What TSE Industries does

TSE Industries, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned polymer and specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1962 and headquartered across multiple facilities on a 15-acre campus in Clearwater, Florida. The company operates four core divisions: (1) The C.A.S.E. Tollers, providing global contract and toll manufacturing of polyurethanes for coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers using 16+ stainless steel reactors ranging from 700 to 4,000+ gallons; (2) the Millathane® Division, holding the world's largest manufacturer position for millable polyurethane rubber since 1976 with thousands of proprietary formulas and nine product grades; (3) the Engineered Polymers Division, operating custom plastic fabrication and CNC machining of UHMW, HDPE, Nylon, Delrin, PEEK, PTFE, and Polycarbonate for sprockets, gears, conveyor components, food processing parts, and wastewater treatment; and (4) the Duro-Glide® UHMW-PE Sheet business, producing virgin, reprocessed, and enhanced grade compression-molded sheets. Supporting the manufacturing operations are two on-site Development and Analytical Centers (DAC1 for specialty chemicals scale-up and DAC2 for physical testing per ASTM/ISO standards) and the WHK BioSystems subsidiary serving medical device and pharmaceutical fluid handling applications.

The business operates through direct sales with dedicated account managers per division (Massimo Cerboni for Polyurethane Elastomers, Martin Hine for Engineered Polymers, Fred Costello for Specialty Chemicals), generating revenue from four streams: contract/toll manufacturing fees for Fortune 500 chemical providers, proprietary branded product sales (Millathane®, Thanecure®, Thanecast®, MillaMed®), custom plastic fabrication services, and UHMW-PE sheet sales. Customer segments span chemical manufacturing, automotive and transportation, medical device and life sciences, aerospace and defense (ITAR-certified), bottling and beverage, food processing, wastewater treatment, industrial manufacturing, and electronics. Certifications include ISO 9001:2015, ITAR, EcoVadis sustainability assessment, REACH EU registration, and FDA-compliant food-contact materials. Named enterprise customers include Nike (athletic shoe applications), the United States Air Force (rubber extrusions), and the world's largest chemical providers for toll manufacturing partnerships. Leadership remains concentrated in the Klingel family, with Robert R. Klingel as Chairman & CEO, Richard "Rick" Klingel as President, Robert R. Klingel Jr. as President of Engineered Polymers, and Louis "Brad" Klingel as President of the UHMW-PE Division.

Name

TSE Industries

Legal name

TSE Industries, Inc.

Website

https://tse-industries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

TSE Industries is a third-generation, family-owned Clearwater, Florida manufacturer of specialty polyurethanes, Millathane® millable rubber, UHMW-PE sheets, and custom plastic and rubber components, serving Fortune 500 chemical companies, defense (ITAR), medical, food processing, and industrial customers through direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Polymer and Polyurethane Manufacturing

NAICS

Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing (326220)

SIC

Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)

akta.pro primary industry

Rigid Plastic Containers (Bottles, Jars, Jugs) Manufacturing (IMANAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)

Keywords

• Custom polymer manufacturing
• Polyurethane elastomer products
• UHMW-PE sheet fabrication
• Specialty chemical tolling
• Custom rubber molding

Headquarters

HQ city

Clearwater

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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract/Toll Manufacturing: TSE serves as a global contract and toll manufacturer of polyurethanes for the world's largest chemical providers. They manage all phases of production from raw materials through blending/mixing to packaging and blind-shipment of end products. Revenue is generated through manufacturing fees for processing customer-provided formulations.
2. Proprietary Product Sales (Millathane® and related): Sale of proprietary Millathane® millable polyurethane rubber products along with related branded products including Thanecure®, Millaclean™, Millamed™, and Millstab™. Products are sold in various grades with thousands of formulas available.
3. Custom Plastic Fabrication: Custom fabrication and CNC machining of high-performance replacement parts including sprockets, gears, chain tracks, neck guides, food processing components, and wastewater treatment parts. Revenue generated from fabrication services and machined part sales.
4. UHMW-PE Sheet Sales: Duro-Glide division manufactures and sells UHMW-PE sheets in various formulations including virgin, reprocessed, and enhanced grades with additives for specialized applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TSE Industries is a family-owned manufacturer specializing in custom polyurethane chemistry, engineered polymers, and specialty chemicals. The company produces millable polyurethane rubber (Millathane®), UHMW-PE sheets (Duro-Glide®), custom plastic fabricated parts via CNC machining, and offers toll/contract manufacturing services for CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers) applications. All manufacturing is performed at their 15-acre Clearwater, Florida campus.

Product overview

TSE Industries is a family-owned polymer and specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1962, operating as a global manufacturer and fabricator of polymers, specialty chemicals, plastics, and rubber products. The company operates four core divisions: Specialty Chemicals (CASE toll manufacturing), Millathane® (millable polyurethane rubber), Engineered Polymers (custom plastic fabrication and UHMW-PE sheets under Duro-Glide® brand), and a rubber molding and extrusion division. Supporting these is an in-house Development & Analytical Center for R&D and quality control, plus WHK BioSystems subsidiary for medical device components. The product portfolio includes branded polyurethane products (Millathane®, Thanecure®, Thanecast®, MillaMed®), UHMW-PE sheets and fabricated parts, custom machined plastic and rubber components, and contract/toll manufacturing services for coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers. All manufacturing is performed in Clearwater, Florida, USA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Millathane®: Millable polyurethanes - processed like conventional rubber, producing compounds with outstanding abrasion resistance and strength properties
• THANECURE®
• MILLACLEAN™
• MILLAMED™
• MILLSTAB™
• Duro-Glide®
• WHK Biosystems
• The C.A.S.E Tollers

Products and services

• Millathane® Millable Polyurethane Rubber The world's authority and largest manufacturer of Millathane® millable urethane rubber since 1976. Solid polymers processed like conventional rubber that produce compounds with outstanding abrasion resistance, strength, and oil resistance. Available in 9 different grades including polyether and polyester variants for industrial rubber compounders, footwear manufacturers (Nike), mining, electronics, and other industrial applications.
• Thanecure® T9 (TDI Dimer)

Quantifiable outcome

• DIN abrasion values as low as 30-40 mm³ loss
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pinellas Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition (PERC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2022TSE partnered with PERC to serve men at Clearwater and St. Petersburg Work Release Centers, providing second chance career opportunities after prison. Initially started with On the Job Training (OJT) program which was so successful that TSE hired 10 out of 13 trainees. Currently 15 employees (4% of workforce) are PERC program graduates. TSE was the first company in the region to offer such opportunities, generating positive publicity including inclusion in a documentary funded by J.P. Morgan.
• AmSkillscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit workforce training organization offering Career Discovery Bootcamp for adults and Veterans. TSE has hired more graduates from AmSkills than any other company (11+ since 2018). TSE HR Director actively promotes the partnership at workshops and boot camps. TSE was featured in a Pinellas County video highlighting AmSkills' Talent Pipeline Management Collaborative.
• Bay Area Manufacturers Association (BAMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBAMA works with local schools to spark interest in manufacturing careers. TSE participates in Great American 'Manufacturing' Teach-In Day via Zoom with Pinellas County classes, hosts student tours, and sponsors BAMA events. Partnership supports workforce development pipeline.
• St. Petersburg College - Engineering Technology Advisory BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSE serves on the advisory board to help shape curriculum and ensure workforce alignment with industry needs.
• Pinellas Technical College - Machining Advisory BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSE contributes to machining program advisory board to support technical education and workforce training.
• PARCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization serving individuals with disabilities; TSE has hired from PARC programs to create employment opportunities.
• The ARC of Tampa BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization for individuals with developmental disabilities; TSE has partnered for workforce development and hiring.
• Pepin AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademy for individuals with mild learning disabilities. TSE is the first manufacturing company to build an alliance with Pepin. Through this partnership, adult students gain valuable workplace skills. TSE has welcomed two Pepin students and their coach into the TSE family.
• Ramboll UK LimitedminorOthersREACH Registration Only Representative for TSE Industries in the EU. Provides Product Safety and Toxicology consulting services for REACH compliance. Contact: Shivani Sidhu, MSc, MRSB, Product Safety Consultant at 240 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NW.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stepan Company: Stepan is a specialty chemicals manufacturer that produces polyurethanes, CASE ingredients, and surfactant chemistries. It directly overlaps TSE's polyurethane and CASE contract manufacturing business and serves comparable industrial customers with similar product formats.
• Lubrizol: Lubrizol (Berkshire Hathaway) is a specialty chemicals company with a large Engineered Polymers / Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) and CASE additives portfolio. It competes directly with TSE's Millathane® and CASE tolling business in performance polyurethanes for industrial and life science applications.
• Hexion: Hexion is a global specialty resins and adhesives producer serving CASE, coatings, and composite customers. It is directly comparable to TSE's CASE contract manufacturing and prepolymer business in terms of customer base, product formats, and toll manufacturing service model.
• Quadrant AG / Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials: Quadrant/MCAM is a major manufacturer of engineering plastic stock shapes (UHMW, HDPE, Nylon, Acetal, PEEK) and machined components. It directly competes with TSE's Duro-Glide® UHMW-PE sheet business and Engineered Polymers CNC machining division in industrial and food processing applications.
• Carpenter Co. Carpenter Co. is one of the largest polyurethane foam manufacturers in North America and a significant specialty polyurethane producer. While its primary focus is foam (vs. TSE's millable polyurethane rubber), it competes in adjacent polyurethane chemistries and serves overlapping industrial customers.
• Ascend Performance Materials: Ascend is a specialty polyamide and engineered polymer manufacturer serving automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Its specialty polymer formulation and compounding model is comparable to TSE's Millathane® millable polyurethane compounding business and Duro-Glide® engineering polymer operations.
• Ensinger: Ensinger is a German manufacturer of engineering plastic stock shapes, machined components, and custom polymer profiles. It directly competes with TSE's Duro-Glide® UHMW-PE sheets and Engineered Polymers CNC machining services in industrial, food processing, and conveyor applications globally.

Broad incumbents

• Covestro: Covestro is one of the world's largest polyurethane and polycarbonate producers, offering a broad portfolio of CASE, TPU, and specialty polyurethane products. As a broad incumbent, it overlaps TSE's Millathane® and CASE tolling business at much greater scale, though it does not specialize in millable polyurethane rubber compounds.
• BASF (Polyurethanes division): BASF is the largest chemical company globally and a major polyurethane raw materials, systems, and CASE producer. As a broad incumbent, its polyurethanes business competes with TSE across nearly all polyurethane application areas and is a likely counterparty in TSE's toll manufacturing customer base.
• Eastman Chemical: Eastman is a specialty chemicals company with engineered polymers, CASE ingredients, and performance chemicals segments. Its specialty polymers and additives business overlaps TSE's CASE tolling and Millathane® rubber formulation work, though Eastman's portfolio is much broader and not specialized in millable polyurethane rubber.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tse_industries
• Facebookfacebook.com/TSEIndustries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tse-industries-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/tse_industries

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 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 TSE Industries