Van Horn, Metz & Company

What Van Horn, Metz & Company does

Van Horn, Metz & Company is a privately held specialty chemical raw materials distributor founded in 1950 in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, by Harold Van Horn and Donald Metz following their World War II paint formulation work. The company operates as an intermediary between vetted global chemical producers — including Chemours, Evonik, Celanese, Aditya Birla Advanced Materials, StanChem, and others — and North American manufacturers across ten horizontal end markets: Paints & Coatings, Adhesives & Sealants, Building & Construction, Composites, Household & Industrial, Inks, Lubricants, Personal Care, Rubber & Plastics, and Chemical Intermediates. Its product portfolio spans additives, extenders, intermediates, pigments (notably Chemours Ti-Pure titanium dioxide), and resins (acrylic emulsions, epoxy, polyurethane systems), with sustainability-aligned offerings (low-VOC alkyds, bio-based intermediates, renewable-electricity TiO2 grades) gaining emphasis.

The company's go-to-market is consultative and sales-led, executed by technically trained sales managers with direct lab and manufacturing experience and engineering or science degrees; field coverage is segmented by U.S. territory. GTM follows a structured three-step process (Meet, Review, Test), supported by seven strategically located warehouse facilities that enable global sourcing with regional distribution. Marketing relies on the company website (Request a Sample, Talk to a Specialist CTAs), educational technical blog content, and ACD (formerly NACD) industry membership. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated per transaction; revenue is generated on the distribution spread between supplier pricing and customer pricing, i.e., a transaction-fee model.

Ownership and governance remain founder/management-controlled: the company is not publicly traded and has no parent, private equity, or venture capital ownership disclosed. Current leadership includes President Barry Fisher (joined December 1984), CFO John Nucero (joined January 2021), Vice President Andy Romano (joined June 2016, Director of Sales from 2020), plus Director of Marketing and Principal Management A.J. Crofford, and Operations and Supply Chain management. Recent strategic activity includes the 2022 tuck-in acquisition of Ivanhoe Industries, the April 2024 StanChem Eastern U.S. distribution agreement, and two regional sales manager hires in 2024, alongside continuing ACD Responsible Distribution verification and a 2023 World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia Member Company of the Year award.

Name

Van Horn, Metz & Company

Legal name

Van Horn, Metz & Co. Inc.

Website

https://vanhornmetz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Van Horn, Metz & Company is a privately held specialty chemical raw materials distributor founded in 1950, sourcing vetted products from global suppliers such as Chemours, Evonik, and Celanese to North American manufacturers across ten end markets including paints & coatings, adhesives, construction, composites, personal care, and lubricants via a technical sales force and seven U.S. warehouses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemical Distribution

NAICS

Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (42469), Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246)

SIC

Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Lubricants, Fluids & Chemical Products Distribution (Oils, Coolants, AdBlue/DEF, Cleaners) (TLAKAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paint, refinishing & body shop supplies distribution (coatings, abrasives, tools, consumables) (CRAOANAF), Synthetic Rubber & Elastomer Feedstocks (SBR, BR, NBR, EPDM) (IMAEADAJ)

Keywords

• Specialty chemical distribution
• Industrial raw materials
• Chemical distribution services
• Specialty raw materials supply
• Manufacturer chemical sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Conshohocken

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Distribution Services: Van Horn, Metz operates as a specialty raw materials distributor, sourcing and supplying specialty chemicals from vetted global supplier partners to manufacturers in North America. Revenue is generated through product distribution with margins earned on the spread between supplier pricing and customer pricing. The company serves as an intermediary providing logistics, technical sales support, and supply chain capabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Van Horn, Metz & Co. is a specialty raw materials distributor that sources specialty chemicals — including resins, pigments, additives, fillers and intermediates — from a vetted network of global supplier principals (Chemours, StanChem, Evonik, Aditya Birla, Celanese, SEKISUI and others) and supplies them to manufacturers across paints & coatings, adhesives & sealants, building & construction, composites, household & industrial, inks, lubricants, personal care, rubber & plastics, and chemical intermediates. Distribution is supported by technically trained sales managers, a Meet–Review–Test sample evaluation process, and seven U.S. warehouse facilities.

Product overview

Van Horn, Metz & Co. is a specialty raw materials distributor serving as a global supply chain partner for manufacturers. The company does not offer a single unified product but rather distributes an extensive portfolio of specialty raw materials through a network of quality supplier principals. Their product portfolio includes additives, extenders, intermediates, pigments, and resins across multiple chemical categories including acrylic emulsions, epoxy resins, polyurethane systems, titanium dioxide, fumed silica, and various specialty chemicals. Key distributed products include StanChem acrylic latex binders (SC series), Chemours Ti-Pure titanium dioxide pigments, and various functional additives. The company serves diverse markets including adhesives and sealants, building and construction, chemical intermediates, composites, household and industrial, inks, lubricants, paints and coatings, personal care, and rubber and plastics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SC-9032 (StanChem SC 9032 acrylic copolymer latex) A higher solids, all-acrylic copolymer latex distributed by Van Horn, Metz (manufactured by StanChem) designed for high-performance elastomeric roof coatings. Provides excellent flexibility, dirt pick-up resistance, strong adhesion, superb weatherability, and water and UV resistance for coatings manufacturers.
• Ti-Pure TS-6700 titanium dioxide pigment A rutile titanium dioxide pigment distributed by Van Horn, Metz (manufactured by Chemours via the chloride process) as part of the Ti-Pure Sustainability series. Delivers excellent opacity, high gloss, and outstanding durability while meeting sustainability requirements; TMP- and TME-free and made with 100% renewable electricity.
• HL-200 hydrophilic fumed silica A hydrophilic fumed silica with a specific surface area of 200 m²/g distributed by Van Horn, Metz, supplied as a high-purity white colloidal powder. Provides high transparency, good rheological and thixotropic control, and improved free-flow and anti-caking characteristics for use in paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, and printing inks.
• Specialty raw materials distribution (technical sales support) A consultative sales and technical support service connecting manufacturers with specialty raw materials sourced from a vetted network of global supplier principals. Provided by technically trained sales managers covering specific U.S. territories, who deliver structured sample-driven material qualification (Meet–Review–Test) along with formulation guidance across paints & coatings, adhesives & sealants, building & construction, composites, household & industrial, inks, lubricants, personal care, rubber & plastics, and chemical intermediates markets.
• Sample evaluation service (Request a Sample) A structured sample provision service that allows manufacturers and formulators to obtain samples of candidate specialty raw materials from Van Horn, Metz's distributed product portfolio for in-house evaluation before procurement, supporting the Meet–Review–Test qualification workflow.

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• StanChem ResinsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 April 2024Van Horn, Metz was appointed as StanChem's Eastern U.S. Distributor. StanChem develops and manufactures high-performance emulsion polymers for architectural, construction, adhesives, and packaging markets. VHM expanded product offerings with innovative and customizable solutions for CASE customers.
• Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD)coreOthersVan Horn, Metz is a verified member of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (formerly NACD), demonstrating commitment to best-in-class standards in chemical storage, handling, transportation, and disposal. ACD represents companies that formulate, blend, repackage, warehouse, transport, and market high-quality chemicals to 750,000 end users in nearly every industry sector.
• Aditya Birla Advanced MaterialsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVan Horn, Metz distributes Aditya Birla's comprehensive portfolio of epoxy resins, curing agents, reactive diluents, and polyester resins. Aditya Birla is a leading global manufacturer with over 30 years of expertise serving coatings, composites, construction, and adhesives markets.
• ChemoursmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVan Horn, Metz is a trusted supplier and distributor of Chemours products, providing the complete line of Ti-Pure pigments including R-902+, R-706, R-960, TS-6200, and R-105 grades. Chemours pioneered the chloride manufacturing process in 1931.
• Evonik IndustriesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVan Horn, Metz distributes Evonik's DEGALAN binders for marine and container paints, road markings, metal coatings, plastic coatings, architectural paint, and ceramic transfer lacquers. Also distributes Crosslinkers for isocyanate monomers and polyisocyanates.
• CelanesemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVan Horn, Metz distributes Celanese high-performance emulsions including vinyl acetate/ethylene (VAE), vinyl acrylic, 100% acrylic and specialty polymers. Celanese is the global leader in VAE technology with APE-free emulsions.
• Anhui Black Cat Material ScienceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVan Horn, Metz distributes Black Cat Material Science's BD series of surface-treated carbon black pigments for coatings, inks, plastics, and architecture cements applications.
• Aralon ColorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVan Horn, Metz distributes Aralon's formaldehyde-free daylight fluorescent and functional pigments for paints, coatings, plastics, aerosols, and printing inks industries.
• MacrooceanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVan Horn, Metz distributes Macroocean's high, medium, and low molecular weight copolyester resins with controlled hydroxyl groups for crosslinking applications.
• SEKISUIminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVan Horn, Metz distributes SEKISUI specialty chemicals for coatings and industrial applications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Azelis: Global specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor serving personal care, coatings, adhesives, and industrial markets — directly comparable business model to VHM with value-add technical sales and warehousing.
• Barentz: Specialty ingredients distributor serving food, personal care, and industrial performance markets with technical sales coverage and principal partnerships — closely mirrors VHM's horizontal specialty distribution approach.
• TER Group: Mid-sized specialty chemical distributor serving coatings, adhesives, plastics, and industrial markets with technical sales support and warehousing — comparable specialty distribution model and end-market focus.
• Caldic: Specialty ingredients and chemicals distributor serving personal care, food, coatings, and industrial markets — comparable consultative specialty distribution model.
• Connell Bros (Wilbur-Ellis): Specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor operating across Asia-Pacific and North America serving coatings, personal care, and industrial markets — comparable specialty distribution model and regional scale.
• Hubergroup: Specialty chemicals company combining manufacturing and distribution of resins, pigments, and additives for coatings, printing inks, and packaging — comparable customer base and product portfolio overlap with VHM's offerings.

Broad incumbents

• IMCD: Global leader in specialty chemicals and ingredients distribution across coatings, personal care, food, and industrial markets — overlaps significantly with VHM but operates at much larger global scale.
• Brenntag: World's largest chemical distribution company operating across life sciences, materials science, and industrial specialties — competes with VHM for principal mandates and manufacturer accounts but at global scale.
• Univar Solutions: Leading North American specialty chemical and ingredient distributor serving similar industrial, coatings, and personal care customers — direct competitive overlap and broader portfolio than VHM.

Regional players

• Nordmann, Rassmann: European specialty chemicals and additives distributor serving coatings, adhesives, plastics, and personal care markets — comparable business model but operating primarily in Europe rather than North America.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vanhornmetz

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Van Horn, Metz & Company