Micro Powders

What Micro Powders does

Micro Powders, Inc. is a privately held specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1971 and headquartered in Tarrytown, New York. The company develops and produces micronized waxes, wax dispersions, emulsions, and fine powder additives that serve as functional ingredients in paints and coatings, printing inks, personal care products, agricultural seed coatings and fertilizers, and a range of niche industrial markets. Its portfolio of more than 200 products is anchored by proprietary nanocomposite technology that combines polyethylene (HDPE/LDPE) with 300 nm aluminum oxide nanoparticles to deliver scratch, scuff, and abrasion resistance, alongside a broad lineup of natural and biodegradable additives derived from carnauba wax, rice bran wax, hydrogenated castor oil, and cellulose. The company has been repositioning aggressively away from PTFE in response to regulatory pressure, securing multinational approvals and food contact compliance for PTFE-free alternatives since 2019 and announcing a full PTFE market exit by the end of 2025.

The company's underlying technology differentiates it across three reinforcing vectors: PTFE-free and PFAS-free replacement chemistries (MicroTex 950/580, NyloTex series, PolyGlide, PolyTuf), nanocomposite additive platforms (Superslip 6515AL, MPP-611AL, MPP-123AL, MicroKlear 418AL), and sustainable natural and biodegradable offerings (Naturebead, NatureMatte, NatureTex, NatureFine). It is a founder/family-led organization led by President Gary Strauss and CEO Deena Strauss, with a lean named leadership team that includes a VP of Sales and newly appointed strategic account and industrial sales roles.

Micro Powders sells B2B through a hybrid go-to-market model that combines a dedicated direct sales team for enterprise accounts (CASE, AgroScience, Industrial) with a global distributor network that includes exclusive regional partnerships such as Azelis for agricultural sciences in EMEA and Denge Kimya for Turkey. Marketing is anchored by a content-rich website with a product finder tool, sample request workflow, and active participation in industry events including the European Coatings Show and Paintistanbul. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company sells formulated specialty ingredients under one-time purchase terms, with no subscription, licensing, or SaaS revenue model in evidence.

Name

Micro Powders

Legal name

Micro Powders, Inc.

Website

https://micropowders.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Micro Powders is a privately held specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1971 that develops micronized waxes, wax dispersions, and fine powder additives for industrial coatings, printing inks, agricultural, and personal care applications. The company sells globally through direct sales and a distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Wax Additives

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Powder Coatings (IMAEAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Personal Care & Cosmetic Ingredients (IMAEABAJ)

Keywords

• Micronized waxes
• Wax dispersions
• Wax emulsions
• Specialty wax additives
• Performance wax powders

Headquarters

HQ city

Tarrytown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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. Specialty Wax and Fine Powder Additives: Micro Powders generates revenue through the sale of specialty waxes, micronized powders, nanocomposite additives, dispersions, and emulsions to industrial manufacturers in coatings, inks, agricultural, and personal care sectors. Products are sold directly and through distributors globally.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Micro Powders manufactures and sells micronized waxes, synthetic waxes, wax dispersions, and wax emulsions that function as performance additives in paints, coatings, inks, personal care products, agricultural formulations, and other industrial applications. Products are sold as functional ingredients to industrial formulators and brand owners worldwide, with chemistry options including polyethylene, polypropylene, PTFE, carnauba, and proprietary composite/hybrid wax blends.

Product overview

Micro Powders is a specialty wax and fine powder additive company with over 50 years of expertise, offering a diverse portfolio of over 200 natural and synthetic powders, composites, dispersions, and emulsions. The company provides additives for paints and coatings, printing inks, personal care, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals applications. Key product categories include PTFE replacement additives (MicroTex® 950, MicroTex® 580, NyloTex series), nanocomposite additives reinforced with aluminum oxide (Superslip 6515AL, MPP-611AL, MPP-123AL, MicroKlear series), natural and biodegradable additives (NatureMatte®, NatureTex®, NatureFine®, MicroKlear 418), and water-based dispersions (Microspersion® series). The company announced exiting the PTFE market by end of 2025, focusing on sustainable, PFAS-free solutions. Products serve markets including powder coatings, can/container coatings, wood coatings, industrial coatings, personal care (cosmetics, skincare, toiletries), graphic arts, and agricultural seed coatings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Naturebead®: Natural spherical exfoliant products for personal care applications
• Spherex™
• MicroTex®
• MicroKlear®
• Superslip®
• Polysilk®
• NyloTex®
• PolyGlide®
• PolyTuf®
• PropylMatte®
• PropylTex®
• NatureMatte®
• NatureTex®
• NatureFine®
• Microspersion®

Products and services

• MicroTex micronized polyethylene waxes Micronized polyethylene wax powders sold as functional additives for paints, coatings, inks, personal care, and industrial applications where matting, slip, scratch resistance, and texture control are required. Used by industrial formulators.
• MicroTex 950 Newly launched micronized polyethylene wax grade added to the MicroTex family for industrial coating and ink applications requiring consistent particle size and performance.
• Polyfluo micronized PTFE-modified waxes Micronized PTFE-modified wax additives providing slip, abrasion resistance, and surface lubrication in coatings, inks, and specialty industrial formulations. For industrial formulators.
• PropylMatte micronized polypropylene waxes Micronized polypropylene wax additives providing matting efficiency, slip, and surface feel control in coatings, inks, and personal care formulations.
• AquaBead wax dispersions Pre-dispersed wax additives for water-based coatings and ink systems, allowing formulators to incorporate wax performance without in-house grinding.
• AquaWax wax emulsions Water-based wax emulsions that deliver wax performance in aqueous coatings, inks, and personal care systems without the need for solvent carriers.
• AquaKot agricultural wax additives Wax additives for agricultural applications including seed coatings, fertilizer coatings, and crop protection formulations requiring flow, anti-caking, dust-off, and water resistance.
• Synthetic waxes Synthetic wax additives (non-PTFE, non-PE/PP) for industrial applications requiring specific melting, hardness, or compatibility profiles.
• Composite / hybrid wax additives Proprietary composite and hybrid wax blends that combine multiple wax chemistries (e.g., PE/PTFE, carnauba/synthetic) to deliver combined performance attributes in a single additive.
• Natural waxes (carnauba-based) Natural carnauba wax and natural wax products for industrial coatings, personal care, and specialty applications.
• Personal care specialty wax additives Specialty wax additives (including Naturalis, Propyzome, and EcoSmooth lines) formulated for cosmetics, skin care, hair care, and color cosmetics applications requiring texture, slip, structuring, and sensory feel.

Quantifiable outcome

• PTFE-free alternatives deliver performance equal to or better than PTFE-containing counterparts, often at lower cost
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Azelis ItalycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 January 2025Exclusive distribution partnership for agricultural sciences products across the EMEA region. Azelis, as a leader in agricultural and environmental solutions, distributes Micro Powders specialty wax additives for seed coatings, seed treatments, fertilizers, and adjuvants. The partnership leverages Azelis's deep practical and scientific agronomical expertise combined with Micro Powders' additive powder and dispersion technology.
• Denge KimyaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Turkey region. Denge Kimya represents Micro Powders at Paintistanbul 2026 trade show, showcasing newest products from Micro Powders' portfolio at their booth.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BYK-Chemie (Altana): BYK is the leading global supplier of coatings and inks additives, including wax-based surface additives, slip and matting agents, and rheology modifiers that overlap with Micro Powders' portfolio. As a division of specialty chemicals group Altana, BYK has far broader scale, technical service, and global reach.
• Clariant (now part of SABIC specialty portfolio): Clariant's Industrial Coatings and Additives business supplies wax-based additives, matting agents, and pigment dispersions to coatings and personal care markets. A large multinational comparable to Micro Powders on product category though with far broader portfolio and geographic reach.
• Evonik Industries: Evonik's Specialty Additives division supplies silica, matting agents, wax additives, and surface modifiers for coatings, inks, and personal care. A major multinational with overlapping product categories and customer base as Micro Powders.
• Croda International: Croda supplies specialty ingredients for personal care, coatings, and crop care, including natural and bio-based alternatives comparable to Micro Powders' Naturebead, NatureMatte, and NatureFine product families. A large public specialty chemicals peer with strong sustainability positioning.
• Lubrizol (Berkshire Hathaway): Lubrizol is a large specialty chemicals producer with coatings additives, personal care ingredients, and polymer technologies that overlap several of Micro Powders' end markets. Far greater scale and global manufacturing footprint as part of Berkshire Hathaway.
• Honeywell Specialty Additives: Honeywell's specialty additives portfolio includes high-performance wax modifiers and rheology modifiers for paints, coatings, and inks. A diversified industrial conglomerate with overlapping offerings in micronized wax and surface additive categories.

Direct peers

• Münzing Chemie: Münzing manufactures specialty wax additives, defoamers, and dispersing agents for paints, coatings, and inks. Comparable mid-sized specialty additive manufacturer serving overlapping industrial coatings and graphic arts customers.
• Shamrock Technologies: Shamrock Technologies is a direct competitor producing micronized waxes, PTFE-containing and PTFE-free additives, and dispersions for the same coatings, inks, and personal care markets served by Micro Powders. Highly comparable product portfolios and customer base make this the closest peer.
• Baerlocher: Baerlocher produces specialty wax additives, including micronized polyethylene and natural waxes, for coatings, inks, and plastics applications. Comparable product breadth across synthetic and natural wax platforms serving similar industrial customers.

Emerging players

• Deuteron GmbH: Deuteron specializes in wax-based matting agents, texturing additives, and PTFE-free alternatives for coatings, closely overlapping Micro Powders' MicroTex and NyloTex product lines. A focused European competitor with strong R&D in sustainable additive technologies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/micropowders

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Micro Powders