics, rubbers, adhesives, paints, and other applications.
- CelluShield Barrier Coating Sales: Sale of CelluShield formulated barrier coating product, available as ready-to-use coating for in-house application or as pre-coated films for flexible packaging applications.
- Technical Services and Custom Development: Technical support and collaborative development services working with customers to integrate CNC into their products and develop custom formulations. The company provides application development support and technical assistance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CelluRods 100P Spray-Dried Powder |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CelluRods 100L 7.5% Water Suspension |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CelluRods 110L 8% Water Suspension |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CelluShield 200L Barrier Coating |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
CelluForce product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CelluForce manufactures and sells cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) extracted from wood pulp via a proprietary sulfuric acid hydrolysis process, producing the CelluRods® family (high-purity CNC in spray-dried powder and water-suspension grades for use as functional ingredients in cosmetics, paints, adhesives, rubber, oil and gas fluids, and more) and the CelluShield™ line (a bio-based waterborne barrier coating for flexible plastic packaging). The company operates the world's largest CNC production plant (300 tonnes/year) in Windsor, Quebec.
Product overview
CelluForce is a global leader in cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) development, production, and commercialization. The company offers two main product lines: (1) CelluRods® — a family of high-purity sulfated cellulose nanocrystals available in multiple grades (100P spray-dried powder, 100L and 110L liquid suspensions, and 100PE excipient grade) for use as functional ingredients in cosmetics, rubbers, adhesives, paints, and other formulations; and (2) CelluShield™ — a formulated end-use product, specifically a bio-based waterborne barrier coating for flexible plastic packaging that enables recyclable mono-material structures while providing high oxygen and moisture barrier performance. CelluForce operates the world's largest CNC production plant with capacity of 300 tonnes per year.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CelluRods®: Family of high-purity cellulose nanocrystal ingredients available in powder (CelluRods® 100P) and liquid suspension (CelluRods® 100L, CelluRods® 110L) forms for use in cosmetics, rubbers, adhesives, paints, and other applications.
- CelluShield™
Products and services
- CelluRods® 100P Spray-dried hydrophilic sulfated cellulose nanocrystals in powder form, derived from PEFC-certified wood sources. Sodium-form neutralized CNC available as standard grade and as excipient grade (100PE) conforming with EXCiPACT GMP standards for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. Used as a functional ingredient in cosmetics, rubbers, adhesives, paints, oil and gas fluids, and other formulations.
- CelluRods® 100L 7.5% w/w water suspension of hydrophilic sulfated cellulose nanocrystals with average particle size less than 110 nm. Offers immediately accessible small particle size because the product has never been dried. Sold to industrial formulators across cosmetics, paints, adhesives, oil and gas, and other applications.
- CelluRods® 110L 8% w/w water suspension of hydrophilic sulfated cellulose nanocrystals with average particle size less than 88 nm, designed for applications requiring even smaller particle size such as printed electronics or barrier coatings. Sold to industrial formulators.
- CelluShield™ 200L Water-based ready-to-use single-component gas barrier coating and primer for flexible plastic packaging. Bio-sourced with 8.0–9.0% w/w solids content, providing high oxygen barrier (OTR < 1 cc/m²·day) and low WVTR (~1 g/m²·day) at a target coat weight of 1 gsm. Compatible with PE, PP, and PET films and applied via reverse gravure. Compliant with FDA and Health Canada for use in food packaging applications.
Companies that use CelluForce
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments14 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
CelluForce technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CelluForce partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)supportingNRC IRAP supported the development of CelluShield through technical advisory services, helping bring the breakthrough barrier coating technology to market.
- FPInnovationscoreFPInnovations is a not-for-profit world leader in scientific solutions for the forest sector. They began scaling up CNC production in 2004 and co-founded CelluForce in 2010. FPInnovations collaborated on CelluShield development with funding from Natural Resources Canada's Transformative Technology Program.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CelluForce competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- UPM-Kymmene: Finnish forest products company with growing biomaterials and biochemical businesses, including bio-based barriers and specialty cellulose derivatives. Overlaps with CelluForce in sustainable packaging and bio-based additives.
- Stora Enso: Global pulp and paper giant exploring and commercializing cellulose-based materials for packaging and biomaterials. As a broad incumbent with deep R&D and commercial reach, Stora Enso is a potential competitor and scaling threat to CelluForce's specialty CNC positioning.
Direct peers
- FiberLean Technologies: Joint venture between Imerys and Omya producing microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) for paper and packaging applications. FiberLean is a direct competitor to CelluForce's nanocellulose-based barrier and reinforcement offerings, particularly in paper/paperboard applications.
- Sappi: Global pulp and paper company with a dedicated nanocellulose (CNC) pilot and commercial program. Sappi develops and sells CNC for similar applications (coatings, packaging, composites) and is a direct competitor in the same nano-form cellulose market.
- Melodea: Israeli/Swedish company developing CNC-based barrier coatings for packaging, including oxygen and grease barrier solutions. Melodea is a direct competitor to CelluShield™ in the bio-based barrier coating space for flexible packaging.
- Borregaard: Norwegian specialty biorefining company producing microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and other lignocellulosic biopolymers. Borregaard is one of the closest direct competitors to CelluForce in the nanocellulose space, serving overlapping markets in packaging, cosmetics, and industrial additives.
- Nippon Paper Industries: Japanese pulp and paper manufacturer with a commercial CNF (cellulose nanofiber) business. Nippon Paper produces nanocellulose for packaging and additive applications and competes with CelluForce in the broader specialty cellulose derivatives market.
Emerging players
- Chuetsu Pulp & Paper: Japanese pulp company developing cellulose nanofiber products for industrial applications. While smaller and more regionally focused than CelluForce, Chuetsu overlaps in the nanocellulose production space and serves similar end-markets.
- Inventia Biotech: Developer of bio-based additives and specialty biopolymers for personal care and industrial applications. Adjacent peer sharing some end-markets with CelluForce's cosmetics and personal care CNC ingredient sales.
- Blue Bio Plastics: Niche bioplastics company developing bio-based and compostable packaging materials from cellulose and other renewable feedstocks. Operates as an emerging competitor in the bio-based packaging barrier space that CelluForce is targeting.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CelluForce social profiles
Digital presenceCelluForce compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
CelluForce financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CelluForce leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CelluForce funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CelluForce M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CelluForce
What does CelluForce do?
CelluForce manufactures and sells cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) extracted from wood pulp via a proprietary sulfuric acid hydrolysis process, producing the CelluRods® family (high-purity CNC in spray-dried powder and water-suspension grades for use as functional ingredients in cosmetics, paints, adhesives, rubber, oil and gas fluids, and more) and the CelluShield™ line (a bio-based waterborne barrier coating for flexible plastic packaging). The company operates the world's largest CNC production plant (300 tonnes/year) in Windsor, Quebec.
Is CelluForce a public or private company?
CelluForce is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CelluForce founded?
CelluForce was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CelluForce based?
CelluForce is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does CelluForce make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. CelluRods CNC Ingredient Sales are the primary driver. The others are celluShield Barrier Coating Sales and technical Services and Custom Development.
Who are CelluForce's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are UPM-Kymmene and Stora Enso. Direct peers are FiberLean Technologies, Sappi, Melodea, Borregaard and Nippon Paper Industries. Emerging players are Chuetsu Pulp & Paper, Inventia Biotech and Blue Bio Plastics.
Does CelluForce have an API?
No public API is recorded for CelluForce.
What industry is CelluForce in?
CelluForce's product category is Cellulose Nanocrystals (Specialty Bio-Based Materials). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMALAD, Nanocellulose & Cellulose Derivatives (CNC/CNF, MCC, ethers/esters), with a secondary code of IMALAMAB, Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films). Its NAICS code is 3252 and its SIC code is 2820.