Anopol

Name

Anopol

Legal name

Anopol Limited

Website

https://anopol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Surface Treatment Services

NAICS

Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Electroplating & Metal Finishing (Anodizing/Galvanizing/Passivation) (IMAIAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Application Equipment & Coating Services (Contract Coating, Surface Prep) (IMAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Electropolishing services
• Metal surface treatment
• Stainless steel passivation
• Chemical pickling services
• Industrial chemical formulations

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Metal Processing Services: Subcontract electropolishing, pickling, and passivation services for stainless steel and specialist alloys. Services delivered at ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accredited facilities in Birmingham and Bordon, as well as on-site subcontract processing across the UK and Europe. Supports processing of components ranging from miniature medical implants to vessels exceeding 3m in diameter and 40 tonnes.
2. Chemical Products: Sale of proprietary chemical formulations including electropolishing electrolytes (Anopol 66, 66A, 65, 70, 30), pickling solutions (Fluorinox, EB Pickle, CRB Pickle), neutralisers, degreasers, passivating solutions, test kits (Ferotest for free-iron contamination, Molytest for differentiating 304 and 316 stainless grades), and pickling/degreasing products.
3. Plant & Equipment: Design, manufacture, and supply of bespoke surface finishing systems including automated processing equipment, turnkey plant systems, tank heaters, industrial pumps, titanium jigs and fixtures, and specialist fabricated components. Also includes plant refurbishment services and water treatment systems.
4. Installation & Commissioning Services: Installation support, dry-run approval, and commissioning services for surface finishing equipment. Includes modular installation, client approval processes, operator training, and technical documentation handover.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Anopol provides subcontract electropolishing, pickling and passivation surface treatment services for stainless steels and specialist alloys at its ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accredited facilities in Birmingham and Bordon, and on customer sites across the UK and Europe. The company also manufactures and sells proprietary chemical formulations (electrolytes, pickling and passivation solutions, test kits) and bespoke surface finishing plant and equipment, supported by installation, commissioning and technical support services.

Product overview

Anopol is the UK's market leader in electropolishing and chemical surface treatment processes, operating from ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accredited facilities in Birmingham, West Midlands and Bordon, Hampshire. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of metal surface treatment services including electropolishing, pickling, and passivation for stainless steels and specialist alloys. The product portfolio comprises three core service offerings (Electropolishing, Pickling, Passivation) supported by ancillary services (Bespoke Manufacturing, Designing For Your Facility, Installation & Commissioning, Technical Support, On-site Subcontract Processing) and a proprietary chemical products line (including Anopol 66, Anopol 65, Anopol 70, Anopol 30 electrolytes; CRB Pickle, EB Pickle, Fluorinox pickling solutions; Paste GP, Paste GS, Paste PA pickling/passivation pastes; Ferotest and Molytest test kits). The company also manufactures Plant & Equipment for in-house surface treatment operations. In September 2025, Anopol expanded its capabilities through the acquisition of Poligrat UK Limited, adding complementary metal surface finishing services from its Aldershot facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electropolishing Electrochemical surface treatment process that removes a controlled microscopic layer of material (typically 10–40 microns) from stainless steel and specialist alloys to produce a smooth, ultra-clean, chromium-rich passive surface for improved corrosion resistance, cleanability and bright finish. Delivered as a subcontract service at Birmingham and Bordon facilities.
• Pickling Controlled chemical pickling treatments using formulated dilute acid solutions, spray systems and pickling pastes to remove heat tint, weld scale, oxide scale and surface contamination from stainless steel components. Includes specialist formulations for sulphur-containing 303 grades and lower nickel 400 series stainless steels.
• Passivation Precision chemical passivation treatments for stainless steel and specialist alloys that accelerate the formation of a protective, chromium-rich oxide layer to deliver maximum long-term corrosion resistance in demanding industrial environments. Treatments selected according to material grade and service environment.
• On-site Subcontract Processing Specialist on-site cleaning, pickling, passivating and electropolishing services for stainless steel systems delivered at customer locations across the UK and Europe, including pre-commission cleaning of pipework and vessels, large vessel electropolishing up to 40 tonnes and 3 metres diameter, with controlled chemical handling, UN-approved delivery and managed effluent neutralisation.
• Bespoke Manufacturing (Surface Finishing Plant & Equipment) Custom-designed surface finishing systems including automated processing equipment and specialist titanium fabrication, engineered for performance, reliability, and long-term operational efficiency. Includes manual systems, fully automatic plants and enclosed processing systems, plus tank heaters, industrial pumps, titanium jigs and fixtures and water treatment systems.
• Designing For Your Facility Bespoke equipment layouts developed using advanced CAD design techniques, tailored to specific process requirements, floor space, available services, and long-term operational needs of customer facilities.
• Installation & Commissioning Installation, dry-run approval, and commissioning services for surface finishing equipment, from manual systems to larger turnkey plants. Includes modular installation, client approval processes, operator training and technical documentation handover to ensure equipment is delivered ready for reliable industrial operation.
• Technical Support Technical support, process guidance and laboratory expertise for stainless steels and other exotic metals, drawing on over 45 years of specialist knowledge in chemical surface treatments to support customer process selection, troubleshooting and optimisation.
• Chemical Products (Electropolishing Electrolytes) Proprietary electropolishing electrolyte product line sold to industrial customers for in-house processing operations: Anopol 66 (ferritic, martensitic and austenitic stainless steels), Anopol 66A (high-efficiency top-up), Anopol 65 (large vessel treatment), Anopol 70 (ferritic and martensitic stainless steels), Anopol 30 (copper-based alloys), and WK300 (formulated for Weldkleen machinery).
• Chemical Products (Pickling Solutions and Pastes) Proprietary pickling solution and paste product line for removal of heat tint, weld scale, oxide contamination and post-weld discolouration: Fluorinox (concentrated acid pickle for heavy-duty austenitic cleaning), Fluorinox 49 (refined lighter version), EB Pickle (high-efficiency austenitic stainless pickle), CRB Pickle (oxide scale removal on 400 grade stainless), AC Additive (top-up for Fluorinox systems), Paste GP (transparent pickling gel), Paste GS (rapid weld burn and tint removal gel), Paste PNO (white gel for weld oxide and discolouration) and Paste PA (brush-on passivating paste).
• Chemical Products (Cleaning, Degreasing and Passivation Solutions) Proprietary cleaning, degreasing and passivation product line: Anopol 5 (neutralising solution for extraction plants), Anopol DS (specialist acid cleaner for post-electropolishing surface treatment), Cleaner C (universal acid degreaser for most stainless steel grades), Cleaner CX (powerful cleaning solution for light oxides and spot weld removal), Degreaser 6 (alkaline cleaner for immersion or electrochemical degreasing), and Solutions PA (passivating solution supporting protective oxide layer formation on stainless steel).
• Chemical Products (Diagnostic Test Kits) Diagnostic test kit product line: Ferotest (specialist test kit for identifying surface free-iron contamination) and Molytest (chemical kit for differentiating between 304 and 316 stainless grades).

Quantifiable outcome

• Material removal typically restricted to 10–40 microns with uniform, controlled processing
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Poligrat UK LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2025Acquisition completed September 2024 of Poligrat UK Limited, a company based in Aldershot, Hampshire that specialised for over 60 years in development, production and application of processes for metal surface finishing. The acquisition enhances Anopol's service offerings, scales advanced metal finishing capabilities across UK and Europe, and provides additional specialist industry skills and broader client base. Poligrat's commercial activities integrated with Anopol South Ltd.
• Maxwell MartincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial brand ambassador partnership with professional golfer Maxwell Martin competing on the Clutch Pro Golf Tour and Challenge Tour. Partnership symbolises shared values of precision, discipline, and relentless pursuit of improvement. Martin underwent significant personal transformation (59lb weight reduction, elite body composition at 8.4% body fat) demonstrating commitment to excellence that mirrors Anopol's operational philosophy.
• University of WolverhamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerR&D partnership developing advanced surface treatment and passivation processes for stainless steel 3D printed components. Anopol's surface science team creates durable stainless surfaces for additive manufacturing applications, addressing the unique challenge of cleaning, smoothing and creating passive layers with high corrosion resistance on complex 3D printed geometries.
• WMG, University of WarwickminorOthersEducational partnership where Anopol MD David Cass delivered a session on leadership and data-driven decision-making as part of the Future Sustainable Manufacturing Leaders programme, organised through Business Growth West Midlands and West Midlands Combined Authority's Supply Chain Transition Programme.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MacDermid Enthone Electronics Solutions (Element Solutions): Global specialty chemicals supplier for electronics and industrial surface finishing, including plating chemistries and processes overlapping with Anopol's electrolyte portfolio. Broader, multi-segment incumbent serving much larger customers globally.
• Bodycote: Global provider of heat treatment and metal surface treatment services with hundreds of facilities across multiple continents. Overlaps with Anopol in surface finishing for industrial and aerospace customers, but at vastly greater scale and broader service breadth.
• Atotech (MKS Instruments): Global leader in specialty chemicals and equipment for surface finishing serving electronics, automotive, and industrial customers. Overlaps with Anopol in electroplating/electropolishing chemistries but at far greater scale and with broader product portfolio across multiple surface treatment technologies.
• Henkel (Surface Treatment / Bonderite): Global chemical and adhesives major with a surface treatment portfolio (Bonderite) covering cleaning, pre-treatment, and metal finishing chemistries. Competes with Anopol's chemical product line as a broad incumbent rather than a niche specialist.

Emerging players

• SurTec International: European developer of chemical surface treatment processes for metal finishing, including pickling, passivation, and functional coatings. Comparable in chemistry portfolio but with broader geographic distribution and a heavier focus on automotive and architectural segments.

Direct peers

• Astro Pak Corporation: US-based metal surface treatment services provider specializing in precision cleaning, passivation, and electropolishing for aerospace, medical, and semiconductor clients. Closest direct peer to Anopol in service scope, customer verticals, and technical positioning.
• Poligrat GmbH: German-headquartered parent of the recently acquired Poligrat UK, with 60+ years in electropolishing and chemical surface finishing of stainless steel. Directly comparable in technology, customer verticals, and chemistry portfolio; Anopol's UK arm now competes with the German parent internationally.
• Wallwork Heat Treatment: UK-based heat treatment and surface treatment services provider serving aerospace, defence, and medical OEMs. Direct UK-headquartered peer with overlapping customer verticals, qualification-heavy workload mix, and subcontract service model.
• Speciality Steel Treatment (SST): UK-based heat treatment and metal finishing specialist offering surface treatment services to aerospace, automotive, and industrial OEMs. Comparable subcontract service model, UK customer base, and process expertise in stainless and alloy steels.
• Vecom Industrial Services: Netherlands-based metal surface treatment specialist offering chemical cleaning, passivation, and electropolishing services with European coverage. Comparable in chemistry-led service model and European customer base to Anopol's on-site subcontract operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Anopol_Ltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anopol-limited

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Anopol