What UCT Inc does

UCT Inc (United Chemical Technologies) is a privately held specialty chemicals and laboratory products manufacturer founded in 1985 and headquartered in Bristol, Pennsylvania. The company designs and manufactures solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents and columns, QuEChERS extraction products, HPLC/UHPLC columns, beta-glucuronidase enzyme formulations, derivatization reagents, and supporting laboratory instruments (positive pressure manifolds, vacuum manifolds, solvent evaporators). Its product portfolio is organized under multiple sub-brands including Clean Screen (forensic/clinical SPE), Enviro-Clean (environmental SPE), Selectra and SelectraCore (HPLC columns), Abalonase (enzymes), and Selectra-Sil (derivatizing reagents), with proprietary differentiated chemistries such as the patented GHB sorbent, ChloroFiltr, LipiFiltr, and SpinFiltr. The company also produces specialty chemicals (silicones, silanes, platinum catalysts) for polymer synthesis and surface treatment applications.

UCT serves analytical laboratories across forensic science, environmental testing, food safety, clinical/healthcare, pharmaceutical/biotech, and cannabis testing verticals, with a customer base that includes government crime labs, university research centers, enterprise hospital laboratories, and commercial testing services. The company operates an ISO 9001:2008 certified manufacturing facility and markets a 40-year legacy of validated methods aligned with EPA, DOT, and forensic toxicology regulatory standards.

UCT generates revenue primarily through one-time consumables sales (SPE columns, QuEChERS kits, HPLC columns, enzymes, reagents) at unit prices ranging from under $100 for accessories to over $10,000 for bulk sorbents and complex instruments, supplemented by capital equipment sales (manifolds, evaporators). Distribution is multi-channel: direct e-commerce via the company website, regional sales representatives for enterprise and custom orders, and a global distributor network for international reach. Technical support, application notes, webinars, and method development resources underpin the sales motion and reinforce customer stickiness in regulated laboratory workflows.

Name

UCT Inc

Legal name

United Chemical Technologies (UCT)

Website

https://unitedchem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Consumables Sales: One-time purchase of SPE columns, QuEChERS products, HPLC columns, enzymes, reagents, and accessories. Products sold in bulk quantities (individual units to 50kg for sorbents) with repeat purchase patterns typical in laboratory settings.
2. Laboratory Equipment Sales: Sale of instruments including PPM 2.0 Positive Pressure Manifolds, HydraFlow, Glass Block Manifolds, 96 Well PPM, Environmental Disk Manifolds, Universal Vacuum Manifolds, and SPeVAP Evaporators. Capital equipment purchases with accessories and replacement parts.
3. Specialty Chemicals: Sale of silicone fluids, silanes, catalysts, and surface treating silanes for polymer synthesis, coatings, and industrial applications. Bulk quantities available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

UCT Inc manufactures and sells sample preparation and chromatography products for analytical laboratories worldwide, including Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) columns, QuEChERS extraction kits, HPLC/UHPLC columns, positive pressure and vacuum manifolds, solvent evaporators, beta-glucuronidase enzymes, derivatization reagents, and specialty silicone/silane chemicals. The company sells these primarily to forensic, clinical, environmental, food safety, pharmaceutical, and cannabis testing laboratories through direct sales, e-commerce, and a global distributor network.

Product overview

UCT Inc (United Chemical Technologies) is a laboratory equipment and consumables company offering a comprehensive portfolio of sample preparation and chromatography products. The core product lines include Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) columns under the Clean Screen, Enviro-Clean, Styre Screen, and Clean-Up brands for forensic, clinical, environmental, and food safety applications; QuEChERS extraction kits and specialty sorbents including ChloroFiltr and LipiFiltr; HPLC columns under the Selectra and SelectraCore brands; and a range of instruments including positive pressure manifolds (PPM 2.0), vacuum manifolds (Glass Block, Universal, Environmental Disk), HydraFlow, and SPeVAP solvent evaporators. Supporting products include Abalonase enzyme formulations, Selectra-Sil derivatization reagents, and specialty chemicals (silicones, silanes, platinum catalysts). The company also offers bulk sorbents, accessories (reservoirs, frits, buffers, GC liners, caps), and metal scavengers for purification. This is a multi-product catalog architecture organized by application area rather than an integrated software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clean Screen®: SPE columns and well-plates for forensic and clinical analyses, including DAU, THC, GHB, ETG, BNZ, XCEL, and FASt product lines.
• Enviro-Clean®
• Selectra®
• SelectraCore®
• QuEChERS
• XtrackT®
• STYRE SCREEN®
• Clean-Up®
• ChloroFiltr®
• LipiFiltr®
• Abalonase™
• Selectrasorb™
• Selectra-SIL®
• Selectrazyme®
• HydraFlow®
• PPM 2.0
• SPeVAP®

Products and services

• Clean Screen DAU SPE Columns Mixed-mode SPE columns utilizing both reverse phase (C8) and ion exchange (benzenesulfonic acid) chemistries bonded to the same particle for extraction of acidic, neutral, and basic compounds in forensic and clinical applications.
• Clean Screen XCEL SPE Columns Streamlined SPE columns designed to reduce extraction process steps. XCEL I extracts a wide array of basic drugs including benzodiazepines and opiates; XCEL II is designed for rapid extraction of THC metabolite.
• Clean Screen FASt SPE Columns Filtration-based SPE columns eliminating centrifugation requirements, mitigating matrix suppression effects, and removing particulates larger than 1 micron for LC/MS analysis.
• Clean Screen THC SPE Columns Specialized sorbent blend combining hydrophobic and anion exchange functionalities optimized for THC and its metabolites extraction in forensic and clinical applications.
• Clean Screen GHB SPE Columns Patented sorbent for isolation and extraction of free Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in forensic toxicology applications.
• Clean Screen ETG SPE Columns Specialized sorbent for extraction of ethyl-glucuronide from urine for alcohol biomarker testing.
• Clean Screen BNZ SPE Columns Specialized sorbent for benzodiazepine extractions with specific focus on 7-amino benzodiazepines in forensic and clinical settings.
• Styre Screen SPE Columns Ultra-clean, highly cross-linked styrene and divinylbenzene polymer sorbent SPE columns providing high analyte capacity with lower bed mass, enabling faster flow rates and reduced solvent usage.
• XtrackT SPE Columns Large particle silica gels designed for viscous sample matrices or gravity flow applications with enhanced performance in challenging extraction scenarios.
• Clean-Up SPE Columns Comprehensive silica-based SPE chemistries including hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ion-exchange, and copolymeric bonded phases for versatile sample screening and targeted drug chemistry extraction.
• Enviro-Clean SPE Cartridges Environmental sample preparation SPE cartridges with ultra-clean extraction sorbents and chemically resistant frits for isolation and purification of pesticides, herbicides, PAHs, PCBs, and other environmental analytes.
• QuEChERS Extraction Kits Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe extraction kits for pesticide residue analysis in food matrices. Includes extraction salts, dSPE cleanup products, centrifuge tubes, and push-thru cartridges.
• SpinFiltr dSPE System Ultra-filtration dSPE system combining conventional dispersive SPE with 0.2 micron filtration to remove unwanted matrix compounds without additional steps, saving time in sample preparation.
• ChloroFiltr Specialty Sorbent Exclusive polymeric sorbent for removing chlorophyll from acetonitrile extracts without sacrificing polar aromatic pesticides, replacing graphitized carbon black.
• LipiFiltr Specialty Sorbent Specialized sorbent for effective lipid removal from acetonitrile extracts via push-through cartridge for cleaner UHPLC-MS/MS analysis in fatty food samples.
• Metal Scavenger Products Silica-based and polymer-based sorbents for selective removal of metal contaminants from reaction mixtures. Includes thiourea, triamine, PSA, and triacetic acid (TAX) chemistries for pharmaceutical intermediates and APIs.
• Glyphosate Purification Cartridges Cartridges designed to remove organic material and surfactants hindering chromatographic analysis for glyphosate and glufosinate detection.
• PPM 2.0 Positive Pressure Manifold Precision pressure manifold system for SPE workflows requiring precise pressure control, adapter flexibility, and compatibility with 1mL, 3mL, 6mL, 10mL, or 15mL columns. Accepts N2 or compressed air regulated to 80-120 psi.
• HydraFlow Manifold System Large volume water analysis SPE manifold with 4 independent channels for separate or simultaneous sample processing. Compact footprint with PEEK, PTFE, and stainless steel flow paths ensuring minimal corrosion resistance.
• Glass Block Vacuum Manifold Vacuum manifold systems available in 16 or 24 positions with glass block, Corian lid, PTFE tips, adjustable collection rack, and bulkhead luer fittings for durable, chemically resistant SPE extraction.
• Universal Vacuum Manifold Flexible vacuum manifold accommodating 24 individual columns, 48 individual columns, and well plate configurations with comprehensive accessory systems.
• 96 Well Positive Pressure Manifold Positive pressure extraction manifold for 96-well plate sample preparation using pressurized gas (compressed nitrogen or air) with adjustable regulators and restrictors for controlled flow.
• Environmental Disk Manifold Vacuum manifolds in single, 3, and 6 station designs for simultaneous sample processing with corrosion-resistant stainless steel construction and individual station valve control.
• SPeVAP Solvent Evaporator 32/48-position nitrogen drying and solvent evaporation system with independent zone controls, built-in heat resistance, and PTFE needle adjustment for repeatable accuracy.
• Selectra U/HPLC Columns High-performance chromatography columns manufactured in ISO 9001:2008 certified facility using ultra-pure, high-loading spherical silica. Available in 1.8 micron, 3 micron, and 5 micron particle sizes for pharmaceutical, forensic, environmental, and chemical applications.
• SelectraCore Core-Shell Columns Superficially porous particle columns delivering greater efficiency, faster analysis, and improved resolution with lower back pressure than sub-2 micron fully porous particles. Available in C18, DA, and PFPP stationary phases.
• Abalonase Beta-Glucuronidase Enzymes Purified Beta-glucuronidase enzyme formulations (Abalonase, Abalonase+, Abalonase Ultra with activity levels up to 150,000 fishman units/mL) for rapid hydrolysis of conjugated drug metabolites including benzodiazepines, opioids, cannabinoids, and steroids within minutes.
• Selectra-Sil DR Derivatization Reagents Derivatization reagents synthesized and purified to exacting standards, packaged under nitrogen with PTFE stopper and crimp top to maintain inert atmosphere. Includes BSTFA, TMCS, MTBSTFA, and specialty silylation agents.
• Bulk Sorbents Bulk SPE sorbents and bonded phases available in quantities from 10g to 50kg for environmental, forensic, clinical, food safety, and pharmaceutical sample preparation applications.
• Polypropylene Reservoirs Laboratory reservoirs in various volume configurations with or without frits for analytical sample collection, made from durable polypropylene for chemical resistance.
• SPE Frits Polyethylene, PTFE, and stainless steel frits available in multiple pore sizes and dimensions from 1 mL to 75 mL for solid phase extraction and filtration applications.
• Buffer Pouches Ready-to-use phosphate and acetate buffer pouches for accurate preparation of SPE reagents at proper pH and concentration, eliminating potential error in buffer preparation.
• GC Inlet Liners Gas chromatography inlet liners deactivated using proprietary silane treatment for superior inertness and consistent performance across injections. Compatible with Agilent and Perkin Elmer instruments.
• Silicone Fluids Polydimethylsiloxane fluids and specialty silicone materials for polymer synthesis, including vinyl-terminated, hydride-terminated, and aminopropyl-terminated variants for research and industrial applications.
• Silane Coupling Agents Organofunctional silanes including amino, vinyl, mercapto, and specialty types for adhesion promotion, surface modification, composites, coatings, and chromatography applications.
• Platinum Catalysts Homogeneous platinum catalysts for hydrosilylation, silicone curing, and polymer modification. Includes platinum divinyl, cyclovinyl, and octanol complexes with various platinum concentrations.
• Surface Treating Silanes Surface treating silanes (e.g., PS200) that impart non-adherent surfaces, greater scratch resistance, and easier cleaning for laboratory glassware, optical fibers, and clinical analysis equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90-110% recoveries with RSDs below 5%
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Restek Corporation: Privately held specialty manufacturer of GC columns, SPE cartridges, reference standards, and chromatography consumables. Most direct comparable to UCT in size, business model, and product mix across forensic, environmental, food safety, and clinical labs.
• Phenomenex: Manufacturer of HPLC/UHPLC columns, SPE cartridges, and sample preparation products now owned by Danaher. Directly competes with UCT in SPE (Strata-X vs. Clean Screen/Enviro-Clean) and core-shell HPLC columns (Luna vs. SelectraCore).
• Biotage: Public Swedish company specializing in SPE cartridges (ISOLUTE, EVOLUTE), sample preparation instruments, and workflow solutions for forensic, clinical, pharma, and environmental applications. Closest peer in the SPE workflow niche.

Broad incumbents

• Agilent Technologies: Global analytical instrument leader with broad SPE (Bond Elut), GC/HPLC columns, and full consumables portfolio. Competes with UCT in HPLC columns and serves the same forensic, environmental, and food-safety labs but as part of a much larger integrated offering.
• Waters Corporation: Leading manufacturer of LC instruments, columns (ACQUITY UPLC), and Oasis SPE consumables. Directly competes with UCT's Selectra HPLC and Clean Screen/Enviro-Clean SPE lines, particularly in clinical and environmental workflows.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Diversified life sciences giant offering HyperSep SPE, HPLC columns, derivatization reagents, and full analytical workflows. Broad incumbent competing with UCT across nearly every product category and end market.
• MilliporeSigma (Sigma-Aldrich): Life science chemicals and consumables arm of Merck KGaA, supplying Supelco SPE cartridges, HPLC columns, silanes, derivatization reagents, and standards. Broadly overlaps with UCT's sample prep and specialty chemicals lines.
• Shimadzu Scientific Instruments: Japanese analytical instrument and consumables manufacturer offering HPLC columns, GC consumables, and sample preparation accessories. Overlaps with UCT in HPLC columns and accessories for the same end markets.
• PerkinElmer: Provider of analytical instruments, consumables, and lab services with HPLC columns, SPE, and reagents used in environmental, food safety, and clinical testing. Broad incumbent with overlapping product set.

Emerging players

• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Life science research and clinical diagnostics company offering chromatography consumables and lab products. Adjacent rather than direct in UCT's forensic/environmental core but competes in clinical and food-safety sample prep adjacencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uctspe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@unitedchem
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uct-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedchemicaltechnologies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 UCT Inc