Pharmacal Research Laboratories

What Pharmacal Research Laboratories does

Pharmacal Research Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held specialty chemical manufacturer and supplier founded in 1976 (approximately 1980 per its own 40+ year operating history claim) and headquartered at 562 Captain Neville Drive, Waterbury, Connecticut. The company develops and sells alkaline detergents, scale removers, disinfectants, chlorine dioxide sterilants, green cleaning products, specialty chemicals, and hand care products exclusively for the Laboratory Animal Science field, with secondary presence in veterinary clinics and healthcare facilities. Its product catalog spans over 50 SKUs organized into ten categories (alkaline cage wash detergents, green cage wash detergents, scale remover cage wash detergents, disinfectants, aquatic tank cleaners, specialty chemicals, antimicrobial skin care, quality assurance, ATP testing, equipment, and integration services), supported by a portfolio of EPA-registered disinfectants and fifteen registered trademarks.

The company's underlying technology is rooted in chemical formulation tailored for animal research facility sanitation, including chlorinated and non-chlorinated alkaline detergents for proteinaceous soil removal (Clout, PRL-18, PRL-25, Alka-Det series), phosphoric and citric acid scale removers (Uri-Solv, Urid, Acid Power), and proprietary dispensing systems (Pharmacal Conductivity Control and Pharmacal Timed Injection) that integrate with rack, tunnel, and bottle washer microprocessor controls for precise chemical delivery. Complementary instrumentation includes ATP hygiene verification equipment (novaLUM II, PocketSwab Plus, WaterGiene) using bioluminescence, and EPA List N-registered disinfectant brands such as Virkon S, Quatricide TB/PV/PV-15, Sani-Cloth, and Clorox hydrogen peroxide wipes distributed under channel partnerships.

Pharmacal generates revenue primarily through one-time chemical product sales in container sizes ranging from small bottles to 55-gallon drums and tote tanks, hardware sales of dispensing and QA equipment, professional service revenue from calibration and inspection of cage washing equipment, and integration service revenue from turnkey installations and bulk storage systems. The go-to-market model is enterprise field sales with 12 named regional sales representatives covering all US states and Canadian provinces, supported by a website with technical data sheets, SDS files, and email-based departmental contacts (Customer Service, Sales, Service, Quality Control). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and distribution relies on nationwide warehouse facilities across the United States and Canada for prompt delivery to laboratory animal science facilities, veterinary clinics, and healthcare institutions.

Name

Pharmacal Research Laboratories

Legal name

Pharmacal Research Laboratories, Inc.

Website

https://pharmacal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pharmacal Research Laboratories is a Connecticut-based specialty chemical manufacturer that has supplied sanitation chemicals, dispensing equipment, and ATP hygiene testing products exclusively to the laboratory animal science field for over 40 years, with secondary distribution to veterinary and healthcare facilities across the US and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Animal Sanitation Chemicals

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (33911)

SIC

Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047), Laboratory Apparatus & Furniture (3821), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Practice Consumables & General Medical Supplies (Needles, Syringes, Gloves, Swabs) (HLAMAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Laboratory Consumables & Plasticware (Tips, Tubes, Plates, Filters) (HLAGAIAH), General Lab Equipment (Centrifuges, Incubators, Shakers, Ovens) (HLAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Laboratory animal sanitation
• Cage wash detergents
• Disinfectant chemicals
• ATP hygiene testing
• Scale removal products

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Products: Sale of sanitation chemicals including alkaline detergents, green products, scale removers, disinfectants, specialty chemicals, and antimicrobial skin care products. Products are sold in various container sizes from small bottles to 55 gallon drums. Core recurring revenue stream from laboratory animal science facilities.
2. Dispensing Equipment: Sale of chemical dispensing equipment including peristaltic pumps, conductivity systems, temperature compensated probes, and automated dispensing systems for rack, tunnel, and bottle washing machines.
3. Equipment Service and Calibration: Calibration and inspection services for cage washing chemicals and equipment. Includes consultation with management and inspection of clean cages and general operation of cage washers.
4. Testing Equipment and Supplies: Sale of ATP testing equipment (novaLUM II), PocketSwab tests, WaterGiene tests, quality assurance supplies including steam integrators, test strips, contact plates, and temp tape.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pharmacal Research Laboratories manufactures and supplies sanitation chemicals, dispensing equipment, and quality assurance products exclusively for the Laboratory Animal Science field. The portfolio includes alkaline and green cage wash detergents, scale removers, disinfectants, specialty chemicals, aquatic tank cleaners, antimicrobial skin care, ATP hygiene testing equipment, and integrated chemical dispensing systems. Products are sold alongside complementary items from partners such as Clorox Healthcare, 3M Attest, Virkon S, and Sani-Cloth.

Product overview

Pharmacal Research Laboratories is a manufacturer and supplier of sanitation products exclusively for the Laboratory Animal Science field, with over 40 years of experience. The product portfolio consists of: (1) Disinfectants including Virkon S, Quatricide TB/PV/PV-15/standard, Clidox-S chlorine dioxide sterilant, and branded Sani-Cloth and Clorox hydrogen peroxide wipes/sprays; (2) Cage and rack washing compounds including Clout, PRL-18, PRL-25, Alka-Det series (2/3/HW), Clout PF, Cagewash series, and environmentally-friendly BIO-Det and BIO-Strip products; (3) Scale removers including Uri-Solv, Uri-Solv Plus, Urid, and Acid Power/CA/PA products; (4) Specialty chemicals including PRL-GreaseFree, Trail odor control, Foam Booster, Crystalit bedding, Chloro-Foam, and pH Control; (5) Aquatic tank cleaners including Clout-Aqua, Urid-Aqua, and Oxy-Aqua; (6) Hand care products including AloeGuard soap and AloeGel sanitizer; (7) ATP hygiene testing equipment including novaLUM II system with PocketSwab Plus and WaterGiene tests; (8) Quality assurance equipment including 3M Attest steam integrators, test strips, contact plates, and temp tape; (9) Dispensing and chemical handling equipment including automatic dispensers, foamers, sprayers, foggers, drum handlers, and spill containment; and (10) Integration services including automated dispensing systems, turnkey installations, and bulk storage solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clout High detergency, low alkaline pH cage and rack washing compound designed for laboratory animal science facilities. Safe for polycarbonate caging materials, rubber, glass and stainless steel.
• PRL-18 Heavy-duty chlorinated cage and bottle washing alkaline detergent for removal of high levels of proteinaceous soil. Non-foaming and free rinsing, stable at wash temperatures over 180°F.
• PRL-25 Heavy-duty non-chlorinated cage and bottle washing alkaline detergent formulated to perform in all types of water. Removes fatty proteinaceous soils.
• Alka-Det 2 Heavy-duty chlorinated cage and bottle washing alkaline detergent for fatty proteinaceous soils associated with canines and primates.
• Alka-Det 3 Heavy-duty non-chlorinated cage and bottle washing alkaline detergent for fatty proteinaceous soils.
• Alka-Det HW Non-chlorinated, phosphate-free detergent designed for hard or troublesome water conditions.
• Clout PF Highly concentrated chlorinated phosphate-free cleaning formulation for areas where phosphates are not acceptable.
• PFM-1 Phosphate-free neutral pH detergent for cleaning light to moderate soils. Non-ionic surfactant chemistry for labware, plastics and stainless steel.
• Release Highly concentrated synthetic alkaline detergent for mechanical glassware washers, ultrasonic cleaners and manual soaking.
• Cagewash 2B Chlorinated cage and bottle washing alkaline detergent for fatty proteinaceous soils.
• Cagewash CT High detergency, low alkaline pH cage and rack washing compound safe for polycarbonate caging materials.
• BIO-Det Series (750, 800) Environmentally friendly rack and cage washing compounds with readily biodegradable surfactant system. Phosphate-free.
• BIO-Strip 200 Environmentally friendly citric acid based urine scale stripper and detergent for cages, trays, floors and walls.
• Virkon S Broad-spectrum disinfectant/cleaner available in granular powder and tablet form, effective against viruses, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and Mycoplasma. EPA Reg # 39967-137.
• Quatricide TB Ready-to-use tuberculocidal disinfectant spray effective against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) on hard non-porous surfaces in 60 seconds. EPA Reg. No. 1839-83-8714.
• Quatricide PV One-step neutral pH germicidal detergent and deodorant, parvocidal and virucidal. Used at 1:64 dilution (2 oz per gallon).
• Quatricide PV-15 Neutral pH disinfectant used at 1:256 dilution (1/2 oz per gallon). Effective against canine parvovirus and rabies virus at higher concentrations.
• Quatricide Hospital-grade disinfectant approved for use in healthcare and animal life science laboratories. Dilution: 2 fluid ounces per gallon.
• Clidox-S Two-part chlorine dioxide sterilant when mixed at 1:3:1 dilution; tuberculocidal, bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal at 1:18:1 dilution. Effective against Mycobacterium bovis and Minute Virus of Mice (Parvovirus).
• Sani-Cloth AF3 and Super Sani-Cloth Pre-moistened germicidal disposable wipes distributed in partnership with Sani-Cloth (EPA Reg# 9480-9, 9480-4). Sani-Cloth AF3 is alcohol- and fragrance-free, effective against 45 microorganisms in 3 minutes. Super Sani-Cloth is effective against 30 microorganisms in 2 minutes.
• Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide Products Clorox Multi-Purpose Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes (noncorrosive, effective against 38+ pathogens including antibiotic-resistant organisms; EPA Reg# 67619-25) and Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Spray (one-step cleaning disinfectant for hard and soft surfaces; EPA Reg# 67619-24), distributed in partnership with Clorox Healthcare.
• Uri-Solv Phosphoric acid washing detergent with corrosion inhibitors for removing urine scale deposits. Non-foaming and free rinsing.
• Uri-Solv Plus Phosphoric acid washing detergent with glycol ether for enhanced urine scale and organic soil removal.
• Urid Citric acid detergent that strips urine scale from cages and trays. Safer than mineral acids, penetrates and dissolves mineral bonding agents.
• Acid Power Phosphoric acid washing detergent with non-ionic surfactants for removing urine scale deposits and organic soils.
• Acid CA Citric acid washing detergent with corrosion inhibitors for removing urine scale deposits.
• Acid PA Phosphoric acid washing detergent for removing urine scale deposits from cages and trays.
• Aquatic Tank Cleaning System (Clout-Aqua, Urid-Aqua, Oxy-Aqua) Three-step system for aquatic housing tanks: Clout-Aqua (alkaline stripper for algae and biofilm), Urid-Aqua (acidic residue remover), and Oxy-Aqua (oxidizing compound to aid in stripping algae and biofilm).
• PRL-GreaseFree Degreaser for animal cages, runs and pens that emulsifies soils associated with pigs, dogs and primates without solvents.
• Trail Instant odor control product that destroys odors at source in runs, kennels, cages, animal quarters and waste receptacles.
• Foam Booster High foam additive for acidic and alkaline detergents for extended product contact time.
• Crystalit Unique material capable of absorbing 400 times its weight in liquid, used as controlled, uniform bedding in animal facilities.
• Chloro-Foam Foaming chlorinated detergent for vertical surfaces and stationary caging units. Removes grease and proteinaceous soils.
• pH Control Acid neutralizer for use prior to disposal and as intermediate compound between acid and alkaline cleaning.
• AloeGuard Antimicrobial Soap Antimicrobial soap with aloe vera formulated for healthcare professionals.
• AloeGel Instant Hand Sanitizer Instant hand sanitizer with 64% ethanol, vitamin E and aloe vera. Meets FDA guidelines for healthcare hand sanitizer. Kills 99.9% of bacteria.
• novaLUM II ATP Hygiene Testing System ATP (adenosine triphosphate) measurement system for environmental surface cleanliness verification. Uses bioluminescence technology to measure ATP from animal and vegetable cells as well as living or dead bacteria, yeast or mold, providing early warning capability complementing traditional microbiological techniques.
• PocketSwab Plus ATP Detection Swab Single-use swab that collects ATP from surfaces. Room temperature stable. Detects ATP associated with microorganisms and food/wastes/organic residues.
• WaterGiene Rapid sanitation/hygiene test to detect ATP as marker for biological contaminants in water and on wet surfaces.
• 3M Attest Steam Chemical Integrators Steam sterilization integrators (formerly 3M SteriGage) distributed in partnership with 3M Attest, providing an accurate method of assuring sterilization conditions have been met during steam sterilization cycles.
• Test Strips Quat check paper, pH paper and strips, water hardness test strips, and chlorine dioxide test strips for solution verification.
• Contact Plates Surface microbial testing plates containing Tryptic Soy Agar with Lecithin and Polysorbate 80 for enumeration of microorganisms.
• Temp Tape Non-reversible temperature recording labels that record when equipment surfaces reach desired temperatures (180°F, 160°F, 170°F).
• Chemical Dispensing Equipment Automatic chemical dispensing systems for rack, tunnel and bottle washing machines, including peristaltic pumps, conductivity systems, temperature compensated probes, foamers (Power Foamer, HydroFoamer), sprayers (Power Sprayer, HydroChem 918/919), the Cyclone ULV 2730 Fogger, the Clidox-S Mixing Station, and the HydroPump.
• Drum Handling Equipment Ergonomic drum transporters and dollies for safely moving 30 and 55 gallon drums.
• Spill Containment Pallets Chemical resistant spill pallets for 30 or 55 gallon drums with 6-inch floor clearance. Complies with 40 CFR 264.175.
• Automated Dispensing Equipment Integration Custom designed chemical delivery systems for multiple machines and locations with remote storage and point of use integration.
• Turnkey Installations Complete chemical sanitation program from concept and design to facility integration, including CAD drawings.
• Bulk Storage Systems Bulk cagewash chemical storage and distribution system with double-walled tanks for secondary spill containment.
• Cage Washing Equipment Calibration and Inspection Service Service to accurately measure the amount of chemicals being used in the cage washing operation and verify they are within established recommended ranges. Includes consultation with management and supervisors, inspection of clean cages, and inspection of the general operation and condition of cage washers and dispensing equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 years of impeccable operating history for dispensing equipment
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Clorox HealthcarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPharmacal distributes Clorox Healthcare products including Clorox Multi-Purpose Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes, Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Spray, and AloeGel hand sanitizer products. These products are offered alongside Pharmacal's own branded products for healthcare and animal facility sanitation.
• 3M AttestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPharmacal distributes 3M Attest Steam Chemical Integrators (formerly 3M SteriGage) for quality assurance in sterilization processes. These products provide verification that sterilization conditions have been met during steam sterilization cycles.
• Virkon S (EPA Reg # 39967-137)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPharmacal distributes Virkon S broad-spectrum disinfectant, a potassium peroxymonosulfate/sodium chloride based product effective against viruses, gram positive and gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and Mycoplasma. Available in easy-to-use packets of quick dissolving granular powder and tablets.
• Sani-Cloth (EPA Reg# 9480-9, 9480-4)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPharmacal distributes Sani-Cloth AF3 and Super Sani-Cloth germicidal disposable wipes. These pre-moistened wipes are effective against 45 microorganisms in 3 minutes (AF3) and 30 microorganisms in 2 minutes (Super Sani-Cloth). Products are on EPA List N for COVID-19.
• Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC)coreOthersPharmacal Research Labs products are listed on the American Chemistry Council's Center for Biocide Chemistries list of products pre-approved by the EPA for use against emerging enveloped viral pathogens including COVID-19. Products listed include Virkon S, Quatricide TB, Quatricide PV, Quatricide PV 15, Quatricide, Sani-Cloth, Clorox Products, and CaviWipes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/125869504135671

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Pharmacal Research Laboratories