The Chemico Group

What The Chemico Group does

The Chemico Group is a privately held, Michigan-based chemical management services and specialty chemical distribution enterprise founded in 1989 by Leon C. Richardson, operating through two divisions: Chemico LLC (chemical management services) and Chemico Systems (specialty products and distribution). Chemico LLC provides integrated, single-source chemical lifecycle management covering procurement, supply chain logistics, on-site inventory, process optimization, waste handling, environmental health and safety, disposal, and recycling, anchored by a proprietary Chemical Management Information System (CMIS) that gives customers visibility into chemical usage. Chemico Systems operates a 50,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and warehousing facility in Chesterfield, Michigan with on-site R&D, producing and distributing over 119 SKUs across paint booth maintenance, facilities maintenance, hand cleaners/sanitizers, and specialty industrial chemicals, alongside distributed third-party brands (Estesol, Kresto, Solopol, Stokoderm, Refresh).

The company serves primarily Fortune 100 enterprise customers across automotive (GM, Toyota, Stellantis, Chrysler, Honda), aerospace and defense (Boeing, Honeywell, Defense Logistics Agency), electronics and semiconductor, healthcare, and general industrial manufacturing verticals, with an additional revenue line via a GSA Schedule Contract serving federal government clients. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales with dedicated account management, supported by direct distribution through the Chemico Systems division. It holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications and is one of the largest certified Minority Business Enterprises in its category, a credential that functions as a structural advantage within OEM supplier diversity programs. With approximately 450 employees across 30 U.S. states and 4 countries, and reported annual sales of more than $175 million, Chemico combines Tier-1 supplier status to major OEMs with multi-decade embedded relationships that constitute the primary basis of its competitive position.

Name

The Chemico Group

Legal name

The Chemico Group

Website

https://thechemicogroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Chemico Group is a privately held, minority-owned chemical management services and specialty chemical distribution enterprise serving Fortune 100 customers across automotive, aerospace, defense, electronics, healthcare, and government verticals with integrated lifecycle solutions from procurement through disposal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Management Services

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (3259), Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (4246), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Quality Management Systems (QMS) & GxP Documentation (HLAGAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Manufacturing Quality Assurance & GMP Compliance (batch release, deviation/CAPA, tech transfer QA) (HLAGAKAJ), Chemical Management & Toxic Substances Compliance (TSCA, REACH, GHS/SDS, PFAS Programs) (EUAHABAE)

Keywords

• Chemical management services
• Specialty chemicals distribution
• Paint booth maintenance products
• Industrial facilities maintenance chemicals
• Chemical lifecycle management

Headquarters

HQ city

Southfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Management Services: Full-service chemical lifecycle management including procurement, supply chain, logistics, inventory management, chemical usage, waste management, environmental health, safety, disposal, and recycling services
2. Chemical Products and Distribution: Sale of specialty chemical products including facilities maintenance, paint booth maintenance, hand cleaners, and specialty products through Chemico Systems division
3. GSA Schedule Contract: Government procurement through GSA Advantage platform serving government clients with chemical supply and integrated chemicals management programs

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Chemico Group provides integrated chemical lifecycle management services and specialty chemical products through two divisions: Chemico LLC delivers holistic single-source chemical management covering procurement, supply chain, logistics, inventory, usage tracking, waste handling, environmental health and safety, disposal, and recycling for industrial customers; Chemico Systems manufactures and distributes specialty chemicals across paint booth maintenance, facilities maintenance, hand cleaners/skin care, and industrial specialty products from a 50,000 sq. foot Chesterfield, Michigan facility. The company serves Fortune 100 automotive, aerospace, electronics, defense, healthcare, and industrial customers via direct enterprise sales and a GSA Schedule contract for government clients.

Product overview

The Chemico Group is a chemical management and distribution company with two distinct divisions: Chemico LLC (chemical management services) and Chemico Systems (chemical products and distribution). Chemico Systems operates a 50,000 sq. foot manufacturing facility in Chesterfield, Michigan with on-site R&D capabilities. The product portfolio spans four main categories: (1) Paint Booth Maintenance (44 products) including booth coatings, paint strippers, e-coat cleaners, and purge solvents; (2) Facilities Maintenance (39 products) including disinfectants, floor finishes, bowl cleaners, and degreasers; (3) Hand Cleaners, Skin Care, Wipes & Sanitizers (24 products) including branded lines like Kresto, Estesol, Solopol, and Refresh; and (4) Specialty Products (12 products) including rust inhibitors, anti-spatter, and mold release agents. Additionally, Chemico distributes branded MRO products from partners including SCJ, Kresto, and Stokoderm. Chemico LLC provides comprehensive chemical management services covering the entire chemical lifecycle from procurement through disposal and recycling. The company also holds a GSA Schedule contract for serving government clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chemical Management Services (Chemico LLC) Holistic, single-source chemical lifecycle management covering procurement, supply chain, logistics, inventory, chemical usage, waste management, environmental health and safety, disposal, and recycling for industrial customers.
• Chemical Products & Distribution (Chemico Systems)
• Paint Booth Maintenance Products
• Facilities Maintenance Products
• Hand Cleaners, Skin Care, Wipes & Sanitizers
• Specialty Products
• Distributed Brands (MRO Distribution)
• GSA Schedule Contract (Government Procurement)

Quantifiable outcome

• Helped customers save millions of dollars by focusing on total cost
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and historical.

• DuBois ChemicalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020In 2020, Chemico carved out Paint Stripping Division in sale to DuBois Chemicals. In 2022, Chemico formed a partnership with DuBois Chemicals for continued collaboration in the paint stripping and chemical services space.
• Mays ChemicalhistoricalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006In 2006, Chemico entered into a joint venture with Mays Chemical to form ChemicoMays. The joint venture was dissolved in 2014 and converted to Chemico, LLC.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DuBois Chemicals: DuBois is a direct competitor in industrial chemical management services and specialty chemicals, and notably acquired Chemico's Paint Stripping Division in 2020 and entered a 2022 partnership with Chemico. They overlap directly on automotive paint booth products and aerospace chemical lifecycle services.
• ChemTreat: ChemTreat is a direct competitor providing outsourced chemical treatment programs for industrial water and process applications, with a similar managed-services-plus-specialty-chemicals business model targeting industrial and manufacturing customers.

Broad incumbents

• Quaker Houghton: Quaker Houghton is a global leader in industrial process fluids and chemical management programs for metalworking, aerospace, and automotive. It overlaps with Chemico on chemical management services and specialty chemical supply at major industrial OEMs, but at significantly larger scale.
• Henkel (Industrial Adhesive Technologies): Henkel's industrial division supplies specialty chemicals, adhesives, and surface treatment products to automotive OEMs and tier suppliers. While broader in scope than Chemico, it competes for similar in-plant chemistry programs and supplier-of-the-year awards at major auto and aerospace accounts.
• Castrol (BP): Castrol supplies industrial lubricants, metalworking fluids, and chemical management services to automotive and industrial manufacturers globally. It competes with Chemico for in-plant fluid management and specialty chemical supply contracts at the same OEM customer base.
• Ecolab: Ecolab is a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions serving industrial, healthcare, and food service customers. It competes with Chemico on facilities maintenance chemistry, hand hygiene, and outsourced hygiene/chemical management programs at enterprise customers.

Regional players

• Stepan Company: Stepan is a North American specialty chemical manufacturer producing surfactants and intermediates used in cleaning, disinfectants, and industrial formulations — directly overlapping with Chemico Systems' hand cleaner, disinfectant, and facilities maintenance product lines.
• Pilot Chemical Company: Pilot Chemical manufactures specialty surfactants, antimicrobial chemistries, and cleaning formulations, overlapping with Chemico Systems' hand cleaners, disinfectants, and facilities maintenance product portfolio, primarily in the North American market.
• Mays Chemical: Mays Chemical is a North American specialty chemical distributor and former JV partner with Chemico (ChemicoMays, dissolved 2014). It overlaps with Chemico Systems' chemical distribution and specialty product distribution business.

Emerging players

• Production Solutions Inc. Production Solutions is a smaller specialty chemicals and chemical management services provider focused on aerospace and defense MRO, directly comparable to Chemico's aerospace/defense chemical lifecycle management offering but at a smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chemicomays
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLdEzLV_oj6-b6Eapo7YQjg
• Facebookfacebook.com/chemicomays
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chemicomays-llc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 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 The Chemico Group