What HydroChem does

HPC Industrial, operating under the legacy HydroChem name and powered by Clean Harbors (North America's largest environmental services company), is the self-described largest U.S. provider of industrial cleaning services to the downstream oil and gas industry. The company delivers a consolidated services model spanning three business units: Downstream (industrial cleaning for petrochemical refineries and processing facilities, where it claims market leadership), Specialty (highly engineered services including confined space entry, hydroblasting, vacuum services, and industrial maintenance), and Upstream (cleaning and maintenance for exploration and production operations). HPC is differentiated by a fully invested, dedicated Technology Center that consolidates engineering, specialty services, maintenance, and training under one roof — a structural claim no direct competitor matches — and by a 2024 acquisition of Ecorobotics assets that added more than 40 robotic tank cleaning systems to the fleet. Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Deer Park, Texas, HPC Industrial employs 5,500+ people across 90 facilities in all 50 U.S. states and offers 24/7 emergency response, with enterprise B2B contracts, turnaround projects, and negotiated service pricing as the primary revenue mechanics. The company is a private subsidiary/brand of Clean Harbors, which provides capital, infrastructure, and ISNetworld-credentialed contractor status, and the company has accumulated safety recognition including a 2026 Best in Class Safety Excellence Award in the Industrial Cleaning Large Category.

Name

HydroChem

Legal name

HPC Industrial

Website

https://hydrochem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

HPC Industrial (legacy HydroChem), powered by Clean Harbors, is the self-described largest U.S. industrial cleaning services provider to downstream oil and gas, employing 5,500+ people across 90 facilities in 50 states, serving petrochemical, refining, and upstream energy operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Cleaning Services

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Cleaning & Decontamination (Hydroblasting/Vacuum/Confined Space) (IMAIACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Vacuum & Tank Cleaning Services (Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAL), Specialty Deep Cleaning (Duct/Kitchen Exhaust/Pressure Washing) (IMAIADAN)

Keywords

• Industrial cleaning services
• Downstream petrochemical cleaning
• Upstream oil and gas services
• Robotic tank cleaning
• Specialty industrial maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Deer Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Cleaning Services: HPC Industrial generates revenue through providing industrial cleaning services to the downstream, specialty, and upstream oil and gas industries. Services are delivered through a consolidated services model with a focus on innovation and the latest technology. Revenue is derived from service contracts, emergency response services (24/7 availability), and project-based specialty services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

HydroChem, operating as HPC Industrial, provides industrial cleaning services to the downstream petrochemical, specialty, and upstream oil and gas industries. Services are delivered through a consolidated services model supported by a dedicated Technology Center and a fleet of more than 40 robotic cleaning systems acquired from Ecorobotics. The company also offers 24/7 emergency response for unplanned industrial cleaning events and operates 90 facilities across all 50 U.S. states.

Product overview

HPC Industrial (powered by Clean Harbors, North America's largest environmental services company) is a platform of industrial cleaning services with three main service categories: Downstream (the nation's single largest provider of industrial cleaning to downstream industry), Specialty (highly engineered services), and Upstream (broad array of services to upstream oil and gas). The company operates a unique dedicated Technology Center that houses engineering, specialty services, maintenance and training all under one roof. The portfolio was recently expanded through the acquisition of Ecorobotics, adding over 40 robotic cleaning systems for safer and more efficient tank cleaning solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Downstream Industrial Cleaning Services Industrial cleaning, turnaround services, emergency response, tank cleaning, and specialty maintenance for petrochemical refineries and chemical processing plants; HPC Industrial is the nation's single largest provider of industrial cleaning services to the downstream industry.
• Specialty Industrial Cleaning Services Highly engineered specialty services for complex, high-hazard industrial applications, including confined space entry, hydroblasting, vacuum services, and industrial maintenance for petrochemical and energy customers.
• Upstream Oil and Gas Services Industrial cleaning, maintenance, and support services for upstream oil and gas exploration and production facilities; HPC Industrial is described as a trusted provider of a broad array of services to the upstream oil and gas industry.
• Ecorobotics Robotic Tank Cleaning Systems Robotic tank cleaning systems acquired via the Ecorobotics asset acquisition that provide safer and more efficient tank cleaning compared with traditional manual methods; deployed for industrial cleaning across customer facilities.
• Dedicated Technology Center Fully invested dedicated Technology Center housing engineering, specialty services, maintenance, and training all under one roof, supporting industrial cleaning service delivery, workforce development, and technology innovation.
• 24/7 Emergency Response Industrial Cleaning 24/7 emergency response industrial cleaning service for unplanned events at petrochemical, refining, and other energy facilities, supported by nationwide coverage and a dedicated response phone line.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 robotic cleaning systems deployed for safer and more efficient tank cleaning

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Clean Harborsflagship / coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Harbors is North America's largest environmental services company and the parent organization powering HPC Industrial, described as 'the biggest industrial services brand.' Clean Harbors provides strategic backing, infrastructure, and operational scale enabling HPC Industrial to operate 90 facilities across 50 states with 5,500+ employees.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• HEPACO: HEPACO provides industrial cleaning, emergency response, and environmental remediation services to refineries, petrochemical plants, and other industrial customers across the U.S. It is one of the closest direct competitors to HPC Industrial in hydroblasting, vacuum services, and tank cleaning for the downstream O&G sector.
• SET Environmental: SET Environmental provides industrial cleaning, tank cleaning, hydroblasting, vacuum truck services, and emergency spill response to refineries and chemical plants. It competes head-to-head with HPC Industrial in core downstream cleaning service lines across U.S. refining hubs.
• Brand Industrial Services: Brand Industrial Services delivers industrial cleaning, hydroblasting, vacuuming, and specialty maintenance to refineries, petrochemical plants, and energy infrastructure customers. Its service portfolio, customer base, and downstream focus overlap heavily with HPC Industrial's core offering.
• Team Industrial Services: Team Industrial Services provides specialty industrial services — including cleaning, mechanical services, and on-site maintenance — to refining, petrochemical, and power customers. It operates as a comparable specialty services contractor serving similar downstream and upstream segments.
• Heritage-Crystal Clean: Heritage-Crystal Clean (NASDAQ: HCCI) provides industrial parts cleaning, used oil collection/recycling, and environmental services to industrial customers, including petrochemical and manufacturing end-markets. It overlaps with HPC Industrial in industrial cleaning and waste handling for industrial customers.

Broad incumbents

• Veolia North America: Veolia operates a large hazardous-waste, industrial cleaning, and environmental services platform across North America, serving refineries and petrochemical operators. It competes with HPC Industrial at the enterprise level and has broader service breadth including waste treatment.
• Apex Companies: Apex Companies is a large environmental and industrial services firm offering tank cleaning, hydroblasting, remediation, and compliance services to industrial clients. It competes with HPC Industrial in industrial cleaning while also providing consulting and compliance work.
• US Ecology (now part of Heritage Environmental): US Ecology / Heritage Environmental Services provides industrial waste management, cleaning, and environmental services to industrial customers including downstream O&G. It overlaps with HPC Industrial in industrial cleaning and waste handling for refinery and chemical customers.
• Republic Services: Republic Services is a major North American environmental services and waste management company with an industrial services arm serving petrochemical and refining customers. It is comparable as a large-scale environmental services platform, though more diversified than HPC Industrial.
• Republic Services Industrial Services: Republic Services' industrial services division provides industrial cleaning, waste removal, and environmental solutions to refineries and chemical plants. Comparable to HPC Industrial at the enterprise customer level, though it sits within a much broader municipal waste management business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 HydroChem