What HA International does

HA International (HA-International, LLC) is a Westmont, Illinois-based supplier of specialty chemicals and consumables for the North American foundry industry, wholly owned by Düsseldorf-based HA Group (Hüttenes-Albertus Chemische Werke GmbH) since 2016, when the company bought out Hexion's 50% interest. Founded in 2001 from the merger of Delta-HA and Borden Chemical, the company markets a portfolio of more than 3,000 SKUs spanning cold-box and no-bake binder systems (Bioset, SigmaCure, Silcure, BioCure), resin-coated sands (Custom Coat, EcoFlo), refractory coatings (Mold Lite Plus, Dura Kote, EcoLite), patented CHEMEX metal feeding systems, CastTherm specialty sands and Korplete engineered additives, Wedron Flux metal-treatment products, and the Enviroset 3D Jet Resin line serving additive manufacturing of sand cores and molds. The company also runs HA Academy training and amine reclamation services, holds ISO 9001:2015 certification at its primary manufacturing sites, and earned a group-level EcoVadis Silver Medal placing HA Group in the top 16% of assessed companies.

Name

HA International

Legal name

HA-International, L.L.C.

Website

https://ha-international.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HA International supplies specialty foundry chemicals and casting consumables — resins, resin-coated sands, refractory coatings, metal feeding systems, and metal treatment — to ferrous and non-ferrous foundries across North America as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany's HA Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Westmont

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. Foundry Chemical Products: Direct sale of proprietary foundry chemicals including resins, resin coated sands, refractory coatings, metal feeding systems, die coatings, and specialty additives. Revenue generated through direct sales force and quote-based pricing.
2. Technical Services: Technical field service support, HA Academy training programs, and amine reclamation services provided to foundry customers.
3. Custom Solutions: Customized product development and formulation services for specific foundry customer requirements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HA International manufactures and supplies proprietary foundry chemicals and casting products to foundries in North America, including chemical binder systems (cold-box and no-bake resins), resin coated sands, refractory coatings, metal feeding systems, specialty sands and additives, metal treatment fluxes, and 3D sand printing resins. The portfolio spans more than 3,000 SKUs covering every step of the metal casting process, from sand preparation and core/mold making through pouring, cooling, and shakeout.

Product overview

HA International is a leading supplier of foundry chemicals and casting products in North America, offering over 3,000 high-quality products to the foundry industry. The company's portfolio centers on chemical binder systems (Cold-Box and No-Bake resins including Bioset, SigmaCure, Silcure, and BioCure brands), which form the foundation for core and mold making. These are complemented by Resin Coated Sand products (Custom Coat, EcoFlo), Refractory Coatings (Mold Lite Plus, Dura Kote, EcoLite), Metal Feeding Systems (CHEMEX including patented Tele-Feeders), Specialty Sands and Additives (CastTherm chromite sands and Korplete engineered additives), Metal Treatment (Wedron Flux), and Additive Manufacturing solutions (Enviroset 3D Jet Resins). The product line also includes Inorganic/Cordis binders, Die Coatings, HPDC lubricants, and Foundry Adhesives. The company operates as part of the HA Group (Hüttenes-Albertus) with global operations spanning over 100 years of combined experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EcoMission: Sustainability program focused on minimizing environmental impact throughout product life cycles
• HA Academy
• Bioset
• Enviroset
• Chemex
• CastTherm
• EcoFlo
• Cordis
• SigmaCure
• Wedron Flux

Products and services

• Cold-Box Resins Phenolic urethane cold box (PUCB) binder systems for high-production coremaking, including hydrocarbon/aromatic (SigmaCure), biodiesel/aliphatic (BioCure), and silicate/inorganic (Silcure) solvent packages for ferrous and non-ferrous foundry applications.
• No-Bake Resins Phenolic urethane no-bake binder (PUNB) systems including Bioset T8000/T8500 and the second-generation Bioset opTa80/85, engineered for ferrous, non-ferrous, core, and mold-making applications with reduced smoke, odor, and emissions.
• Resin Coated Sand Pre-coated shell sand products for molding and core production including Custom Coat grades for demanding foundry applications and EcoFlo environmentally friendly grades that reduce ammonia and formaldehyde emissions by 70%.
• Refractory Coatings Protective coatings applied to core and mold surfaces to enhance casting surface finish and reduce defects. Product family includes Mold Lite Plus and Dura Kote zircon-free alternatives, EcoLite VOC-exempt fast-drying coatings, and granulated options.
• CHEMEX Metal Feeding Systems Patented metal feeding systems including Tele-Feeders with two-piece telescopic design for directional solidification and up to 50% feeder-to-casting efficiency. Includes side insert sleeves, compact feeders, and exothermic neck technology for complex castings.
• Wedron Flux Metal Treatment Aluminum melting and processing fluxes including drossing, clearing, degassing, cover, charging, grain refining, and silicon modification fluxes. Includes Rotaflux and Injection systems with data harvesting for copper-based alloys, zinc, and lead applications.
• CastTherm Specialty Sands and Additives Specialty sands including chromite sand (CastTherm CR 45/60/80) with high thermal conductivity and chilling properties, plus Korplete engineered additives (1190, 3217, 3654, 1217) for reducing casting defects and improving surface finish.
• Additive Manufacturing Solutions Complete additive manufacturing solutions for sand molds and cores, including the Enviroset 3D Jet Resin family for binder jetting. Compatible with multiple 3D printer platforms, with non-reportable formaldehyde, no nitrogen, and low water content.
• Inorganic/Cordis Binder Systems Inorganic binder systems (Cordis) offering zero amine exposure, no release of harmful emissions, lower VOC/HAPS, and no need for emission control equipment. Targeted at aluminum applications and castings requiring high tolerances and complex geometries.
• Die Coatings Permanent mold coatings for die casting applications, including HPDC (High Pressure Die Casting) die and shot tip lubricants for die casting operations.
• Foundry Adhesives (Klebepaste) Adhesive products for joining foundry components, including Klebepaste for various foundry adhesion applications.
• Technical Services and HA Academy Technical field service support, HA Academy training programs, and amine reclamation (HARP) services provided to foundry customers to support product implementation and process optimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% reduction in ammonia and formaldehyde emissions with EcoFlo resin coated sand
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Garmi del Norte S.A. de C.V.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Joint venture partner for Mexican operations. HA and Garmi unified under HA Quimica de Mexico S.A. de C.V. to serve the Mexican foundry industry as the largest supplier of products for core and mold production in Mexico. Represents important step strengthening HA Group's global foundry leadership position in Mexico.
• Hexion Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2016Hexion sold its 50% interest in HA-International LLC to HA-USA, Inc. HAI continues strategic sourcing arrangement with Hexion's Louisville, Kentucky site. Former joint venture partner for North American foundry operations.
• Rand York MineralscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mining and processing of next-generation chromite sand from the Bushveld Complex in South Africa. CastTherm chromite sands are produced through this partnership offering multiple screen distributions for various foundry applications.
• Foundry-SkillsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree video wiki with thousands of foundry-specific short videos across 45+ categories. HA Group contributes content and promotes the platform for foundry education and training purposes.
• HA Group / Hüttenes-Albertus Chemische Werke GmbHcoreOthersParent company controlling HA-USA, Inc. which owns HA-International LLC. Provides global foundry chemistry expertise, research capabilities, and access to international markets and technologies. HA Group Presidents: Christoph Koch and Franz Butz.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hexion: Hexion was HA-International's former 50/50 JV partner (sold its stake in 2016) and remains a leading supplier of phenolic foundry resins, adhesives, and resins coatings. Same chemistries (phenolic urethane binders, furan) and same foundry end-customers make it a head-to-head competitor today.
• ASK Chemicals: ASK Chemicals is a global specialty chemicals supplier of foundry binders (no-bake, cold-box, inorganic), refractory coatings, feeding systems, and metal-treatment products — directly mirroring HA International's core product lines and serving the same ferrous and non-ferrous foundry customers.
• Foseco (Vesuvius): Foseco, a Vesuvius subsidiary, supplies feeding systems (incl. tele-feeder/exothermic technology), refractory coatings, metal treatment fluxes, and filters to foundries worldwide — a near-direct overlap with HA International's CHEMEX, refractory-coating, and Wedron Flux franchises.

Broad incumbents

• Imerys: Imerys is a large French specialty-minerals group whose performance-minerals portfolio includes chromite sand, ceramic foundry media, and bentonite used in mold/core production. It competes with HA International's CastTherm and resin-coated sand offerings but as part of a much broader industrial-minerals portfolio rather than a foundry-focused business.

Emerging players

• Chem-Trend (Freudenberg Group): Chem-Trend, owned by Freudenberg, supplies die lubricants, release agents, and HPDC-related consumables — overlapping with HA International's permanent-mold coatings and HPDC die & shot-tip lubricant lines. Its focus on die casting (vs. HA's broader sand-foundry chemistry) makes it a partial, segment-specific competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/HAIfoundry
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HuettenesAlbertusGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ha-international-llc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 HA International