Apter Industries

What Apter Industries does

Apter Industries is a privately held, family-owned chemical manufacturer that produces wholesale cleaning products, founded by the Apter family in the 1930s in McKeesport, Pennsylvania and formally incorporated in 1967. The company is headquartered in Rillton, Pennsylvania and operates a manufacturing facility in McKeesport, with international operations in Europe and Canada dating to the 1970s. Its product portfolio spans more than 50 SKUs across three sub-brands — Apter Brand (core commercial cleaning chemicals), Garage Gorilla Brand (heavy-duty gas station, concrete, and automotive cleaning), and Gorilla Powersport Products (cleaning and coating products for off-road vehicles, motorcycles, and boats) — organized into industry solutions for convenience stores, facility management, food service, industrial, and residential markets.

The company's underlying technology rests on proprietary chemical formulations developed across decades of practical application, including oil-eating microbes in concrete cleaners (Garage Gorilla XDX), enzymatic odor elimination, alcohol-based rapid-dry glass formulas, fast-acting biodegradable surfactants, and EPA-registered sanitizers and disinfectants. Equipment-maker validations (e.g., Gilbarco Veeder-Root for fuel pump cleaners, Alto-Shaam/Merrychef/Amana/TurboChef for oven cleaners) provide additional third-party credibility. Products are formulated and packaged in sizes from 8oz to 55-gallon containers, with private label manufacturing services offered to mid-market customers.

Apter generates revenue through three channels: wholesale distribution to distributors and multi-unit retailers via national wholesalers (McLane, HT Hackney, Team Sledd, Tripifoods) and direct field sales; private label contract manufacturing for brands seeking custom formulations with low minimum order quantities (3 drums/165 gallons per bottle size); and direct-to-consumer sales through Amazon Marketplace. The company is led by President Scott Apter and is family-owned with no external investment, no acquisitions, and no publicly disclosed financial information.

Name

Apter Industries

Legal name

Apter Industries

Website

https://apterindustries.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Apter Industries is a family-owned chemical manufacturer that has produced wholesale cleaning products since the 1930s, serving convenience stores, food service, facility management, industrial, and residential markets through national distributors, private label manufacturing, and Amazon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rillton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

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. Wholesale Cleaning Products: Core revenue stream from manufacturing and selling wholesale cleaning chemicals to distributors, retailers, and multi-unit operators. Products include degreasers, sanitizers, floor care products, and specialty cleaners sold through distributor networks and direct sales.
2. Private Label Solutions: Custom formulation and manufacturing services for private label partners. Low minimum order quantities starting at 3 drums (165 gallons) per bottle size. Includes formula development, packaging options (8oz to 55gal), label design, and fragrance customization.
3. Amazon Marketplace Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales through Amazon marketplace for individual products and smaller quantities, complementing the wholesale B2B model

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Apter Industries is a family-owned chemical manufacturer that formulates and produces wholesale cleaning chemicals for industrial, commercial, food service, facility management, and residential applications. The company sells under three sub-brands (Apter Brand, Garage Gorilla, and Gorilla Powersport Products) through a network of national distributors, direct field sales, and Amazon, and offers custom private label manufacturing with low minimum order quantities.

Product overview

Apter Industries is a chemical manufacturing company that has produced cleaning products since the 1930s, with the Apter Brand established in 1967. The company operates three distinct sub-brands: Apter Brand (core cleaning chemicals for commercial and industrial use), Garage Gorilla Brand (heavy-duty products for gas stations and automotive environments), and Gorilla Powersport Products Brand (vehicle care for powersports). Their portfolio includes industry-specific solutions for C-Stores, Facility Management, Food Service, Industrial, and Residential markets, featuring over 50 products across categories including floor care, glass cleaning, restroom products, specialty cleaners, and surface cleaners. Products are available through wholesale distribution and Amazon, with private label manufacturing services offered for custom formulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Garage Gorilla: A sub-brand focused on facility and garage cleaning products including forecourt cleaners, concrete degreasers, odor killers, and restroom cleaners designed for gas stations and industrial applications.
• Gorilla Powersport Products
• Apter Brand

Products and services

• Apter Brand Cleaning Products The Apter Brand is the company's original core brand offering a broad range of cleaning chemicals for commercial and industrial applications including glass cleaners, floor care, surface cleaners, and food service products.
• Garage Gorilla Brand Cleaning Products Heavy-duty cleaning products for gas station forecourts, garage floors, and automotive environments. Handles lime, calcium, rust stains, fuel, grease, and grime removal.
• Gorilla Powersport Products Brand High-performance biodegradable cleaning solutions for powersports vehicles including ATVs, motorcycles, boats, UTVs, and dirt bikes with eco-friendly formulations designed for off-road equipment.
• Private Label Solutions Custom formulation and manufacturing service for partner brands with low minimum order quantities starting at 3 drums (165 gallons) per bottle size. Includes formula development, packaging options from 8oz to 55gal, label design, and fragrance customization.
• C-Store Cleaning Products Convenience store-specific cleaning supplies targeting store zones including pumps, restrooms, and food service areas. Includes cleaning kits and targeted solutions.
• Facility Management Cleaning Products Broad range of commercial janitorial supplies for facility management including sanitizers, deodorizers, drain maintainers, and floor care products for schools, office buildings, athletic facilities, and commercial buildings.
• Food Service Cleaning Products EPA-registered food-safe cleaners for restaurants, cafeterias, and food service establishments including sanitizers, dishwashing detergents, oven cleaners, and coffee machine cleaners.
• Industrial Cleaning Products Heavy-duty industrial cleaning chemicals for manufacturing environments including degreasers, industrial cleaners, smoke and soot removers, and concrete cleaners for locomotives, machinery, and steel equipment.
• Residential Cleaning Products Household cleaning chemicals that are tough on dirt and grime yet gentle and safe for families and pets. Includes odor killers and bathroom cleaners.
• Garage Gorilla Forecourt First Kit Gas island and exterior cleaning kit containing towels, safety vest, instructional materials, and ready-to-use products for cleaning gas pumps, hoses, and nozzles.
• Pump it Up Kit Inside all-purpose cleaning kit containing concentrated all-purpose cleaner degreaser and concentrated glass cleaner for cleaning ovens, fryers, floors, counters, and windows.
• Garage Gorilla Pump Cleaner Biodegradable gas pump cleaner that cuts through diesel fuel, heavy grease, and road grime. Functions as concrete cleaner and degreaser with deodorizer to eliminate gasoline odors.
• Garage Gorilla Pump Shine Protective coating for gas pumps and hoses that refurbishes trash receptacles and gas island accessories and provides a barrier against microorganisms.
• Garage Gorilla XDX MAX Concrete Cleaner Heavy-duty concrete cleaner with fast-acting biodegradable surfactants and oil-eating microbes. Nonflammable formula removes oil stains from concrete without scrubbing.
• Gorilla Bug Bucket Wash Concentrated squeegee bucket solution formulated with streak-free cleaners for bug bucket reservoirs and light pump cleaning.
• Gorilla Everyday Pump Cleaner Daily pump cleaner that safely cleans video screens, decals, and pump faces without voiding pump manufacturer warranties. Tested and approved by Gilbarco Veeder-Root.
• Garage Gorilla XDX Concrete & Asphalt Cleaner Biodegradable concrete and asphalt degreaser that removes oil stains and heavy grease without scrubbing using oil-eating microbes.
• Garage Gorilla Graffiti Remover Heavy-duty solvent-based graffiti remover that removes ink, crayon, and scuff marks from brick, concrete, aluminum, glass, steel, porcelain, brass, chrome, and marble surfaces.
• Garage Gorilla Instant Odor Killer Enzymatic odor eliminator that kills odors at the source. Effective in restrooms, trash receptacles, drains, and dumpsters. Doubles as commercial enzymatic cleaner with insect deterrent.
• Hang Time Foaming Cleaner Non-acid foaming restroom cleaner that clings to vertical surfaces for better coverage. Functions as foaming toilet cleaner for non-porous surfaces with fresh scent.
• Gorilla Bathroom Tuff Stain Remover Stain remover that cleans grout, rust, limescale, soap scum, dirt, and buildup. Safe and effective on toilet bowls, shower stalls, sinks, and restroom fixtures.
• Proclaim Glass and Shiny Surface Cleaner Concentrated, streak-free alcohol-based glass cleaner for interior and exterior use on windows, deli cases, sneeze guards, mirrors, and plexiglass.
• Grease Zone All Purpose Cleaner-Degreaser Food-safe commercial degreaser that removes fat and protein-based soil from prep surfaces. Functions as fryer boil-out and grease trap cleaner for commercial kitchens.
• Tile Time Floor Cleaner Professional-grade tile and grout cleaner that removes grease, petroleum soil, road salt, and more. Contains Sila Pro emulsifier for slip control. Worker-safe and biodegradable.
• Podel Concentrated Dish Detergent Concentrated dish detergent producing long-lasting suds that degrease and remove difficult soils. Aggressively removes baked-on grease without affecting skin.
• AP-SAN Sanitizer EPA-registered concentrated cleaner, disinfectant, and deodorizer for hard, non-porous surfaces. Effective bactericide, virucide, and disinfectant for high traffic areas.
• Soda Machine Drain Cleaner Non-corrosive drain cleaner for soda machines that removes coagulated syrup and sugar from drip trays and drain lines, preventing buildup and clogs.
• Coffee Machine Cleaner Concentrated liquid formula designed to dissolve stains and buildup inside coffee makers, dispensing carafes, mugs, and brewing systems.
• Painless Stainless Steel Cleaner Ready-to-use water-based food-safe stainless steel cleaner and surface protectant. Dries fast without streaking, provides barrier against fingerprint smudging.
• Oven Safe Cleaner Ready-to-use oven cleaner that removes high protein soil from all types of ovens including Convection, Combination, and Conventional. Approved by Alto-Shaam, Merrychef, Amana, and TurboChef.
• Sunny Boy Spritz Heavy food service pre-treatment foaming dish spray that tackles stubborn grease and food debris. Over 1500 sprays per bottle with no scrubbing needed.
• Apter Micro Spray Quat-based cleaner-deodorizer that works without corrosiveness and odor of bleach. For regular cleaning on high touch surfaces using fast-acting surfactants.
• Big Bug Trap and Drain Maintainer Enzymatic drain maintainer with live microorganisms that break down proteins, starch, fat and organic soils. Safe for food preparation areas and cleans grease traps.
• Clear Winner Floor Shine Enhancer Mop-on floor finish restorer that repairs and refreshes waxed floors between stripping and waxing cycles. Eliminates wax build-up and rinses easily from mop heads.
• Everglo Floor Finish Distinctive acrylic metal interlock floor finish that is durable, easy to maintain, and dries to high gloss. Resists scuff marks and holds up under heavy wear.
• Express Floor Sealer High solids floor sealer that dries quickly with smooth sheen. Provides hard, durable pore-filling base for metal-interlock floor finishes.
• A-Quat Food Contact Sanitizer EPA-registered food contact surface sanitizer, deodorizer, and cleaner for hard, non-porous multi-touch surfaces. Kills odor-causing bacteria without bleaching.
• Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Commercial automatic dishwasher detergent that cuts through grease and dried-on food. Less viscous formula works in all temperatures.
• Automatic Dishwasher Rinse Aid Rinse aid for automated washers that promotes spot-free drying. Effective for all types of automated washers and rinses spot-free in all water hardness conditions.
• Modest Toilet Bowl Cleaner Heavy-duty biodegradable non-acid bowl and urinal cleaner that is safe to use with no caustics or acids. Removes all stubborn washroom stains.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 years of successful operation in chemical manufacturing industry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• McLanecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor national wholesale distributor for convenience store industry. McLane distributes Apter Industries cleaning products to convenience stores and retail locations nationwide as part of their cleaning and maintenance product offering.
• HT HackneycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distribution partner serving the convenience store industry. HT Hackney distributes Apter cleaning products to their retail customer base as part of comprehensive cleaning supply programs.
• Team SleddcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for convenience store and retail cleaning products. Team Sledd provides Apter product distribution services to their customer network.
• TripifoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFood service and convenience store distributor. Tripifoods distributes Apter Industries cleaning products to food service establishments and convenience stores as part of their product portfolio.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Chemical Laboratories (NCL): Mid-sized specialty cleaning chemical manufacturer serving janitorial, food service, and industrial markets. Comparable as a private-label-capable specialty formulator with similar distributor and direct sales model.
• Rochester Midland Corporation: Specialty manufacturer of cleaning, sanitation, and water treatment products serving food service, hospitality, and industrial markets. Comparable in product mix and mid-market B2B focus.
• Betco Corporation: Privately held specialty manufacturer of cleaning chemicals and equipment serving commercial, industrial, and institutional customers. Comparable in scale and product breadth, with similar focus on facility management and food service verticals.
• Simple Green: Specialty manufacturer of biodegradable and environmentally focused cleaning products serving industrial, commercial, and consumer markets. Comparable niche positioning around safer, biodegradable formulations.
• Spartan Chemical Company: Privately held, family-influenced specialty manufacturer of industrial and institutional cleaning chemicals serving janitorial, food service, and industrial markets. Comparable mid-sized specialty player with similar B2B distribution model and proprietary formulation focus.
• Hillyard: Privately held manufacturer and distributor of cleaning and facility maintenance products serving commercial, institutional, and food service customers. Comparable mid-sized player with similar focus on facility management cleaning solutions.

Broad incumbents

• Diversey: Global provider of commercial cleaning, sanitation, and hygiene solutions serving food service, hospitality, and healthcare. Represents a large-scale incumbent competitor across Apter's core verticals.
• Ecolab: Global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions serving food service, hospitality, industrial, and healthcare. Represents the largest-scale incumbent competing in many of Apter's verticals.
• Clorox Professional (CloroxPro): Commercial division of Clorox offering cleaning and disinfecting products across facility management, food service, and healthcare. Represents the large branded incumbent Apter competes against in distributor channels.
• P&G Professional: Commercial cleaning line of Procter & Gamble serving food service, hospitality, and facility management with well-known consumer brands at commercial scale. Comparable as a large incumbent competitor in distributor channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apter1

Compliance2 records

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 Apter Industries