Robert's Chemical

What Robert's Chemical does

Roberts Chemical Co., Inc. is a privately held regional chemical distributor founded in 1976 and headquartered in Attleboro, Massachusetts (with an alternate Seekonk, MA address). The company distributes a portfolio of more than 70 commodity and specialty chemicals — acids, bases, solvents, cyanides, phosphates, and precious-metal plating products — sourced from global suppliers including AkzoNobel, Arkema, and MacDermid Enthone, alongside supporting partners such as EnviroTech, Tetra, Corco, Mefiag, PKG Equipment, Palm, and Reagent Chemical. Its primary customer segments are Surface Finishing and Electroplating, Water Treatment, Agriculture, and General Manufacturing, served primarily across the Northeast United States through its Smith Plating Metals division and dedicated regional and inside-sales teams.

The company's technical footprint centers on a 50,000 square foot packaging and distribution facility on a 37-acre private industrial park with rail access and on-site chemical storage tank farms, an in-house Quality Assurance Laboratory for product testing and regulatory compliance, and a proprietary Sulfuric Acid Dilution System featuring automated controls, real-time monitoring, emergency shutdown, and corrosion-resistant construction. Roberts monetizes through quote-based unit pricing across multiple packaging formats (cartons, drums, IBS/TOTE, pails, tank trucks) and units of measure (GMK, GLB, MT, US gallon), complemented by custom formulation and blending services, technical support for product application and process optimization, and sulfuric acid dilution as a managed service.

Go-to-market combines regional field sales (led by Regional Sales Manager Mike Constantine in metal finishing for 20+ years) with a formalized inside-sales function (led by Inside Sales Manager Korey Mello, promoted January 2024) and industry association presence in the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) and the National Association of Surface Finishers (NASF). Roberts Chemical Co., Inc. is a privately held, family-influenced corporation led by CEO Bob McIntyre, Jr. (40+ years), President/COO Aamad Chaudhrey (MBA), VP Purchasing & Plant Operations Kyle McIntyre, and Technical Director & HSE Manager Paul Costa, with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or public listing.

Name

Robert's Chemical

Legal name

Roberts Chemical Co., Inc.

Website

https://robertschem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Roberts Chemical is a privately held, Northeast US chemical distributor founded in 1976 that supplies 70+ commodity and specialty chemicals — plus custom formulation, in-house QA, and a proprietary sulfuric acid dilution service — to surface finishing/electroplating, water treatment, agriculture, and general manufacturing customers from its Attleboro, MA facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chemical Distribution

NAICS

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

SIC

Wholesale-Chemicals & Allied Products (5160), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Treatment & Process Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Contract Warehousing, Blending & Distribution for Agrochemicals (bulk handling, IBC/drum management) (AFABAIAL), Industrial Wastewater Treatment Chemicals (IMAEAJAC), Acids & Descalers (Muriatic, Phosphoric, Sulfamic) (CRAJAKAD), Agrochemical & Fertilizer Wholesale Distribution (AFABAJAC)

Keywords

• Chemical distribution
• Specialty chemicals
• Electroplating chemicals
• Water treatment chemicals
• Industrial chemical supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Attleboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Chemical Distribution: Distribution of commodity and specialty chemicals including solvents, acids, bases, and specialty chemicals tailored for specific applications. Products are supplied to various industries including surface finishing, water treatment, agriculture, and general manufacturing.
2. Custom Formulation and Blending Services: Custom formulation and blending services allowing clients to receive products meeting specific requirements for their processes.
3. Technical Support Services: Technical support provided for product application and process optimization, enhancing customer relationships and driving repeat business.
4. Sulfuric Acid Dilution Services: On-site sulfuric acid dilution service using proprietary dilution system, providing efficient, safe, and precise dilution of concentrated sulfuric acid for customers in various industries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Roberts Chemical distributes commodity and specialty chemicals (acids, bases, solvents, cyanides, phosphates, and specialty formulations) to industrial customers in surface finishing, electroplating, water treatment, agriculture, and general manufacturing. The company also provides custom formulation and blending services, technical support for product application and process optimization, and on-site sulfuric acid dilution through a proprietary automated dilution system.

Product overview

Roberts Chemical is a chemical distribution company founded in 1976, offering a comprehensive portfolio of commodity and specialty chemicals along with specialized services. The core product offering consists of over 70 chemical products including acids (sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric, phosphoric), bases (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide), solvents (acetone, MEK, methanol), cyanides, phosphates, and specialty formulations for surface finishing and electroplating (including precious metal plating), water treatment, agriculture, and general manufacturing. The company operates two key supporting services: a Quality Assurance Laboratory for product testing and compliance verification, and a proprietary Sulfuric Acid Dilution System for automated and safe chemical processing. Products are sourced from leading global suppliers including AkzoNobel, Arkema, and MacDermid Enthone, and distributed from the company's 50,000 sq ft facility in Attleboro, MA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smith Plating Metals: A division at Roberts focused on metal finishing and plating operations, led by Mike Constantine with over 20 years of expertise in metal finishing and plating.

Products and services

• Chemical Products (70+ varieties) Comprehensive range of commodity and specialty chemicals including acids (sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric, phosphoric), bases (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide), solvents (acetone, MEK, methanol), cyanides, phosphates, and specialty formulations for surface finishing, electroplating, water treatment, agriculture, and general manufacturing industries.
• Custom Formulation and Blending Services Custom formulation and blending services allowing clients to receive products meeting specific requirements for their industrial processes.
• Technical Support Services Technical support provided for product application and process optimization, enhancing customer relationships and driving repeat business.
• Sulfuric Acid Dilution Services On-site sulfuric acid dilution service using a proprietary automated dilution system, providing efficient, safe, and precise dilution of concentrated sulfuric acid for customers in various industries.
• Smith Plating Metals Division A division focused on metal finishing and plating operations, including precious metal plating products, led by Regional Sales Manager Mike Constantine with over 20 years of expertise in metal finishing and plating.

Quantifiable outcome

• Superior Products and Service commitment since 1976
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• AkzoNobelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAkzoNobel is one of the world's leading specialty and commodity chemical suppliers that Roberts Chemical distributes products from. Roberts provides Hydrogen Peroxide products from AkzoNobel including specialty oxidants.
• ArkemacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArkema is a leading global chemical company and one of Roberts Chemical's key suppliers. Roberts distributes Arkema products including Hydrogen Peroxide 50%.
• MacDermid EnthonecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMacDermid Enthone is a leading supplier in the surface finishing industry that Roberts Chemical distributes electroplating and metal finishing products from.
• EnviroTechsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnviroTech is a chemical supplier partner that Roberts Chemical works with to provide products meeting customer demanding specifications with consistent quality and on-time delivery.
• TetrasupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTetra Chemicals is one of the industry-leading suppliers Roberts Chemical distributes for, providing products meeting customer demanding specifications.
• CorcosupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorco Chemical is a supplier partner providing specialty chemicals that Roberts Chemical distributes to meet customer requirements.
• Mefiag Filters and PumpssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMefiag is a manufacturer of filters and pumps for industrial applications that Roberts Chemical distributes, serving the metal finishing and plating industries.
• PKG Equipment Inc.supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPKG Equipment is a supplier partner providing equipment and related products that Roberts Chemical distributes to customers in various industries.
• PalmsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPalm Inc. is a chemical supplier partner that Roberts Chemical teams up with to provide products meeting customer demanding specifications.
• Reagent ChemicalsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReagent Chemical is a supplier partner providing high-quality chemical products that Roberts Chemical distributes with consistent quality and reduced cost.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Univar Solutions: Univar is a global chemical and ingredient distributor with extensive North American operations across industrial, water treatment, and specialty chemical verticals. Competes with Roberts in the same end markets but at significantly greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Brenntag North America: Brenntag is the world's largest chemical distributor with full-line product portfolios across surface finishing, water treatment, agriculture, and industrial chemicals. It represents the dominant incumbent against which regional players like Roberts compete on service and agility.
• Atotech (MKS Instruments): Atotech is a global leader in surface finishing and electroplating chemistry, now part of MKS Instruments. A major incumbent in the same vertical Roberts serves via Smith Plating Metals and MacDermid Enthone distribution.

Direct peers

• Hydrite Chemical Co. Hydrite is a privately held, family-influenced specialty chemical manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Wisconsin with regional distribution centers and custom blending capabilities. Closely comparable to Roberts' family-owned specialty distribution model and customer segments in surface finishing and general manufacturing.
• Technic, Inc. Technic is a specialty chemical supplier focused on surface finishing and electroplating chemistries, including precious metal plating. Comparable to Roberts' Smith Plating Metals sub-brand and surface finishing customer segment.
• Wilbur-Ellis Company: Wilbur-Ellis is a large agricultural input distributor with significant specialty chemical and crop protection product lines. Comparable to Roberts' agricultural chemical distribution vertical, though at substantially greater scale and geographic reach.
• Seeler Industries: Seeler is a regional industrial chemical distributor and blender serving Midwest manufacturers with solvents, acids, and custom formulations. Closely mirrors Roberts' regional distribution and custom blending service model.
• Hawkins, Inc. Hawkins is a publicly traded specialty chemical distributor and custom manufacturer serving water treatment, industrial, and food/pharma end markets with regional blending capabilities. Highly comparable to Roberts' blend of distribution, custom blending, and water treatment focus, though Hawkins operates at materially larger scale.
• Chemsolv, Inc. Chemsolv is a regional industrial chemical distributor with custom blending, packaging, and private-label capabilities serving the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. A near-direct analog to Roberts in size, business model, and regional distribution focus.
• Chemisphere Corporation: Chemisphere is a regional industrial chemical distributor with blending and packaging capabilities serving manufacturers across multiple verticals. A direct analog to Roberts' mid-sized, multi-vertical regional distribution model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roberts-chemical-co.-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Robert's Chemical