W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. is a global specialty chemicals company manufacturing catalysts, engineered silicas, polypropylene process technology, and pharmaceutical CDMO services for refining, polymer, coatings, and life sciences customers across more than 40 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1832
- HeadquartersColumbia, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. does
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. is a global specialty chemicals company headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, operating across more than 40 countries through 18+ manufacturing sites and 30+ wholly-owned subsidiaries. The company traces its origins to a 1832 shipping business by William Russell Grace and became a specialty chemicals enterprise through the 1954 acquisition of Davison Chemical Company. Grace emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 3, 2014, and joined Standard Industries as the flagship of its Performance Materials platform in 2021; it is now a privately held subsidiary.
The company's revenue is generated through three principal lines: (i) direct sales of specialty chemicals — including FCC and hydroprocessing catalysts, polyolefin catalysts (CONSISTA®, SHAC®, MAGNAPORE®), engineered silicas (SYLOID®, DAVISIL®, LUDOX®, SILSOL®, PERKASIL®), molecular sieves (SAFETYSORB®, SYLOSIV®), and chromatography resins (DAVISIL®, VYDAC®, VYVID™) — to refining, polymer, coatings, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical customers; (ii) licensing of the UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology and UNIPOL UNIPPAC® Process Control Software, currently embedded across 100+ reactor lines at 77+ operating plants and 20+ in design/construction, supplemented by the PPartner Program™ technical services; and (iii) contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services delivered from FDA cGMP-compliant facilities in South Haven, MI and Tyrone, PA, supported by 15 active Drug Master Files.
Grace serves enterprise industrial and pharmaceutical customers through direct field sales and technology licensing, with global technical services and a 925-employee European headquarters in Worms, Germany. Recent strategic activity has emphasized consolidation of downstream catalyst franchises (2025 ART Hydroprocessing full acquisition from Chevron), pharmaceutical capacity expansion (2024 South Haven 25% capacity buildout, 2021 Albemarle Fine Chemistry Services acquisition), and digital process-control buildout (REFLECTN™ cloud simulator, UNIPOL UNIPPAC® APC software).
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
- 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.-Conn. is a global specialty chemicals company manufacturing catalysts, engineered silicas, polypropylene process technology, and pharmaceutical CDMO services for refining, polymer, coatings, and life sciences customers across more than 40 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Chemicals
- NAICS
- Chemical Manufacturing (325), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (3252)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Polymers & Resins (Engineered Materials) (IMAEABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Polyolefins (PE, PP) (IMAEADAD), Polyolefins (PE, PP) (IMAEANAA)
Keywords
Where W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices31 records
Markets served
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Specialty Chemicals and Materials Sales: Direct sale of specialty chemicals including catalysts, silicas, adsorbents, and engineered materials to industrial customers in refining, chemical processing, plastics, coatings, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries.
- UNIPOL® Polypropylene Technology Licensing: Licensing of UNIPOL® PP Process Technology to polypropylene producers globally, including process package, APC software, catalyst offerings, and technical services. Over 77 plants in operation and 20+ in design/construction.
- CDMO/Fine Chemical Manufacturing Services: Contract development and manufacturing organization services for pharmaceutical APIs, cGMP intermediates, regulatory starting materials, and generic APIs from US-based facilities in South Haven, MI and Tyrone, PA.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. manufactures and sells specialty chemicals and engineered materials, including catalysts, synthetic silicas, adsorbents, chromatography resins, and fine chemicals, to industrial customers worldwide. The company licenses its UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology to polypropylene producers and provides contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services for pharmaceutical active ingredients, intermediates, and regulatory starting materials.
Product overview
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. is a global specialty chemicals company organized into four core business segments: Materials Technologies (Adsorbents, Catalysts, Fine Chemicals, Synthetic Silicas), Plastics and Polymers (UNIPOL® PP Process Technology), and Pharmaceutical Solutions. The company's product portfolio includes specialty silica products (SYLOID®, DAVISIL®, LUDOX®, SILSOL®), catalysts (FCC catalysts, CONSISTA®, MAGNAPORE®, RANEY®, SHAC®, ART Hydroprocessing™), and fine chemicals/CDMO services. The UNIPOL® PP technology platform includes the UNIPOL UNIPPAC® Process Control Software, REFLECTN™ Digital Plant Simulator, and CONSISTA® catalysts. Pharmaceutical solutions include chromatography resins (DAVISIL®, VYDAC®, VYVID™), formulation excipients (SYLOID® FP, PERKASIL®), packaging adsorbents (SAFETYSORB®, SYLOSIV®), and active ingredient delivery technology (SILSOL®). Services include custom API manufacturing, RSMs, generic APIs, integrated scale-up, and technical services through the PPartner Program™ for UNIPOL® licensees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SYLOID®: Silica matting agents for coatings and pharmaceutical excipients
- DAVISIL®
- LUDOX®
- ActivCat®
- RANEY®
- MAGNAPORE®
- UNIPOL UNIPPAC®
- UNIPOL®
- CONSISTA®
- REFLECTN™
- VYVID™
- VYDAC®
- FCMS
- SAFETYSORB®
- SYLOSIV®
- PPartner Program™
- ADT
- UNIPOL UNIPPAC®
- SHAC®
Products and services
- UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology Licensed gas-phase process technology that enables licensees to produce polypropylene resins for industrial converters and packaging manufacturers.
- SYLOID® Silica Synthetic amorphous silica products used as carriers, conditioning agents, and functional additives for food, personal care, oral care, coatings, and industrial customers.
- DAVISIL® Chromatography Silica Chromatography-grade silica gels used as purification media in pharmaceutical manufacturing and food ingredient separation processes.
- LUDOX® Colloidal Silica Aqueous colloidal silica products sold as binders, surface modifiers, and anti-slip additives for investment casting, catalysts, coatings, and refractories customers.
- VYDAC® Chromatography Resins Chromatography resins and bulk media used in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical downstream purification and analytical separation workflows.
- VYVID™ Superparamagnetic Silica Superparamagnetic silica consumables used for nucleic acid extraction, sample prep, and bioprocessing workflows by life-science and diagnostic customers.
- MAGNAPORE® Chromium Polyethylene Catalysts Chromium-based polyethylene catalysts sold to polyethylene producers operating UNIPOL® polyethylene process lines.
- CONSISTA® Catalyst Systems Ziegler-Natta polypropylene catalyst portfolio offered to UNIPOL® licensees producing homopolymer, impact copolymer, and random copolymer polypropylene grades.
- ART Hydroprocessing™ Catalysts Hydroprocessing catalysts sold to petroleum refiners producing ultra-low-sulfur diesel and high-quality transportation fuels.
- RANEY® Catalysts Skeletal nickel and cobalt catalysts used in hydrogenation reactions by pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and fine-chemical manufacturers.
- SHAC® Catalysts Single-site non-metallocene polyolefin catalysts offered to polypropylene and polyethylene producers targeting specialty resin grades.
- SAFETYSORB® and SYLOSIV® Molecular Sieves Synthetic zeolite molecular sieve adsorbents and desiccants sold to industrial gas processors, petrochemical plants, and refrigerant manufacturers.
- PERKASIL® Precipitated Silicas Precipitated silica products sold as reinforcing fillers, carriers, and free-flow agents for tire, rubber, and industrial customers.
- SILSOL® Silica Active Ingredient Delivery Silica-based delivery systems used to stabilize and release active ingredients in food, personal care, and oral care formulations.
- UNIPOL UNIPPAC® Advanced Process Control Software Advanced process control software sold to UNIPOL® licensees to monitor, model, and optimize polypropylene and polyethylene plant operations.
- REFLECTN™ Digital Plant Simulator Digital twin simulator offered to UNIPOL® licensees for operator training, scenario testing, and plant performance optimization.
- Pharmaceutical CDMO Services Contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services for custom and generic active pharmaceutical ingredients, regulatory starting materials, and intermediates sold to pharmaceutical innovators and generic drug manufacturers.
Quantifiable outcome
- UNIPOL UNIPPAC® software delivers 5-9% throughput increase, 3-6% off-grade reduction, 3% onstream time improvement
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature12 records
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Steptoe (law firm)minorRepresentatives from W. R. Grace and law firm Steptoe are advising companies on FDA GRAS rule changes.
- Albemarle CorporationcoreAcquired the Fine Chemistry Services business from Albemarle Corporation in 2021, tripling Grace's fine chemical footprint and enabling expansion into health and life sciences markets through chromatography resins and formulation excipients.
- STCminorAcquired STC sealants and coatings business in 2017.
- TricatminorAcquired Tricat catalyst assets in 2016.
- Columbia ChemicalminorAcquired Columbia Chemical coatings additives assets in 2011.
- SynthetechminorAcquired Synthetech in 2010, expanding pharmaceutical fine chemicals capabilities.
- ChevroncoreJoint venture with Chevron launched Advanced Refining Technologies LLC (ART Hydroprocessing™) in 2001 as a leading supplier of hydroprocessing catalysts. In 2025, Grace acquired Chevron's interest, making ART a Grace subsidiary.
- The Dow Chemical CompanycoreLicensed UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology and UNIPOL UNIPPAC® Process Control Software from Dow Chemical Company. Grace is licensed to use these trademarks in the area of polypropylene technology.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Honeywell UOP: Honeywell's UOP division is the dominant global licensor of refining and petrochemical process technologies and a direct competitor to Grace in FCC catalysts, hydroprocessing catalysts (via ART's overlap), and process technology licensing for polyolefins and aromatics.
- Cabot Corporation: Specialty performance chemicals company competing with Grace in specialty silicas, carbon black, and performance materials for similar industrial customer bases.
- Albemarle Corporation: Specialty chemicals company with overlap in catalysts and fine chemicals; Grace acquired Albemarle's Fine Chemistry Services business in 2021, making Albemarle a former-divestiture counterparty and ongoing competitor in bromine/catalyst markets.
- Evonik Industries: German specialty chemicals producer with overlapping silica, catalyst, and adsorbent product lines serving similar refining, coatings, and pharma customers.
- Wacker Chemie: German specialty chemicals company with strong overlap in silicones, polysilicon, and silica/biotech products, competing with Grace's LUDOX® colloidal silica, SYLOID®, and cyclodextrin/fermentation businesses.
- Tosoh Corporation: Japanese chemical company with specialty polymers, catalysts, and chromatography separation media (including Toyopearl® resins) directly overlapping with Grace's polyolefin catalysts, silica products, and VYDAC®/DAVISIL® chromatography franchises.
- Johnson Matthey: UK-based specialty chemicals company focused on catalysts, precious metals, and pharmaceutical services; competes with Grace in refining catalysts and CDMO/pharma services.
- Clariant: Swiss specialty chemicals company with a direct overlap in catalysts, adsorbents, and silica-based additives, competing head-to-head with Grace in refining and polyolefin catalyst markets.
Broad incumbents
- PPG Industries: Global coatings and specialty materials supplier that overlaps with Grace in silica-based coatings additives (SYLOID® matting agents) and serves similar industrial coatings customers, though PPG's portfolio extends broadly into paints and finishes.
- BASF: Largest global chemical company with significant overlap in specialty catalysts, adsorbents, and engineered materials, plus a much broader agricultural, polymers, and performance chemicals portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. social profiles
Digital presenceW. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance13 records
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries16 records
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A13 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
What does W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. do?
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. manufactures and sells specialty chemicals and engineered materials, including catalysts, synthetic silicas, adsorbents, chromatography resins, and fine chemicals, to industrial customers worldwide. The company licenses its UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology to polypropylene producers and provides contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services for pharmaceutical active ingredients, intermediates, and regulatory starting materials.
Is W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. a public or private company?
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. founded?
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. was founded in 1832. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. based?
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. is headquartered in Columbia, United States, in the North America region.
How does W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Specialty Chemicals and Materials Sales are the primary driver. The others are UNIPOL® Polypropylene Technology Licensing and CDMO/Fine Chemical Manufacturing Services.
Who are W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Honeywell UOP, Cabot Corporation, Albemarle Corporation, Evonik Industries, Wacker Chemie, Tosoh Corporation, Johnson Matthey and Clariant. Broad incumbents are PPG Industries and BASF.
Does W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. have an API?
No public API is recorded for W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn..
What industry is W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. in?
W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.'s product category is Specialty Chemicals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEABAK, Specialty Polymers & Resins (Engineered Materials), with a secondary code of IMAEADAD, Polyolefins (PE, PP). Its NAICS code is 325 and its SIC code is 2890.