Osterman & Company

What Osterman & Company does

Osterman & Company, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned polymer distribution company founded in 1974 and headquartered in Cheshire, Connecticut. The company purchases prime, commodity, and engineering resins from approximately 60 suppliers (including LyondellBasell, INEOS, Formosa, NOVA Chemicals, Celanese, LG Chem, and other multinationals) and distributes over one billion pounds of material annually across North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, and select international markets. It operates through wholly-owned regional entities Latin American Polymers LLC (LAP) and Quimtec Polymers LLC (Latin America/Caribbean), and an international arm (Osterman International). The company differentiates through logistics density rather than a digital platform, maintaining ready-to-ship inventory across more than 100 strategic North American locations and offering flexible delivery (railcar, truckload, LTL, full container) with next-day or two-day availability.

The Engineered Polymers Industries (EPI) subsidiary extends Osterman beyond pure distribution into custom compounding, producing high-performance thermoplastics marketed under three proprietary brands: EPIMAX (generic prime compounds), EPITEC (utility compounds), and EPIVAL (recycled-content resins). EPI formulations carry UL, FDA, and automotive OEM approvals and are tailored for mechanical, flame-retardant, weather-resistant, and regulatory specifications. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified and positions itself around "Customer Experience Specialists" providing direct sales, on-site technical support, and market intelligence rather than automated digital channels.

Commercially, Osterman earns revenue through markup on resin distribution (a transaction-fee model) plus premium pricing on custom-compounded products. Pricing is quote-based, varies by material, volume, and delivery terms, and is not publicly disclosed. Sales are sales-led and relationship-driven across converter segments including blown film extruders, injection molders, blow molders, and extrusion processors serving food packaging, automotive, medical, industrial, and consumer end-markets. The company also operates the Osterman Community Foundation, established in 2005, as a community-giving arm that has directed $1.94M to 1,053 families. No public financial disclosures, funding rounds, or acquisitions are evidenced.

Name

Osterman & Company

Legal name

Osterman & Company, Inc.

Website

https://osterman-co.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Osterman & Company is a privately held, family-owned polymer distributor founded in 1974, purchasing prime, commodity, and engineering resins from approximately 60 suppliers and distributing over one billion pounds annually across North America, Latin America, and international markets via 100+ stocking locations and custom-compounding subsidiary Engineered Polymers Industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastic Resin Distribution

NAICS

Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins (325991), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521), Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)

akta.pro primary industry

Commodity Thermoplastics Resin Manufacturing (PE, PP, PVC, PS) (IMANAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Recycled & Reprocessed Polymer Resin Manufacturing (rPET, rPP, rPE; PCR/PIR resins) (IMANAAAH)

Keywords

• Polymer distribution
• Resin distribution
• Plastic raw materials
• Engineered thermoplastics
• Custom compounding

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheshire

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Resin Distribution: Osterman distributes prime, commodity, and engineering resins to customers across North America, Latin America, and international markets. The company purchases materials from approximately 60 suppliers and uses rail, warehouses, and trucks to deliver materials to end-customers. Revenue is generated through the markup on resin sales, with customers depending on Osterman for over a billion pounds of material annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Osterman & Company distributes prime, commodity, and engineering plastic resins (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and engineered thermoplastics) sourced from approximately 60 leading global suppliers to manufacturers across North America, Latin America, and international markets. The company distributes over one billion pounds of resin annually through more than 100 strategic North American warehouse locations with flexible delivery options. Its Engineered Polymers Industries (EPI) division provides custom-compounded, high-performance thermoplastics under branded product lines EPIMAX, EPITEC, and EPIVAL, complemented by on-site technical support and market intelligence services.

Product overview

Osterman & Company is a privately held, family-owned global leader in polymer distribution with more than 50 years of industry expertise. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio spanning prime, commodity, and engineering resins including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and engineered thermoplastics (ETPs). Their Engineered Polymers Industries (EPI) division provides custom-compounded high-performance thermoplastics under branded products EPIMAX® (prime compounds), EPITEC® (utility compounds), and EPIVAL® (recycled-content resins). The company operates through regional divisions including Osterman North America, Latin American Polymers LLC (LAP), Quimtec Polymers LLC, and Osterman International, serving customers globally with over 100 strategic North American locations and annual volume exceeding one billion pounds of material.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EPIMAX®: Generic prime compounds delivering top-tier quality with full UL, FDA, and other agency compliance.
• EPITEC®
• EPIVAL®
• Engineered Polymers Industries (EPI)

Products and services

• Prime Resins Distribution
• Commodity Resins Distribution
• Engineering Resins Distribution
• Engineered Polymers Industries (EPI) Custom Compounding
• EPIMAX Generic Prime Compounds
• EPITEC High-Value Utility Compounds
• EPIVAL Environmentally Responsible Resins
• Latin American Polymers, LLC (LAP) Regional Distribution
• Quimtec Polymers, LLC Regional Distribution
• Osterman International Global Distribution

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 billion pounds of material distributed annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AdvanSixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing polymer products through Osterman's distribution channels.
• Asahi Kasei CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor supplier partner including Asahi Kasei Plastics North America Inc. providing engineering resins.
• Aurora Material Solutions, LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing specialty materials including AuroraClean, AuroraEcoplast, AuroraFlex, AuroraGuard, Auroralite, AuroraShield, and AuroraTec product lines.
• Baystar - Bayport Polymers LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing Baystar polyethylene products.
• Celanese CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor supplier partner providing engineering polymers and specialty materials.
• Elastron USA Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing Elastron TPE and TPU products.
• ELIX Polymers, S. L.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing ELIX ABS and PC/ABS materials for the Americas market.
• EMS-GRIVORYcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing Grilamid, Grilon, Grivory, and other high-performance polyamides.
• ESENTTIA S.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing polypropylene and polyethylene products.
• Formosa Chemicals & Fibre CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing Formosa plastic resins.
• Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.S.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor supplier partner providing comprehensive resin portfolio.
• INEOS Olefins & Polymers USAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing INEOS polypropylene and other polymer products.
• Kolon ENPminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing engineering plastics.
• LG Chem Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing LG Chem engineering resins and specialty materials.
• Lotte Chemical CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing Lotte polymer products.
• Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing ESTANE TPU and other engineered polymers.
• LyondellBasell IndustriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor supplier partner providing LyondellBasell polyethylene, polypropylene, and specialty polymers.
• NOVA ChemicalscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing NOVAPOL and other polyethylene products.
• Phillips 66coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing Phillips petroleum-based polymers.
• Plaskolite, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing acrylic and other sheet materials.
• Radici Chimica S.p.A. / Radici Group High Performance PolymerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing Radiflam, Radilon, Radipol and other high-performance polymers.
• Resirene, S.A. de C.V.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing Resirene ABS and styrenics for Latin American market.
• Sasol PolymerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing Sasol polyethylene and polypropylene products.
• Star Plastics, LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing custom polymer compounds.
• The Plastics GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing general polymer materials.
• TotalEnergiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing TotalEnergies polystyrene and other polymer products.
• TrinseocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier partner providing Trinseo specialty polymers and engineered materials.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Channel Prime Alliance: Channel Prime Alliance is a North American resin distribution network specializing in commodity polyolefins and engineering thermoplastics with affiliated compounding services — comparable to Osterman's mix of prime/commodity distribution plus engineered compounding via EPI.
• Amco Polymers: Amco Polymers distributes prime commodity and engineering thermoplastic resins to molders, extruders, and compounders throughout North America — direct competitor in similar product and customer overlap.
• Nexeo Plastics: Nexeo Plastics (formerly part of Univar, now owned by One Rock Capital) is a global thermoplastic resin distributor serving injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, and compounding customers across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia — closest direct competitor at similar scale.
• Star Plastics: Star Plastics is a US-based custom compounder of prime and recycled thermoplastics including recycled-content grades — most directly comparable to Osterman's EPI division and EPIVAL recycled compounds.
• Bamberger Polymers: Bamberger Polymers is a global distributor of prime and commodity thermoplastic resins with operations in the US and Canada serving injection, blow, and extrusion customers — direct head-to-head competitor in resin distribution.
• Entec Polymers: Entec Polymers distributes engineered polymers, polyolefins, and styrenics from producers including INEOS and LyondellBasell, serving injection molding and compounding customers across North America — directly overlapping with Osterman's engineered resin portfolio.
• M. Holland Company: M. Holland is one of the largest independent distributors of plastic resins in North America, distributing commodity and engineering resins to injection molders, extruders, and blow molders — directly comparable in product mix, customer base, and geographic reach to Osterman.

Broad incumbents

• Univar Solutions: Univar Solutions is a large global chemical and ingredients distributor (parent of former Nexeo Plastics) serving industrial and consumer end-markets — broader specialty chemicals portfolio but overlapping in polymer distribution services.
• Avient Corporation: Avient (formerly PolyOne) is a major formulator of specialty engineered materials, polymer distribution, and color/masterbatch services — larger incumbent with custom compounding and distribution capabilities that overlap with EPI.
• Distrupol: Distrupol, the polymer distribution arm of Ravago Group, is a large global distributor of thermoplastics and elastomers across Europe, North America, and emerging markets — broader geographic footprint but directly overlapping in product and customer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/osterman-&-company

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Osterman & Company