Specialty Granules
Specialty Granules LLC is a US mining and mineral processing company that produces roofing granules, construction aggregates, and agricultural soil amendments from volcanic basalt and meta-andesite deposits. It operates six plants nationwide as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Standard Industries, supplying asphalt shingle manufacturers, construction firms, and farmers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1923
- HeadquartersHagerstown, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Specialty Granules does
Specialty Granules LLC (SGI) is a US mining and mineral processing company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Hagerstown, Maryland, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Standard Industries (the diversified conglomerate that also owns GAF). The company operates six production plants across California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Wisconsin, extracting and processing volcanic basalt, meta-andesite, and (since 2023) limestone into three product lines: roofing granules for asphalt shingles, construction aggregates and specialty building materials, and pelletized soil amendments for agriculture. SGI is one of only twelve roofing granule quarries in North America and the leading producer of metabasalt, with reserves drawn from geologically rare deposits described as over 820 million years old.
The company's product portfolio is anchored by proprietary mineral processing technology, most notably its patented Aqueous Post-Treatment (AQPT) process for roofing granules, which eliminates petroleum oil used in conventional dust control while delivering truer color and higher solar reflectivity. SGI has built a sustained patent engine (15+ active US patents across roofing, construction, agricultural, and CO2-treated particle technologies) and a vertically integrated value chain spanning mining, crushing, coloring, pelletization, and toll manufacturing through its Advanced Pelletization Plant. Beyond roofing, SGI sells natural pozzolan supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) that lower concrete's carbon footprint, standard construction aggregates, railroad ballast, and jetty armor stone.
SGI monetizes primarily through B2B hardware sales to three customer segments: asphalt shingle manufacturers (enterprise sales via technical teams), construction and infrastructure buyers (aggregates, ballast, SCM), and agricultural operations (pelletized soil amendments including the MagmaHume and Mineralift brands, plus emerging enhanced-rock-weathering carbon-sequestration offerings validated with UC Davis and Cornell). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; products are shipped via rail or truck. Growth has been funded internally under Standard Industries ownership, with no external funding rounds, and is being accelerated through M&A (Panamint Valley Limestone acquisition, October 2023), quarry expansion (Ione), and new-product development across agricultural and carbon-capture verticals.
Specialty Granules firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Specialty Granules
- Legal name
- Specialty Granules LLC
- Website
- https://specialtygranules.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1923
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Specialty Granules LLC is a US mining and mineral processing company that produces roofing granules, construction aggregates, and agricultural soil amendments from volcanic basalt and meta-andesite deposits. It operates six plants nationwide as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Standard Industries, supplying asphalt shingle manufacturers, construction firms, and farmers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Specialty Granules industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Industrial Minerals
- NAICS
- Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (2123), Other Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (21239)
- SIC
- Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400), Asphalt Paving & Roofing Materials (2950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aggregate Processing & Value-Added Products (Washing, Screening, Asphalt/Concrete Aggregates) (IMAKAHAH)
Keywords
Where Specialty Granules is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hagerstown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Specialty Granules business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Roofing Products: Manufacture and sale of roofing granules for asphalt shingles including standard granules, solar reflective granules, algae-resistant granules, headlap granules, and backsurfacing. Products sold to asphalt shingle manufacturers across North America.
- Building Materials: Production and sale of construction aggregates, railroad ballast, boulders for armor and jetty stone, supplementary cementitious materials, clinker feed, and mineral filler. Products meet local, state, and federal specifications.
- Agricultural Products: Sale of soil amendments including Mineralift (pelletized basalt with activated humics), SGI Metabasalt fines, and custom pelletized products through toll manufacturing at the Advanced Pelletization Plant. Also includes carbon capture partnerships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Specialty Granules product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Specialty Granules is a mining and mineral processing company that extracts volcanic basalt and meta-andesite rock from six regional quarries to manufacture roofing granules, construction aggregates, and agricultural soil amendments. Its products protect asphalt shingles on more than 2.5 million North American homes annually, supply infrastructure-grade aggregates and specialty cementitious materials, and deliver OMRI-listed mineral soil enhancers such as Mineralift and SGI Metabasalt. The company also offers toll-manufacturing pelletization services at its Advanced Pelletization Plant in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
Product overview
Specialty Granules LLC (SGI) is a mining and mineral processing company offering three distinct product lines: roofing products, building materials, and agricultural products. The roofing division includes standard roofing granules, solar reflective granules, algae resistant granules, headlap granules, and backsurfacing for asphalt shingles. The building materials division provides aggregates, railroad ballast, armor/jetty boulders, supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), clinker feed, and mineral filler. The agriculture division offers Mineralift (basalt + humics blend), SGI Metabasalt Soil Enhancer, and custom pelletization services through the Advanced Pelletization Plant. SGI operates 7 locations nationwide and is a Standard Industries company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mineralift: Agricultural product formulated with activated humics and crushed basalt to improve soil health and fertility, available in pelletized formula.
- SGI Metabasalt
- MagmaHume
Products and services
- Standard Roofing Granules Roofing granules manufactured from highly specific, uniform, durable rock and coated with water-based, semi-ceramic color. Available in a variety of colors with custom and bespoke blend options; designed for use by asphalt shingle manufacturers.
- Solar Reflective Roofing Granules Roofing granules providing high Total Solar Reflectance (TSR) to limit transmission of solar infrared radiation through shingles, reducing heat load to buildings for energy and cost savings; supports cool roof applications.
- Copper Color Guard Algae Resistant Granules Copper-impregnated roofing granules that mitigate discoloration caused by terrestrial blue-green algae when used as uniform blend on asphalt shingles.
- Headlap Granules Granules used on the unexposed portion of asphalt roofing shingles to provide additional protection and durability from the elements.
- Backsurfacing Fine mineral granules applied to the underside of asphalt roofing shingles to prevent shingles from adhering to each other when bundled for storage and transport.
- Construction Aggregates Construction aggregates that meet or exceed local and state specifications for use in asphalt, ready-mix, and general construction applications.
- Railroad Ballast High-quality, CN-specification railroad ballast that ensures proper rail stability, drainage, and vegetation management.
- Boulders for Armor and Jetty Stone U.S. Army Corps-approved boulders for harbor protection or erosion mitigation, also usable as functional or decorative rock.
- Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) Environmentally friendly natural pozzolan alternative to traditional Fly Ash for ready-mix operators. Meets ASTM 618N specifications and reduces the carbon footprint of concrete production.
- Clinker Feed Pre-milled component rich in silica, iron, and alumina with zero to trace levels of organics and heavy metals.
- Mineral Filler Ultra-fine mineral filler for performance and economic incentives by replacing CaCO3 in various applications.
- Mineralift Agricultural product formulated with activated humics and crushed basalt. Improves soil health and fertility via improved moisture retention, reduced compaction, and micronutrient uptake; OMRI-listed for organic applications.
- SGI Metabasalt Soil Enhancer Crushed metabasalt (greenstone) fines providing essential nutrients and trace elements to support healthy soil and crops. OMRI-listed for organic use; proven to increase crop yield, microbial respiration, and growth medium pH; also used for carbon capture via Enhanced Rock Weathering.
- MagmaHume Mineral-rich soil and plant fortifier developed through partnership with Monty's Plant Food Company and OrganoCat. Contains activated humics and metabasalt derived from SGI's U.S. quarries and is available in dry pellet form for agricultural use.
- Advanced Pelletization Plant (APT) Toll Manufacturing Custom manufacturing and toll-manufacturing services at SGI's Advanced Pelletization Plant in Waynesboro, PA. Facility equipped with pin mixer, disc pelletizer, and fluid bed dryer for granulation; supports development of bespoke pelletized products with dry and liquid raw material handling, quality assurance, and development capabilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 17.5 bushel per acre increase in corn yield with MagmaHume product
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Specialty Granules
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Specialty Granules technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Specialty Granules partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Adams County Conservation District (ACCD)minorPartnership for stream improvement project along 200 linear feet of Toms Creek near SGI's Charmian Plant. SGI supplies native rock from Charmian Plant for stream bank stabilization and habitat improvement. Project designed to control stream velocity, stabilize erosion, and protect G. Donald McLaughlin Memorial Covered Bridge.
- University of California, DaviscoreAcademic research partnership studying enhanced rock weathering using SGI metabasalt. UC Davis scientists conducted field studies showing carbon storage even during extreme drought conditions in California. Study published in Environmental Research Communications. Part of Working Lands Innovation Center.
- Cornell UniversitycoreAcademic research partnership with Professor Benjamin Z. Houlton (Ronald P. Lynch Dean of College of Agriculture and Life Sciences) leading global modeling on enhanced rock weathering. Research shows potential for farmers to capture 5-10 billion tons of CO2 annually if implemented globally.
- Panamint Valley LimestonecoreAcquisition of Panamint Valley Limestone (PVL), a southern California quarry mining limestone for building materials. PVL's quarry in the Panamint Range outside Death Valley produces very pure pre-Cambrian limestone and dolomite, qualified to provide four grades of material for building materials, soil conditioning, and water treatment.
- Hagerstown Community CollegeminorPartnership for Heavy Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Journeyman Apprenticeship Program. HCC provides Related Technical Instruction while SGI's Charmian Plant provides on-the-job training. Program approved by Maryland Department of Labor Apprenticeship Council.
- V6 AgronomycorePartnership to make sustainable farming mainstream using metabasalt soil amendments. V6 Agronomy, based in Ontario, Canada, purchases SGI materials to develop the market for remineralization and carbon sequestration on commercial farm operations. Early trials show benefits for corn, soybeans, hemp, and grains.
- Horizon Goodwill IndustriesminorPartnership to support Heavy Metal Playground's equipment training program. SGI created an Equipment Locker with PPE (boots, shirts, coats) for participants, donated water coolers and supplies, and provides graduates with steel-toe boots, work pants, and polo shirts for job interviews. HR personnel conduct mock interviews for interview preparation.
- Heavy Metal PlaygroundminorPartner providing heavy equipment training program offering 120 hours of classroom and hands-on training for three OSHA-compliant certifications (Excavator Operation & Safety, Excavation & Trench Safety, Skid Steer Operation & Safety). SGI supports program participants with equipment and interview preparation assistance.
- Monty's Plant Food CompanycoreStrategic partnership to develop MagmaHume, a mineral-rich soil and plant fortifier combining Monty's activated humics with SGI's metabasalt rock fines. Product shows promise in boosting crop yield while reducing farmer's carbon footprint. Monty's provides proprietary activated humics; SGI provides mineral-rich metabasalt derived from U.S. quarries.
- OrganoCatcorePartner in the MagmaHume development partnership. OrganoCat contributed advanced agro-geology expertise and activated organic substances to create a scientific symbiosis between organic substances and processed minerals. Dr. Alexander Shulgin, Co-founder and CTO, developed technology for binding radioactive isotopes for Chernobyl mitigation.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Specialty Granules competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Summit Materials: U.S. heavy-side building materials producer with vertically integrated aggregate, cement, and ready-mix operations. Comparable in scale and product mix to SGI's building materials segment, with similar exposure to infrastructure and construction cycles.
- U.S. Silica Holdings: Major U.S. producer of industrial silica sand and specialty minerals serving oil and gas, glass, building products, and industrial end markets. Comparable as a publicly-traded specialty industrial minerals mining company with similar scale and processing capabilities, though focused on silica rather than volcanic hard rock.
- Imerys: France-based global leader in mineral-based specialty solutions, including performance minerals for roofing, construction, and industrial applications. Comparable as a specialty industrial minerals processor with similar downstream value-added product portfolios and global customer relationships.
- Minerals Technologies Inc. U.S.-based specialty minerals producer with operations in precipitated calcium carbonate, bentonite, and industrial minerals serving construction, environmental, and consumer markets. Comparable as a science-driven specialty minerals company with proprietary processing technologies and a focus on value-added downstream products.
- CEMEX USA: Major U.S. aggregates and cement producer operating quarries and plants nationwide. Comparable as a large-scale hard rock miner with vertically integrated downstream building materials offerings serving similar construction and infrastructure end markets.
- Vulcan Materials Company: Largest U.S. producer of construction aggregates (crushed stone, sand and gravel) with nationwide plant network. While Vulcan focuses on construction aggregates at massive scale, its mining, processing, and value-added aggregate operations closely parallel SGI's building materials business.
- Martin Marietta Materials: Major U.S. supplier of aggregates (crushed stone, sand, gravel) and specialty products including roofing granules through its Magnesia Specialties business. Most directly comparable large-scale peer with vertical integration across aggregate production and downstream value-added construction materials.
- Holcim: Global building materials leader with significant U.S. aggregates, cement, and ready-mix concrete operations. Comparable as a diversified aggregates producer with sustainability initiatives (low-carbon cement, SCM alternatives) that align with SGI's natural pozzolan SCM strategy.
Emerging players
- Lithos Carbon: Early-stage carbon removal company using enhanced rock weathering on agricultural land, deploying basalt dust on U.S. farmland. Most directly comparable emerging player in SGI's ERW and agricultural carbon capture business, with potential to become a customer or strategic partner given SGI's leading North American metabasalt production.
Direct peers
- SEFA Group: U.S. leader in fly ash processing and supplementary cementitious materials for the concrete industry, including operations adjacent to SGI's natural pozzolan SCM business. Most directly comparable peer in the SCM segment as the construction industry transitions away from fly ash toward alternative cementitious materials.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Specialty Granules social profiles
Digital presenceSpecialty Granules compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Specialty Granules financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Specialty Granules leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Specialty Granules subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Specialty Granules funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Specialty Granules 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 Specialty Granules
What does Specialty Granules do?
Specialty Granules is a mining and mineral processing company that extracts volcanic basalt and meta-andesite rock from six regional quarries to manufacture roofing granules, construction aggregates, and agricultural soil amendments. Its products protect asphalt shingles on more than 2.5 million North American homes annually, supply infrastructure-grade aggregates and specialty cementitious materials, and deliver OMRI-listed mineral soil enhancers such as Mineralift and SGI Metabasalt. The company also offers toll-manufacturing pelletization services at its Advanced Pelletization Plant in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
Is Specialty Granules a public or private company?
Specialty Granules is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Specialty Granules founded?
Specialty Granules was founded in 1923. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Specialty Granules based?
Specialty Granules is headquartered in Hagerstown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Specialty Granules make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Roofing Products are the primary driver. The others are building Materials and agricultural Products.
Who are Specialty Granules's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Summit Materials, U.S. Silica Holdings, Imerys, Minerals Technologies Inc., CEMEX USA, Vulcan Materials Company, Martin Marietta Materials and Holcim. Lithos Carbon is listed as an emerging player. SEFA Group is listed as a direct peer.
Does Specialty Granules have an API?
No public API is recorded for Specialty Granules.
What industry is Specialty Granules in?
Specialty Granules's product category is Specialty Industrial Minerals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAHAH, Aggregate Processing & Value-Added Products (Washing, Screening, Asphalt/Concrete Aggregates). Its NAICS code is 2123 and its SIC code is 1400.