Robinson Brothers

Name

Robinson Brothers

Legal name

Robinson Brothers Limited

Website

https://robinsonbrothers.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1869

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals Manufacturing

NAICS

Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (32519), All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (325199), All Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (32599), Chemical Manufacturing (325)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Commodity Organic Chemicals (Solvents & Intermediates) (IMAEAAAB)

Keywords

• Specialty chemicals manufacturing
• Rubber accelerators
• Custom synthesis services
• Contract chemical manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical intermediates

Headquarters

HQ city

West Bromwich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Synthesis & Contract Manufacturing: Robinson Brothers offers contract and toll manufacturing services for specialty chemicals, serving customers who may not have required facilities or capacity. Services include custom synthesis, process intensification, and process optimisation from gram to multi-tonne quantities.
2. Specialty & Fine Chemicals: Manufacture and sale of specialty and fine chemicals including pharmaceutical intermediates, agrochemical building blocks, and rubber accelerators under the Robac Technology brand.
3. High Impact Aroma Chemicals: Through subsidiary Endeavour Speciality Chemicals, Robinson Brothers manufactures high impact aroma chemicals sold exclusively through Treatt for flavor and fragrance applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Robinson Brothers is a UK-based specialty and fine chemical manufacturer producing custom-manufactured chemical intermediates, rubber accelerators, and high impact aroma chemicals for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, rubber, flavor/fragrance, and electronics industries. The company operates multi-purpose manufacturing facilities from laboratory scale to multi-tonne production, offering contract manufacturing, custom synthesis, and gas odorant services. Core chemistry platforms include organo-sulfur chemistry, high-pressure catalytic hydrogenation, and proprietary nitrosamine-safe rubber accelerator technology under the Robac Technology brand.

Product overview

Robinson Brothers is a UK-based chemical manufacturer offering three core product lines: Speciality & Fine Chemicals (custom-manufactured chemical intermediates for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and chemical applications including Piperidine, 1,3-Cyclohexanedione, and N-Benzylamines), High Impact Aroma Chemicals (manufactured by subsidiary Endeavour Speciality Chemicals with over 300 products for flavour and fragrance applications), and Rubber Accelerators & Polymer Chemicals under the Robac Technology brand (including nitrosamine-safe accelerators like Robac AS100, Arbestab Z, and SAA30). The company operates manufacturing sites in West Bromwich and Daventry, offering services including contract/toll manufacturing, custom synthesis, and gas odorant solutions. Manufacturing scale ranges from grams to multi-tonnes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Robac Technology: Rubber accelerators and polymer chemicals division of Robinson Brothers, focusing on chemicals used in dry and wet rubber applications. Products include nitrosamine-safe accelerators such as Robac AS100, Arbestab Z, and SAA30 used in toys, automotive components, medical devices, and shoe soles.

Products and services

• Speciality & Fine Chemicals Custom-manufactured chemical intermediates produced on commercial scale from kilograms to multi-tonnes for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and chemical industry applications. Portfolio includes over 100 chemical intermediates.
• High Impact Aroma Chemicals Speciality chemicals used to provide 'top notes' to flavours that hit the nose quickly and dissipate, supplied exclusively by Treatt to flavour and fragrance houses globally. More than 300 high impact aroma chemicals offered through subsidiary Endeavour Speciality Chemicals.
• Rubber Accelerators & Polymer Chemicals (Robac Technology) Rubber accelerators and polymer chemicals marketed under the Robac Technology brand, including nitrosamine-safe accelerators for vulcanisation used in automotive, medical devices, toys, and general rubber goods applications.
• Contract Manufacturing Services Contract and toll manufacturing services with and without provision of customers' own know-how and Intellectual Property (IP), covering gram to multi-tonne scale.
• Custom Synthesis Bespoke custom synthesis of new chemical entities (NCEs) for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and speciality chemical intermediates from gram to multi-tonne quantities.
• Gas Odorant Services Supply of odorants to gas and biofuel treatment plants with a fleet of tailor-made odorant delivery vehicles up to 8,000 litres capacity, plus decontamination and decommissioning services.
• Robac SRM102 Safe alternative to Ethylene thiourea developed through the EU-funded SafeRubber project. Nitrosamine-safe rubber accelerator that won the Chemical Industries Association Innovation Award.
• Robac AS100 Di-isopropyl xanthogen polysulfide (CAS: 137398-54-0), a nitrosamine-safe accelerator for natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene and NBR. FDA approved, nitrogen/phosphorous/metallic element-free, used in engine mounts, baby teats, and medical devices.
• Arbestab Z Zinc diisononyldithiocarbamate (CAS: 84604-96-6), a higher alkyl dithiocarbamate of zinc recommended for prevulcanisation of high ammonia natural rubber latex to minimise N-nitrosamine concerns and Type IV allergens. Approved by German BfR for toys and toy balloons.
• Robac SAA30 2,2'-Dithiodi(ethylammonium) bis(dibenzyldithiocarbamate) (CAS: 239446-62-9), an ultra-fast nitrosamine-safe accelerator designed to overcome N-nitrosamine and Type IV allergy concerns in production and application environments.
• Piperidine Key chemical intermediate (CAS: 110-89-4) used for agrochemicals, coatings and pharmaceuticals. Introduced in 1950 for Penicillin G production and remains a leading product for Robinson Brothers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produced 6000L of hand sanitiser free of charge during COVID-19 pandemic
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TreattcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2008Endeavour Speciality Chemicals' high impact aroma chemicals are sold exclusively through Treatt, a trusted global ingredients manufacturer serving the flavour & fragrance, food & beverages, cosmetics and personal care industries. This exclusive distribution relationship covers global sales of HIACs.
• REACHReadycoreOthersREACHReady gold membership provides access to the REACHReady helpdesk and support services for regulatory compliance with REACH, CLP, and UK-REACH regulations. This membership is critical for maintaining compliance in European and UK markets.
• European Fine Chemical Group (EFCG)coreOthersRobinson Brothers is a member of the European Fine Chemical Group (EFCG), part of the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC). EFCG provides a forum and representation for European fine chemical manufacturers, particularly those active in the crop protection industry.
• Chemical Industries Association (CIA)coreOthersRobinson Brothers is a member of the Chemical Industries Association, which represents chemical and pharmaceutical companies across the UK. The CIA provides industry advocacy, networking, and recognition programs.
• MAKE UKminorOthersRobinson Brothers became a member of MAKE UK (The Manufacturers' Organisation) to share best practices with fellow manufacturers and access HR, legal, and learning & development expertise to support employees and business operations.
• British Footwear AssociationminorOthersRobac Technology, the rubber accelerators division of Robinson Brothers, is a member of the British Footwear Association, supporting the footwear industry's transition to safer rubber accelerators.
• AIME (Association des Industries de la Chimie Fine Europeenne)minorOthersRobinson Brothers is an AIME member, part of the European Fine Chemical Group. AIME members are fine chemical companies mostly active in the crop protection industry.
• SafeRubber Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded SafeRubber project involved a European consortium led by Robac Technology to develop safer alternatives to Ethylene thiourea, resulting in Robac SRM102 launch in 2014 and multiple innovation awards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Carbogen Amcis: Swiss-headquartered CDMO offering custom synthesis and contract manufacturing for pharmaceutical and specialty chemical customers, with expertise in hazardous chemistry handling. Direct competitor in the same custom synthesis and pharma/agro intermediate space as Robinson Brothers.
• WeylChem (International Chemical Investors Group): European fine and specialty chemicals manufacturer offering custom synthesis and contract manufacturing to pharmaceutical and agrochemical customers from gram to multi-tonne scale. Highly comparable business model and customer overlap with Robinson Brothers' Specialty & Fine Chemicals division.
• NOCIL Limited: Indian manufacturer of rubber chemicals including vulcanization accelerators and antioxidants. A direct competitor in the rubber accelerator market where Robinson Brothers' Robac Technology division competes, though NOCIL is larger and primarily serves tire and general rubber applications.
• Saltigo (LANXESS subsidiary): Custom synthesis and contract manufacturing specialist for pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates, owned by LANXESS. Highly comparable to Robinson Brothers' Specialty & Fine Chemicals and Custom Synthesis business in technology, customer base, and contract manufacturing model.
• PMC Group: US-based specialty chemicals manufacturer producing rubber accelerators, polymer additives, and intermediates. Direct competition in the rubber accelerators market where Robinson Brothers operates Robac Technology, with overlapping product chemistries including dithiocarbamates and thiurams.

Broad incumbents

• LANXESS: German specialty chemicals company with a dedicated Rubber Additives business (vulcanization accelerators, antidegradants) and significant organo-sulfur chemistry heritage. Directly competes with Robinson Brothers' Robac Technology rubber accelerator portfolio but operates at much larger scale across multiple chemical segments.
• Croda International: UK-headquartered specialty chemicals company serving personal care, pharma, and industrial markets including some rubber and polymer additives. Comparable geography and end-market overlap with Robinson Brothers but materially larger and more diversified across consumer-facing applications.
• Eastman Chemical Company: Global specialty chemicals company with rubber additives (including the legacy Flexsys/Solvay business) and fine chemicals operations. Comparable to Robinson Brothers across rubber accelerators, intermediates, and custom manufacturing, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Johnson Matthey: UK-headquartered specialty chemicals and sustainable technologies company with a Fine Chemicals division historically serving pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates. Comparable to Robinson Brothers in geography, customer overlap (pharma/agro), and custom manufacturing model, but significantly larger and broader in scope.

Regional players

• Peter Whiting (Chemicals): UK-based rubber accelerator and specialty chemical compounder serving European rubber goods manufacturers. Regional peer to Robinson Brothers' Robac Technology division in the UK and EU rubber accelerator market with comparable product positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/robinsonbro_ltd

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Robinson Brothers