Synthesia

What Synthesia does

Synthesia, a.s. is a Czech Republic-based specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1920 and headquartered in Pardubice, with 1,001-5,000 employees. The company operates a diversified product platform organized around organic pigments and dyes (VERSAL brand), active pharmaceutical ingredients (Vitamin D2, Mitoxantrone hydrochloride), pesticides (Phenmedipham technical), organic intermediates, aromatic isocyanates, and custom synthesis services, along with supporting power engineering and Semtin Zone real estate services. Its core technological capabilities include nitration (20+ reactors in stainless, carbon, and glass-lined configurations), hydrogenation (two Buss Loop reactors with on-site hydrogen generation), and over 50 years of phosgenation experience with a 4,500 tons/year capacity, all operated through a wholly-owned R&D subsidiary VUOS.

Synthesia's business model is B2B direct sales-led, with dedicated sales managers for each product line, technical customer service, and custom synthesis engagements under strict confidentiality. It sells into more than 50 countries for pigments and dyes and 60+ countries for nitrocellulose products (now largely housed in the spun-off subsidiary Synthesia Nitrocellulose, a.s., 51% of which was acquired by Colt CZ Group SE with closing in January 2026). Revenue is generated through one-time purchase contracts for specialty chemical shipments, supplemented by custom synthesis service agreements and small-quantity retail sales at the Pardubice site. Pricing is quotation-based with no public disclosure, and the company holds GMP, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, and REACH certifications supporting its pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and industrial customer base.

The company is privately held with no public listing or disclosed institutional investors. Recent strategic actions include the 2024 spin-off of the nitrocellulose business, the Colt CZ partial acquisition, the April 2025 launch of the Versal Black B (PBk 31) perylene pigment, and an April 2026 pigment price increase announcement. Geographic expansion is evidenced through sustained presence at CPhI, Chemspec Europe, and European Coatings Show trade events.

Name

Synthesia

Legal name

Synthesia, a.s.

Website

https://synthesia.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Synthesia is a Pardubice-based Czech specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1920 producing organic pigments, dyes, pharmaceutical APIs, pesticides, organic intermediates, and custom synthesis services for industrial B2B customers across 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals Manufacturing

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (32519), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532), Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Synthesis & Technical Active Ingredient (AI) Manufacturing (intermediates, actives) (AFABAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compounding Ingredient & API Distributors (Pharma Supply) (HLAIAJAO), Bio-based Solvents & Process Chemicals (e.g., bio-acetone, bio-butanol, bio-IPA, green solvents) (EUAAAIAB)

Keywords

• Specialty chemicals manufacturing
• Organic pigments
• Custom synthesis services
• Pharmaceutical active ingredients
• Industrial nitrocellulose

Headquarters

HQ city

Pardubice

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pigments and Dyes: Sale of organic pigments (classical azo and high-performance pigments) and organic dyes for textiles, leather, paper, and wood applications. Includes optical brightening agents.
2. Organic Intermediates and Custom Synthesis: Production of advanced organic intermediates and custom synthesis services (24 products for customers in Europe and the US) generating over 12 million EUR in revenue. Technologies include nitration, hydrogenation, phosgenation, condensation, distillation, crystallization.
3. Pharmaceutical Active Ingredients: Production and export of pharmaceutical active ingredients (Vitamin D2, Mitoxantrone hydrochloride) to more than 30 countries worldwide, compliant with Ph.EUR and USP Pharmacopeias.
4. Pesticides: Production of pesticides in the form of technical materials with over 40 years of tradition, including Phenmedipham technical 97%.
5. Nitrocellulose and Derivatives: European leader in nitrocellulose production with over 100 years of tradition. Products include energetic nitrocellulose (for propellants and explosives), industrial nitrocellulose (for coatings and printing inks), diethyl ether, inorganic acids and salts, and oxycellulose (OKCEL hemostatic brand). Exported to more than 60 countries.
6. Power Engineering Services: Production and distribution of electricity and heat (steam) for production divisions and external business entities.
7. Semtin Zone Services: Real estate sales and rentals in the largest chemical and industrial zone in the region.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Synthesia, a.s. is a Czech specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1920 that produces organic pigments and dyes (including the VERSAL brand), active pharmaceutical ingredients (Vitamin D2, Mitoxantrone hydrochloride), pesticides, custom synthesis and intermediates, aromatic isocyanates, and nitrocellulose products (energetic and industrial, plus diethyl ether, inorganic acids/salts, and OKCEL oxycellulose). The company also operates supporting services including its own power engineering facility, the Semtin Zone industrial real estate, and the VUOS R&D institute for organic syntheses.

Product overview

Synthesia is a Czech-based European manufacturer of specialty chemicals established in 1920, operating under a platform-plus-divisions model with multiple strategic business units. The company offers a diversified portfolio organized around four main product lines: (1) Pigments and Dyes division covering organic pigments (including VERSAL brand) and organic dyes for textiles, coatings, plastics, printing inks, leather, paper, and wood applications; (2) Organic Chemistry division providing active pharmaceutical ingredients (Vitamin D2, Mitoxantrone hydrochloride), pesticides, custom synthesis services (nitration, hydrogenation, phosgenation), intermediates, and aromatic isocyanates; (3) Nitrocellulose division (spun off into separate company Synthesia Nitrocellulose, a.s.) producing energetic nitrocellulose for propellants and explosives, industrial nitrocellulose Type E for surface coatings and printing inks, diethyl ether, inorganic acids and salts, and oxycellulose (OKCEL brand hemostatics); and (4) supporting services including power engineering and the Semtin Zone industrial real estate. The company exports to more than 50 countries worldwide and is the only manufacturer of organic pigments and dyes in the Czech Republic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VERSAL: Brand of organic pigments for coatings, printing inks, and plastics applications
• OKCEL

Products and services

• Organic Pigments (VERSAL brand) High-quality organic pigments (classical azo and high-performance) for coloring plastics, fibers, paints, and printing inks, including aqueous and non-aqueous pigment preparations sold under the VERSAL brand.
• Organic Dyes Dyes for dyeing and calico-printing of natural and synthetic materials including cotton, flax, wool, silk, PAD, and PES, plus leather, fur, paper, and wood dyes. Selected dyes carry GOTS Letter of Approval for organic textile use.
• Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (Vitamin D2, Mitoxantrone hydrochloride) GMP-certified production of pharmaceutical active ingredients compliant with Ph.EUR and USP Pharmacopeias, including Vitamin D2 (nearly 60 years of tradition) and Mitoxantrone hydrochloride. Drug Master Files certified in many countries.
• Pesticides (Phenmedipham technical 97%) Technical pesticide materials produced with over 40 years of tradition, including Phenmedipham technical 97% (CAS 13684-63-4).
• Custom Synthesis Services Complex contract custom synthesis of organic compounds using nitration, hydrogenation, phosgenation, condensation, distillation, crystallization, and other specialized reactions under strict IP confidentiality. Produces 24 products for customers in Europe and the US generating over 12 million EUR in revenue.
• Organic Intermediates Organic intermediates for gunpowder production, pharmaceutical ingredients, phosgenation, and aromatic isocyanates, leveraging nitration, hydrogenation, and phosgenation capabilities.
• Aromatic Isocyanates Aromatic isocyanates produced using phosgenation technology for plastics, agrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries, including 1-Naphthyl isocyanate, Cyclohexyl isocyanate, 2-Phenylethyl isocyanate, 4-Tolyl isocyanate, and halogenated derivatives.
• Energetic Nitrocellulose Nitrocellulose with more than 100 years of production tradition, used for manufacturing smokeless powders, propellants, gelatinized industrial explosives, and special pyrotechnic applications.
• Industrial Nitrocellulose (Type E) Industrial nitrocellulose with 11.8-12.3% nitrogen content and over 70 years of production tradition, used in surface coatings for wood, leather, and metals, printing inks, nail lacquers, and special analytical and medical membranes.
• Diethyl Ether Environmentally friendly oxygenated solvent used in various industrial applications.
• Inorganic Acids and Salts Basic inorganic acids including sulfuric acid and nitric acid in various concentrations and purities, plus oleum, nitration mixtures, and sodium nitrate.
• Oxycellulose (OKCEL hemostatic brand) Oxidized cellulose product sold as OKCEL-brand hemostatics for medical/surgical hemostasis applications.
• Power Engineering Service Production and distribution of electricity and heat (steam) for Synthesia's production divisions and external business entities.
• Semtin Zone Real Estate Service Real estate sales and rentals within the largest chemical and industrial zone in the Pardubice region.
• VUOS R&D Services (Research Institute for Organic Syntheses) Specialized research services for the development, testing, and production of chemical specialties, supporting SBU Organic Chemistry and external clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivers products to more than 40 countries worldwide through SBU Organic Chemistry alone
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VUOS (Výzkumný ústav organických syntéz, a.s.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Institute for Organic Syntheses - specialized research team providing R&D services for SBU Organic Chemistry. The institute supports development, testing and production of chemical specialties, including optimization of manufacturing technologies.
• GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected Synthesia organic dyes have received GOTS Letter of Approval, enabling use in certified organic textile production.
• ETAD (Ecological and Toxicological Association of Dyes and Organic Pigments Manufacturers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSynthesia is a member of ETAD, the international association of dyes and organic pigments manufacturers focused on ecology and toxicology.
• European and US Custom Synthesis CustomerscoreOthersCustom synthesis services provided to customers in Europe and the United States, producing 24 products under strict confidentiality protection.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DCL Corporation: DCL Corporation (formerly Dominion Colour Corporation) is a global manufacturer of high-performance and classical organic pigments, directly comparable to Synthesia's Pigments & Dyes business unit (VERSAL brand) serving coatings, plastics, and printing inks customers.
• Heubach Group: Heubach is a leading European manufacturer of organic and inorganic pigments with comparable product breadth and customer end-markets (coatings, plastics, printing inks), making it one of Synthesia's closest direct competitors in pigments.
• DyStar Group: DyStar is a global leader in dyes and auxiliary chemicals for textile and leather industries, directly comparable to Synthesia's textile/leather/paper dye product lines and overlapping customer base.
• WeylChem International: WeylChem International is a European custom synthesis and toll manufacturing specialist for fine chemicals, closely mirroring Synthesia's custom synthesis segment and its 24-product European/US customer book.

Broad incumbents

• Sun Chemical: Sun Chemical (part of DIC Corporation) is one of the world's largest producers of pigments and printing inks, overlapping with Synthesia's pigments and dye offerings but at much greater scale and with a broader global footprint.
• Lanxess AG: Lanxess is a German specialty chemicals company with broad portfolios in intermediates, additives, and pigments, providing a credible public-market benchmark for Synthesia's specialty organic intermediates and pigment businesses.
• Clariant AG: Clariant is a Swiss specialty chemicals producer with overlapping product lines in pigments, dyes, and custom intermediates; comparable to Synthesia in business model and customer segments though at significantly larger scale.
• BASF SE: BASF is the world's largest chemical company with extensive operations in pigments, intermediates, APIs, and crop protection — a broad incumbent that competes with Synthesia across most of its product portfolio.
• Aenova Group: Aenova is a European contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for pharmaceutical dosage forms and APIs, comparable to Synthesia's GMP-certified pharmaceutical active ingredients business (Vitamin D2, Mitoxantrone).

Emerging players

• Kemira Oyj: Kemira is a Finnish specialty chemicals company focused on water-intensive industries and pulp/paper, providing a partial overlap with Synthesia's paper industry dye and chemical intermediates business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFIGSaklzscw3w6M4CGUSrQ/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/synthesiapardubice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/synthesia-a.s.
• Xx.com/ssynthesia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Synthesia