Elementis

What Elementis does

Elementis PLC is a London-headquartered, LSE-listed (LON:ELM) global specialty chemicals company founded in 1844 with approximately 1,800 employees and operations spanning the UK, US, Netherlands, China, India, and Brazil. Following the divestiture of its Talc and pharmaceutical manufacturing businesses and the launch of its Elevate Elementis strategy in 2025–2026, the company has repositioned as a pure-play specialty additives producer focused on Personal Care and Coatings, supported by secondary positions in Construction, Energy, and emerging adjacencies such as adhesives, agriculture, ceramics, and homecare cleaning.

The company's core technology platforms are rheology modification and surface modification chemistries built on organically modified hectorite and smectite clays (BENTONE® organoclays, BENTONE LUXE, BENTONE ULTIMATE, BENTONE HYDROCLAY), synthetic associative thickeners (NiSAT/HASE under DEURHEO®), defoamers and coalescing agents (DAPRO®, DEFOM®), and a personal care ingredients portfolio including NATURALUXE™, THIXCIN®, MEADOWLACTONE, MEADOWESTOLIDE, and FANCOR plant oils. A dense stack of third-party certifications — COSMOS, NATRUE, ECOCERT, RSPO Mass Balance, USFDA 21 CFR, EU 10/2011, German BfR, GMP, and Halal — supports customer regulatory pathways. The portfolio spans 618+ products across multiple sub-brands, with new product launches in 2025 including the NATURALUXE MFF biodegradable sunscreen film former acquired via Alchemy Ingredients.

Elementis operates a B2B direct-sales model, selling on a quote-based, multi-year-contract basis to enterprise manufacturers and formulators, supplemented by an online product finder, sample-request infrastructure, and trade-show presence at events such as In-Cosmetics Asia and PAINTINDIA. FY2025 revenue was $597.5M (down 1.9% year-over-year), but adjusted operating profit rose 6.3% to $126.7M with adjusted operating margin of 21.2%, reflecting ~$80M of cumulative cost savings and innovation sales reaching a record 16.4% of revenue under the Elevate program. The company has returned capital via a £40M buyback completed in 2025 and a £25M buyback announced in June 2026, supported by ~€30M in net proceeds from the sale of its pharmaceutical business to Associated British Foods.

Name

Elementis

Legal name

Elementis PLC

Website

https://elementis.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1844

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Elementis is a global specialty chemicals company producing rheology modifiers, defoamers, and specialty additives for personal care, coatings, construction, and industrial manufacturers, selling 618+ B2B products directly via proprietary organoclay and NiSAT platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), All Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (32599)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coating & Adhesive Raw Materials (Resins, Additives, Solvents) (IMAEAGAK), Ingredient Blends & Systems / Custom Formulation (Seasoning Systems, Functional Blends) (CRADAOAO)

Keywords

• Specialty chemical additives
• Rheology modifiers
• Coatings additives
• Personal care ingredients
• Defoamers emulsifiers

Headquarters

HQ city

Windsor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Additives Sales: Elementis generates revenue primarily through the sale of specialty chemical additives to manufacturers and formulators across multiple industries including personal care, coatings, construction, and industrial applications. The company sells directly to B2B customers through product samples and sales engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Elementis manufactures and sells specialty chemical additives, including rheology modifiers (organoclay and hectorite-based thickeners), defoamers, coalescing agents, surface tension modifiers, emulsifiers, film formers, curing catalysts, and flame retardant synergists. These functional ingredients are sold to manufacturers and formulators across personal care, coatings, construction, energy, homecare, ceramics, and adhesives markets. The company operates a portfolio of 618+ products backed by proprietary BENTONE and NiSAT technology platforms.

Product overview

Elementis is a global specialty chemicals company that creates high-value specialty additives enhancing product performance across personal care, construction, industrial and architectural coatings, and plastics markets. The company's product portfolio centers on its core technology platforms: BENTONE clay-based rheology modifiers (including BENTONE LUXE, BENTONE ULTIMATE, BENTONE HYDROCLAY, and BENTONE PLUS GLOW series) for formulation stabilization and texture control; DAPRO coating additives (including DEFOM defoamers, DAPRO FX coalescing agents, and surface tension modifiers) for paint and coating applications; specialty ingredients like THIXCIN R PC, MEADOWLACTONE, and FANCOR plant oils for personal care; and CHARGUARD flame retardant synergists and CATACURE curing catalysts for industrial applications. The portfolio also includes pharmaceutical excipients (ALUGEL, GILUGEL) and the recently acquired Alchemy Ingredients for natural skincare solutions. Elementis operates with 618+ products across multiple market segments with a focus on sustainable, naturally derived, and COSMOS/ECOCERT certified ingredients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BENTONE: Rheological additives and organoclays for coatings and personal care applications
• DAPRO
• FANCOL
• FANCOR
• NATURALUXE
• BENTONE ULTIMATE
• BENTONE HYDROCLAY
• BENTONE LUXE
• MEADOWESTOLIDE
• MEADOWLACTONE
• THIXCIN
• DEFOM
• CHARGUARD
• CATACURE
• ALUGEL
• GILUGEL

Products and services

• BENTONE Rheology Modifiers Organically modified hectorite clay-based rheology modifiers providing thickening, suspension, emulsion stabilization, and thixotropic properties for personal care, coatings, and industrial applications.
• BENTONE LUXE Series Clay-based emulsifying and stabilizing gels for water-in-oil and water-in-silicone cosmetic systems offering all-in-one stabilization with elegant sensory properties; 98-99% naturally derived and cold processable.
• BENTONE ULTIMATE Series Specially prepared dispersions of organically modified hectorite clay in various carriers, providing formulation flexibility and efficiency for personal care applications.
• BENTONE HYDROCLAY Series COSMOS approved clay-based water thickeners and emulsifiers combining hectorite grades with xanthan gum, delivering high electrolyte and pH tolerance for robust aqueous cosmetic formulations.
• BENTONE PLUS GLOW Award-winning rheological additive combining natural hectorite clay with skin conditioning actives for SPF boosting, color boosting, and active ingredient delivery in cosmetic formulations.
• DAPRO Coating Additives Comprehensive range of coating additives including defoamers, coalescing agents, surface tension modifiers, and adhesion promoters for waterborne and solvent-based coating and ink systems.
• DEFOM Defoamers Bubble-releasing and anti-foaming agents for solvent-based, waterborne, and solvent-free coating and ink systems, available in silicone-free and silicone-modified grades.
• DAPRO FX Series Coalescing agents and plasticizers prepared from renewable resources for low-VOC water-based paints, coatings, and adhesives, providing film formation, flexibility, and scrub resistance.
• DAPRO DF Series Comprehensive line of defoamers for waterborne, solvent-based, and solvent-free coating systems, including VOC-free and mineral oil-free options for industrial applications.
• DAPRO W-77 Surface tension modifier for waterborne coatings and inks that eliminates film defects such as crawling, fish eyes, and cratering while improving flow and leveling; USFDA 21 CFR and EU 10/2011 compliant.
• DAPRO U-99 Interfacial tension modifier for waterborne coatings that eliminates film defects and promotes uniform film formation on hard-to-wet substrates; APE and silicone free.
• NATURALUXE MFF Biodegradable film former for sunscreens designed to enhance SPF retention and water resistance while enabling cleaner and greener formulations.
• THIXCIN R PC 100% naturally derived, COSMOS and NATRUE certified multifunctional organic thickener derived from castor oil that provides thixotropic thickening in cosmetic oils and acts as a binder in pressed powder formulations.
• BENTONE LUXE XO 99% naturally derived versatile emulsification and rheology modifier enabling creation of various textures with simple modifications and supporting water-in-oil systems with extremely high oil content.
• MEADOWLACTONE COSMOS approved optimized derivative of Meadowfoam Seed Oil delivering an ideal ratio of bioactive components for measurable anti-aging benefits in personal care formulations.
• MEADOWESTOLIDE Cold processable and COSMOS approved bioactive analogue of ceramide 3B that helps adjust hydration levels and provides skin moisturization and protection benefits.
• FANCOR MEADOWFOAM SEED OIL 100% natural and COSMOS approved nourishing plant oil with excellent oxidation stability that improves skin moisturization and provides cushion feeling in skin care products.
• FANCOL SHEA BUTTER 100% natural skin conditioning agent that melts at body temperature, providing excellent spreadability, sun protection, and skin softening properties for soaps and skin care products.
• CHARGUARD Flame Retardant Synergists Organically modified lamellar silicate flame retardant synergists for halogen-free thermoplastic systems, enhancing fire retardant performance and mechanical properties while being free of intentionally added PFAS.
• CATACURE Curing Catalysts Curing catalysts for polyurethane coatings, baking paints, and adhesive systems, including blocked catalysts enabling lower baking temperatures and faster curing times.
• DEURHEO WT Associative Thickeners Nonionic synthetic associative thickeners (NiSAT) and hydrophobically modified alkali swellable thickeners (HASE) for waterborne industrial coating systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Innovation sales reached record 16.4% of revenue in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Stepan Company: US specialty surfactant and polymer producer with personal care and coatings applications, comparable in size and B2B ingredient focus to Elementis.

Direct peers

• Innospec: Specialty chemicals company with Performance Chemicals (personal care) and Oilfield Services (drilling fluids) segments that mirror Elementis's Personal Care and Energy businesses.
• Croda International: UK-listed specialty ingredients company with overlapping personal care actives, emollients, rheology modifiers and sustainable cosmetic ingredient portfolios. Croda's Personal Care segment competes head-on with Elementis's Personal Care business for global beauty-brand formulation slots.
• Lubrizol (Berkshire Hathaway): Lubrizol's personal care and coatings specialty additives business offers rheology modifiers, surfactants, defoamers and film formers used by the same formulators Elementis serves in beauty, sun care and industrial coatings applications.
• Ashland: Ashland supplies specialty additives for personal care and coatings including rheology modifiers, film formers and conditioners, competing with BENTONE, NATURALUXE and DAPRO ranges at global brand-owner accounts.
• BYK (ALTANA): ALTANA's coatings additives division supplies rheology modifiers, defoamers, surface tension modifiers and wetting agents that directly overlap with Elementis's DAPRO and BENTONE portfolios in industrial and architectural coatings.

Broad incumbents

• Solvay: Belgian chemicals group with specialty ingredients used in personal care and coatings applications, providing broader-portfolio competition to Elementis's specialty additives.
• Evonik Industries: Large German specialty chemicals company with personal care specialties, silica-based rheology additives and coating additives that compete with Elementis platforms across multiple end markets.
• Clariant: Swiss specialty chemicals producer with personal care, coatings and construction additives businesses that compete with Elementis in rheology and surface modification.
• BASF: World's largest chemical company with broad portfolios in personal care ingredients, coatings additives and construction chemicals that overlap with most of Elementis's served markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elementis-specialties

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A6 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Elementis