Bolger & O’Hearn

What Bolger & O’Hearn does

Bolger & O'Hearn Inc. is a specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 1969 and headquartered in Fall River, Massachusetts, producing over 2,500 chemical products for the nonwovens, textiles, and paper industries. Its core product portfolio centers on durable water repellents (OmniBloq, Shell-Tech Free, Altopel F3, Shell-Tech 6 Elite, 47 Pro 6), flame retardants (phosphonated, polymeric, and formulated FR coatings), odor control (Odor Armor), water-based polyurethane dispersions, pigment dispersions, soil and stain repellents, and an Innovation Lab offering custom/toll manufacturing and co-development. The company's R&D differentiation lies in fluorine-free DWR chemistry validated to 50+ wash durability on synthetics and third-party Cotton Incorporated certification for STORM COTTON/STORM DENIM programs. bluesign system partner status since 2014 and ZDHC-approved chemistries since 2018 underpin a regulatory moat with major performance and apparel brands.

The company operates a direct-to-mill sales model supported by technically trained chemists and field technical representatives, with global distribution through centers in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Taiwan, and Central America. Pricing is volume-based, quote-driven, and packaged in formats from 1-gallon pails to tank cars; the company also generates revenue through custom formulation and co-development partnerships with flexible IP allocation. Effective August 1, 2024, Bolger & O'Hearn was acquired by Organic Dyes and Pigments LLC (Lincoln, RI; Union, SC), transitioning the 50+ year independent private business into a specialty chemicals platform. The Fall River facility is partially powered by a solar farm installed in 2016 that generates nearly half of the site's electricity. Named brand customers include Polartec (Altopel F3) and Flylow Gear (OmniBloq), illustrating adoption in performance and outdoor apparel segments.

Name

Bolger & O’Hearn

Legal name

Bolger & O'Hearn Inc.

Website

https://bolgerohearn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bolger & O'Hearn is a Fall River, Massachusetts-based specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 1969 that produces over 2,500 products—including durable water repellents, flame retardants, and odor control finishes—for the nonwovens, textiles, and paper industries, selling direct to mills globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals for Textiles

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (3259)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Surfactants & Performance Additives (IMAEABAL)

Keywords

• Specialty chemicals
• Durable water repellents
• Textile finishing chemicals
• Flame retardant coatings
• Nonwoven chemicals

Headquarters

HQ city

Fall River

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Chemical Product Sales: Bolger & O'Hearn manufactures, toll-manufactures, and distributes over 2,500 specialty chemical products for the nonwovens, textiles, and paper industries. Products are sold in volumes ranging from 1-gallon pails to 55-gallon drums, 250-gallon totes, and tank cars, with pricing based on volume and product type.
2. Custom/Toll Manufacturing: The company develops new chemical products for customers on specification, co-develops products and technologies with different levels of cost-sharing and IP allocation, and performs custom manufacturing according to customer specifications on a toll basis.
3. Co-development and Licensing: Bolger & O'Hearn offers co-development partnerships with prospective customers, including varying levels of cost-sharing and intellectual property allocation. Products can be based on customer IP, Bolger & O'Hearn IP, or public domain technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bolger & O'Hearn manufactures, toll-manufactures, and distributes over 2,500 specialty chemical products for the nonwovens, textiles, and paper industries. The core portfolio includes durable water repellents (DWRs) such as Shell-Tech Free, Altopel F3, OmniBloq, and Shell-Tech 6 Elite; flame retardant finishes; odor control technology (Odor Armor); pigment dispersions; soil and stain repellents; and polyurethane dispersions. The company also offers custom chemical development, toll manufacturing, and co-development services through its Innovation Lab.

Product overview

Bolger & O'Hearn is a specialty chemical manufacturer producing over 2,500 products for the nonwovens, textiles, and paper industries. The core portfolio centers on performance textile finishes including water repellents (Shell-Tech Free, Altopel F3, OmniBloq, Shell-Tech 6 Elite), flame retardants (Phosphonated, Polymeric, Formulated FR Coatings), and odor control (Odor Armor). The product line extends to specialty coatings, pigment dispersions, softeners, lubricants, binders, and crosslinkers. A key differentiator is their Innovation Lab for custom/toll manufacturing and co-development services. The company positions sustainability as central, offering fluorine-free alternatives to traditional fluorochemical-based chemistries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Odor Armor: Product line for textile odor management designed to control and absorb odors. Available in different formulations that provide complementary effects such as moisture wicking and water repellency.
• Shell-Tech Free
• OmniBloq
• Altopel F3

Products and services

• Shell-Tech Free Advanced fluorine-free durable water repellent (DWR) that provides equivalent repellency and wash durability as quality C-6 fluorochemical finishes with significantly less environmental impact. Water-based, highly biodegradable, recyclable, contains no VOCs, and maintains repellency through 50+ launderings and multiple dry cleanings.
• Altopel F3 Fluorine-Free Finish (F3) durable water repellent providing equivalent water repellency to C6 chemistry without fluorochemicals. Uses plant-based materials and a novel complementary bonding mechanism forming a flexible protective shell around individual fibers. Bluesign system-approved.
• OmniBloq Advanced Stormproof/Breathable water repellency that goes far beyond typical DWRs, delivering laminate-like rain resistance without inhibiting breathability. Prevents fluid penetration on textiles while allowing sweat to escape.
• Shell-Tech 6 Elite Premium C6 fluorochemical-based durable water repellent finish designed to impart high and long-lasting oil and water repellency to natural and synthetic fibers. Yields a 100 spray/#6 oil rating on synthetics after 100 home launderings.
• 47 Pro 6 Premium C6 fluorochemical-based finish designed to impart high and long-lasting oil and water repellency to natural and synthetic fibers including polyester, nylon, cotton, rayon, and blends.
• Odor Armor Textile odor management technology that uses active ingredients to rapidly absorb and lock odors into core structures. Absorbs body odors and external odors on contact, available in formulations with complementary effects such as moisture wicking and water repellency, and can be combined with antimicrobials.
• Phosphonated Flame Retardants Family of unique phosphorus-containing fire retardants suitable for durable applications to polyesters and polyester blend fabrics, including high-phosphorus grades for pad application and formulated grades for spray-on application.
• Polymeric Flame Retardants Fire retardants for protecting cellulosics, synthetics, and their blends that impart a soft dry hand while maintaining tensile strength of treated fabric and providing excellent flame resistance.
• Formulated FR Coatings Specialty flame retardant coatings that can be applied by knife or screen to the back of textiles or as interlayers to improve FR characteristics.
• Custom Solutions / Innovation Lab Custom chemical development services including toll manufacturing and co-development partnerships with flexible IP arrangements (customer IP, Bolger & O'Hearn IP, or public domain technology) and varying levels of cost-sharing.
• Water-Based Polyurethane Dispersions Water-based coatings and finishes for textiles including breathable coatings and abrasion resistant coatings.
• Pigment Dispersions Organic pigments, inorganic pigments, fluorescent pigments, non-formaldehyde fluorescents, and custom colors for textile applications.
• Soil and Stain Repellents PFOA-free soil and stain repellent products for textile protection.
• Shell-Tech Dual Action (Repel-&-Release DWR) New dual action Repel-&-Release durable water repellent chemistry combining repellency with release properties for enhanced stain management.
• PFAS-Free DWR Product Line Comprehensive PFAS-free durable water repellent product line providing brands with sustainable alternatives to traditional fluorochemical-based repellents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Altopel F3 maintains repellency for 50+ washes on nylon/polyester and 20-30 washes on cotton, outperforming typical fluorine-free DWRs that lose durability after a few washings.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• DSM Coating ResinsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 September 2018Bolger & O'Hearn entered an exclusive agreement to represent DSM Coating Resins in the USA. The company showcased DSM Coating Resins at IFAI EXPO 2019 in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 2-4, 2019.
• bluesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBolger & O'Hearn achieved bluesign system partner status in 2014, recognized globally by progressive textile mills and apparel brands including Nike, Adidas, Primaloft, Polartec, W.L. Gore & Associates, Columbia, Helly Hanson, and Patagonia. The company follows the bluesign environmental management system and has bluesign-registered chemistry products.
• ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the 2018 collaboration between bluesign and ZDHC, several chemistries developed by Bolger & O'Hearn are now listed on the official ZDHC list of approved textile industry chemistries for global supply chains. This positions Bolger & O'Hearn's products as compliant with ZDHC MRSL standards.
• Cotton IncorporatedcoreTechnology or IntegrationOmniBloq passed rigorous testing by Cotton Incorporated with high marks for STORM COTTON and STORM DENIM programs. This third-party validation by Cotton Incorporated provides independent performance certification for Bolger & O'Hearn's OmniBloq technology.
• PolartecmajorOthersPolartec is using Altopel F3, Bolger & O'Hearn's market-leading fluorine-free water repellent, in its performance textile products. Polartec is cited as a reference customer demonstrating the commercial adoption of Bolger & O'Hearn's sustainable chemistry by a major performance fabric brand.
• Flylow GearmajorOthersFlylow Gear unveiled OmniBloq technology from Bolger & O'Hearn on premier men's and women's styles at the 2019 Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show, demonstrating commercial application of the technology in premium outdoor apparel.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Archroma: Global specialty chemicals company supplying dyes, coatings, and high-performance textile finishes including durable water repellents and fluorine-free alternatives. Most direct competitor to Bolger & O'Hearn in sustainable textile chemistry, serving the same mills and brands with overlapping product categories.
• CHT Group: German specialty chemicals manufacturer focused on textile auxiliaries, finishes, and sustainable DWR chemistries. Closely comparable mid-sized specialty competitor offering water repellents, softeners, and functional textile finishes to global mills.
• Tanatex Chemicals (now part of Smit & Zoon): Specialty chemicals manufacturer offering textile finishing agents, dyes, and process auxiliaries, including fluorine-free DWRs. Direct peer in mid-market textile chemistry with overlapping sustainability focus.
• Rudolf Group: Mid-sized specialty chemicals manufacturer offering textile finishing auxiliaries, including durable water repellents and PFC-free alternatives. Closely comparable niche competitor to Bolger & O'Hearn serving European and global apparel/technical textile brands.
• Pulcra Chemicals: Specialty chemicals supplier specializing in textile and fiber auxiliaries, including water-repellent, softener, and finishing technologies. Direct competitor in textile finishing chemistry serving similar performance apparel and technical textile customers.
• Nicca Chemical: Japanese specialty chemicals producer of textile finishing agents, functional coatings, and DWR technologies. Comparable specialty peer with strong fluorine-free and durable water repellent offerings for performance apparel.

Broad incumbents

• Solvay: Large specialty chemicals group with textile and surface treatment chemistries, including fluoropolymer and fluorine-free DWR platforms. Competes broadly with Bolger & O'Hearn as an incumbent with deeper R&D resources and global reach.
• DyStar: Specialty chemicals supplier focused on dyes and textile auxiliaries, with sustainability-focused finishing products. Operates at larger scale than Bolger & O'Hearn but competes in adjacent textile chemistry categories.
• Daikin Chemical (Unidyne / Fluon): Fluorochemical producer with a major water-repellent (DWR) product line and a growing fluorine-free portfolio. Competes with Bolger & O'Hearn in the durable water repellent category, particularly with brands that historically specified C6 chemistry.
• Huntsman Textile Effects: Division of Huntsman Corporation producing textile dyes, finishing chemicals, and DWR technologies including fluorine-free platforms. Operates at vastly greater scale and global footprint than Bolger & O'Hearn but competes directly in water-repellent and finish chemistries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bolgerandohearn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCc10SoB35cqD9ymu55ZbOIg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Bolger-OHearn-228362177335416
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bolger-&-o%27hearn-inc-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Bolger & O’Hearn