The Shepherd Chemical Company

What The Shepherd Chemical Company does

The Shepherd Chemical Company, founded in 1916 and headquartered in Norwood, Ohio, is a privately-held, family-owned specialty chemicals manufacturer now in its fifth generation of family leadership under Chairman & CEO Tom Shepherd. The company manufactures metal-based specialty chemicals across 15 metal platforms (Bismuth, Boron, Cerium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Neodymium, Nickel, Titanium, Vanadium, and Zinc), producing over 8 million pounds of Bismuth, Iron, Nickel, Cobalt, and Copper chemicals annually. Core proprietary product lines include BiCAT hydrolytically stable bismuth and zinc polyurethane catalysts (notably BiCAT 8840, the 2016 CPI Polyurethane Innovation Award recipient), BiLUBE bismuth-based extreme pressure lubricant additives, Basic Copper Nitrate oxidizers used in airbag inflators, CoMEND A cobalt-based rubber adhesion promoters for steel-belted radial tires, SCC-XL spherical copper carbonate catalyst precursors for spandex manufacturing, and Bismuth Subcarbonate radiopaque additives for medical imaging catheters.

The company operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct enterprise field sales (regional account managers in North America, EMEA, and China) with exclusive channel partnerships for the BiCAT polyurethane catalyst line: EverChem (US/Canada), Quimidroga (Europe), Shanghai E-Heng (China), Nagase (Japan), and Multiwinners (Taiwan). Approximately 45-50% of the portfolio is custom co-developed for proprietary customer applications, a model the company positions as a core differentiator. Manufacturing is conducted at facilities in Norwood and Middletown, Ohio, and Mirecourt, France (acquired in the 1990s), with a manufacturing partnership with Red Avenue added in China during the 2020s; sales offices operate in Shanghai and Tokyo. Customers include 17 of the top 20 global radial tire companies, Honeywell, INVISTA, leading airbag manufacturers, and leading medical device manufacturers, with products shipped to 57 countries.

The company maintains ISO 9001:2015 (continuously since 1994), Responsible Care Management System, REACH, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, FDA 21 CFR Part 11, and EcoVadis certifications, and is one of few firms globally capable of safely handling hexavalent chromium. Recent strategic activity includes a 2026 partnership with Green Graphite Technologies for battery-grade graphite, capacity expansions in the US and Europe, and entry into sustainable aviation fuel pre-catalysts (nickel octoate) and battery additives as forward-looking verticals.

Name

The Shepherd Chemical Company

Legal name

The Shepherd Chemical Company

Website

https://shepchem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Shepherd Chemical Company is a fifth-generation, family-owned specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1916, producing proprietary metal-based chemistries across 15 metals for automotive, healthcare, polyurethane, petrochemical, and industrial customers in 57 countries through direct sales and exclusive regional distribution partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Metal Chemicals

NAICS

Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (325212)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Catalysts & Adsorbents (IMAEABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Petrochemical & Polymerization Catalysts (IMAEAIAB), Textile, Leather & Paper Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAM)

Keywords

• Specialty metal chemicals
• Metal carboxylate catalysts
• Polyurethane catalysts
• Lubricant additives
• Radiopaque additives

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Metal Chemicals Manufacturing: Manufacturing and sale of metal-based specialty chemicals including metal carboxylates, nitrates, and inorganic salts. Products sold to industrial customers across automotive, healthcare, petrochemical, and other sectors.
2. Custom Co-Development Manufacturing: Proprietary custom-developed chemistry manufactured exclusively for customers. Approximately 45-50% of portfolio is custom co-developed for proprietary applications.
3. Standard Product Portfolio: Standard metal chemistry products catalog with 83+ products across 15 metals for various industrial applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Shepherd Chemical manufactures and supplies metal-based specialty chemicals including metal carboxylates, metal nitrates, and inorganic metal salts built around 15 metal platforms (Bismuth, Boron, Cerium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Neodymium, Nickel, Titanium, Vanadium, Zinc). The portfolio spans proprietary BiCAT polyurethane catalysts, BiLUBE lubricant additives, Basic Copper Nitrate for airbag inflators, cobalt-based rubber adhesion promoters for radial tires, bismuth subcarbonate radiopaque additives for medical imaging, and spherical copper carbonate catalyst precursors for spandex manufacturing. Approximately 45-50% of the portfolio is custom co-developed in collaboration with customers from lab through commercial scale.

Product overview

The Shepherd Chemical Company offers a comprehensive portfolio of metal and specialty chemistry products organized around 15 different metal platforms (Bismuth, Boron, Cerium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Neodymium, Nickel, Titanium, Vanadium, and Zinc). The core product offerings include proprietary BiCAT polyurethane catalysts (BiCAT 8840, BiCAT 8, BiCAT Z) that serve as safer alternatives to lead and mercury compounds; BiLUBE extreme pressure lubricant additives (BiLUBE 8109, BiLUBE 8211) for automotive and industrial lubrication; specialty catalysts including Spherical Copper Carbonate XL for spandex manufacturing and Basic Copper Nitrate for airbag pyrotechnic systems; radiopaque additives like Bismuth Subcarbonate for medical imaging; and cobalt-based adhesion promoters (CoMEND A, Cobalt 21) for rubber and unsaturated polyester resin applications. The company operates on a custom co-development model, with approximately 45-50% of their portfolio being custom co-developed for proprietary applications. Products are manufactured in facilities in Norwood, Ohio and Mirecourt, France, with distribution through partners including EverChem, Quimidroga, Shanghai E-Heng, and Nagase.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BiCAT®: Proprietary line of bismuth and zinc-based polyurethane catalysts including BiCAT 8 and BiCAT 8840 for polyurethane foams, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers.
• BiLUBE®
• BiCATs®

Products and services

• BiCAT 8840 A patented bismuth carboxylate mixture catalyst for polyurethane applications, designed as the first truly hydrolytically stable bismuth catalyst for polyurethane systems, offering safer alternatives to toxic lead and mercury compounds.
• BiCAT 8 Bismuth-based polyurethane catalyst for two-component polyurethane systems where controlled viscosity build and reliable process window are important.
• BiCAT Z Zinc carboxylate used as a polyurethane catalyst, providing formulation flexibility for reactivity and final network properties.
• BiLUBE 8109 Bismuth carboxylate-based extreme pressure and anti-wear lubricant additive for oils and greases, supporting protection of moving metal components.
• BiLUBE 8211 Bismuth carboxylate mixture based on Bismuth Octoate, used as an extreme pressure lubricant additive for oils and greases.
• Basic Copper Nitrate (BCN) Highly specialized pyrotechnic generant used as an oxidizer in airbag generant formulations, providing high gas output while maintaining consistent morphology and stability. Shepherd produces over 8 million pounds annually.
• Spherical Copper Carbonate XL (SCC-XL) Advanced ethynylation catalyst precursor technology for the fabrication of spandex, designed to enhance performance, optimize surface area, limit particle fracturing, and increase catalyst life.
• Spherical Copper Carbonate Copper carbonate catalyst precursor used in ethynylation processes for spandex manufacturing.
• CoMEND A Cobalt-based adhesion promoter for rubber applications, specifically designed for steel belted radial tire manufacturing.
• Zinc Octoate, 22% Zn Zinc carboxylate that reacts with hydrogen sulfide, positioned as an H2S scavenger for oil and gas operations.
• Nickel Octoate, 8% MS Nickel carboxylate pre-catalyst for sustainable aviation fuels oligomerization pathways, used as a catalyst and pre-catalyst for various industrial applications including SAF.
• Bismuth Subcarbonate Bismuth-based radiopaque additive used as an opacifier in catheter tubing, X-ray diagnostics, and other medical-related applications, making polymer components visible under X-ray imaging.
• Cobalt 21 Cobalt-based catalyst for unsaturated polyester resin systems that enables cross-linking with lower viscosity for optimal performance.
• Bismuth Octoate 8.2% Bismuth carboxylate for polyurethane applications including curatives and cross-linkers.
• Cerium Octoate, 23% Ce Cerium-based compound used in PTFE production, as an additive in organic formulas to create non-stick coatings.
• Chromium Octoate, 5.5% Cr Chromium-based catalyst used in polyolefin manufacture, crosslinking catalysts in adhesive formulations, and specialty polymer applications.
• Custom Co-Development Services Collaborative product development service where Shepherd partners with customers from discovery through commercialization, utilizing lab, pilot/kilo, and commercialization scale manufacturing in US and France.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 8 million pounds of metal chemistry produced annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Green Graphite TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Partnership to bring cleaner, cost-effective battery-grade graphite to North American electric vehicle and energy storage markets. Collaboration on battery additives for advanced energy storage solutions.
• Red AvenuecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020China manufacturing partnership with Red Avenue established in the 2020s to amplify manufacturing capacity in Asia alongside existing Shanghai operations.
• HoneywellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Honeywell on development of hydrolytically stable BiCAT polyurethane catalysts. Shepherd was awarded the 2016 CPI Polyurethane Innovation Award for this technology developed with the industry partner.
• INVISTAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with INVISTA to design SCC XL spherical copper carbonate with enhanced performance, optimized surface area, and limited fracturing during BYD manufacturing process for spandex production.
• EverChemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for BiCAT polyurethane catalysts in US and Canada.
• QuimidrogacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for BiCAT polyurethane catalysts in Europe. Celebrating over a decade of partnership.
• Shanghai E-HengcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for BiCAT polyurethane catalysts in China.
• NagasecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for BiCAT polyurethane catalysts in Japan.
• Multi winnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for BiCAT polyurethane catalysts in Taiwan.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Clariant: Swiss-headquartered specialty chemicals company with catalysts, additives, and metal-based specialties that overlap with Shepherd's polyurethane catalysts, lubricant additives, and polymer additive offerings.
• Evonik Industries: Global specialty chemicals major with metal-based catalysts, polyurethane additives, rubber and lubricant additive portfolios that directly overlap with Shepherd's BiCAT and BiLUBE franchises.
• Lanxess: Specialty additives company with a Rubber Additives and Tire & Specialty Rubbers business serving the same radial tire and rubber customers; competes head-to-head with Shepherd's CoMEND A cobalt carboxylates.
• Momentive Performance Materials: Specialty additives and catalysts manufacturer focused on polyurethanes, silicones and crosslinkers that overlap with Shepherd's BiCAT polyurethane catalyst portfolio and specialty cross-linker chemistries.
• Element Solutions Inc. Diversified specialty chemicals maker with metal-organic chemistry, additives for electronics/industrial applications and similar custom formulation business serving industrial customers.
• BASF: Largest global chemicals player with extensive polyurethane catalysts, performance additives and metal-based specialties that compete with Shepherd's BiCAT, BiLUBE and battery/SAF chemistry initiatives.

Direct peers

• Shepherd Color Company: Spun off from The Shepherd Chemical Company in the 1980s and based in West Chester, OH; manufactures metal-oxide color pigments and complex inorganic colorants using the same Shepherd family tradition of metal chemistry, sharing founder DNA and customer profiles.
• PMC Group: Privately held, family-influenced specialty chemicals group with a custom compounding and co-development model across metal-based additives, plastics and rubber—closely analogous to Shepherd's enterprise profile and go-to-market.
• Vertellus: Privately held specialty chemicals producer of metal-based and fine chemical intermediates serving healthcare, personal care, and industrial markets—parallel niche specialty chemicals scale and customer mix to Shepherd.
• Bruggemann: German specialty chemicals maker of metal-based additives, polymerization catalysts, and rubber/plastic processing aids—closely matching Shepherd's BiCAT, BiLUBE and CoMEND A portfolios in technology and end-customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shepchemical
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-shepherd-chemical-company

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about The Shepherd Chemical Company