What CPAChem does

CPAchem Ltd. is a privately held Bulgarian-French manufacturer of certified reference materials (CRMs) and custom calibration standards, founded in 2001 and headquartered in a purpose-built 5,400 m² facility in Bogomilovo, Bulgaria. The company produces both catalog reference materials (organic, inorganic, organometallic, analytical, physico-chemical, colour standards, pharmacopoeia solutions, and miscellaneous CRMs — totaling 11,000+ SKUs) and tailor-made standards formulated to customer-specified analytes, concentrations, matrices, and packaging. Production is operated through a proprietary Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) system that automates gravimetric formulation, barcode-based traceability, instrument validation, uncertainty calculation per ISO/IEC 17025, and generation of Certificates of Analysis and MSDS documentation. Standard lead times are 2–5 business days, with 24-hour emergency production available.

CPAchem serves analytical laboratories across six verticals: environmental testing, pharmaceutical and life sciences, food and beverage testing, petrochemicals and energy, forensics and clinical toxicology, and industrial manufacturing. Revenue is generated through one-time catalog sales (pay-as-you-go, EUR-denominated, direct e-commerce via cpachem.com) and custom product quotes via an online builder, supplemented by a global distributor network and private-label/OEM partnerships. The company is ISO 9001 certified by LRQA, and holds dual ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17034 accreditation from both the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) — described as the first such dual-accreditation combination in the CRM industry. Its stated customer base exceeds 8,000 laboratories across more than 120 countries.

Name

CPAChem

Legal name

CPAchem Ltd.

Website

https://cpachem.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CPAchem Ltd. is a Bulgaria-based, ISO-accredited manufacturer of certified reference materials and custom calibration standards, serving 8,000+ analytical laboratories in 120+ countries across environmental, pharmaceutical, food, petrochemical, forensic, and industrial testing verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Certified Reference Materials

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Reference Materials & Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) for Food Matrices (AFALAKAD)

Keywords

• Certified reference materials
• Custom calibration standards
• Analytical chemistry reagents
• Laboratory reference standards
• ICP-MS calibration solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogomilovo

HQ country

Bulgaria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Catalog/Reference Products Sales: CPAchem generates revenue from the sale of standardized, ready-to-ship Certified Reference Materials from their 11,000+ product catalog. These include organic CRMs, inorganic CRMs, organometallic CRMs, analytical reagents, physico-chemical CRMs, colour standards, pharmacopoeia solutions, and miscellaneous products. Prices are listed on the website in EUR and exclude VAT and transportation costs.
2. Custom CRM Products: CPAchem pioneered custom-made certified reference materials and generates significant revenue from tailor-made solutions. Customers specify analytes, concentrations, matrices, and packaging requirements. Pricing is provided via custom quotes (Estimates). Production time is 2-5 business days standard, with 24-hour emergency production available for urgent needs.
3. Private Label/Distribution Partnerships: CPAchem products are used by laboratories in 120+ countries either under the CPAchem brand or through private label partnerships, providing additional revenue streams through distribution arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CPAchem manufactures and sells certified reference materials (CRMs) and custom calibration standards used by analytical laboratories to verify the accuracy of testing and calibration equipment. The portfolio spans an 11,000+ product catalog of ready-to-ship organic, inorganic, organometallic, analytical, physico-chemical, colour, pharmacopoeia, and miscellaneous CRMs, plus a custom-made line in which customers specify analytes, concentrations, matrices, and packaging with 2–5 business day lead times (24-hour emergency production available).

Product overview

CPAchem is a Bulgarian-French company offering both ready-to-ship catalog products and custom-made Certified Reference Materials (CRMs). The product portfolio consists of two main categories: Ready Products (catalog of 11,000+ standardized CRMs) and Custom Products (tailored formulations). Ready Products include Inorganic CRM, Organometallic CRM, Organic CRM, Analytical CRM, Physico-Chemical CRM, Colour Standards, Pharmacopoeia Solutions, and Miscellaneous CRM — all produced under ISO 17034/ISO 17025 standards. Custom Products encompass Organic Custom Standards, Inorganic Custom Standards, and Reagent Solutions, all developed to specific customer specifications with dual ISO certification. The company utilizes a proprietary Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) system for automated production, formulation, and documentation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Inorganic CRM Inorganic Certified Reference Materials produced in accordance with ISO 17034 and characterized under ISO/IEC 17025, for AAS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and Ion Chromatography techniques. For analytical laboratories performing trace metal and elemental analysis.
• Organometallic CRM Organometallic Certified Reference Materials produced under ISO 17034 with certified values obtained via two independent testing methods where possible, traceable to NIST/BAM. For laboratories analyzing organometallic compounds such as fuel and lubricant additives.
• Organic CRM Organic Certified Reference Materials produced under ISO 17034 with chromatogram and analytical data included on certificates. For pharmaceutical, environmental, food, and forensic laboratories performing organic compound analysis.
• Analytical CRM Analytical reagents for wet chemistry, titration, water quality control, and electrochemistry, including specialty reagents such as Karl Fischer titration reagents, Nessler's Reagent, Biuret Reagent, and Griess-Illosvay's Reagent. For general analytical laboratories.
• Physico-Chemical CRM Physico-Chemical Certified Reference Materials produced under ISO 17034 for physical and chemical property measurements. For laboratories performing physico-chemical analyses.
• Colour Standards Certified Reference Materials for determination of colour, produced under ISO 17034. For laboratories performing colour analysis on water, beverages, and chemical samples.
• Pharmacopoeia Solutions Solutions prepared strictly according to respective Pharmacopoeia requirements, with ISO 17034/17025 certification available on request. For pharmaceutical QA/QC laboratories needing pharmacopoeia-compliant reagents.
• Miscellaneous CRM Solutions for testing beverages, electronic cigarettes, and photographic reagents, produced under ISO 17034 and characterized under ISO/IEC 17025. For beverage, tobacco/vape, and photographic testing laboratories.
• Organic Custom Standards Tailor-made organic Certified Reference Materials supporting GC, GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS, and LC-MS/MS techniques, including ultra-trace quantification, custom mixtures, and stable-isotope-labelled compounds for pharmaceuticals, pesticides, food additives, environmental pollutants, and cannabinoids. Production time 2–5 business days, with 24-hour emergency production available.
• Inorganic Custom Standards Custom inorganic reference standards with specified concentrations, matrix compositions, and volumes for AAS, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and Ion Chromatography, available in aqueous and acid matrices with custom packaging. For laboratories needing matrix-matched inorganic calibration standards not available off-the-shelf.
• Reagent Solutions High-purity custom reagents, solutions, and working standards for method development, system calibration, and process control, including titration solutions, buffers, calibration standards, ion strength adjusters, and sample preparation solutions. For analytical laboratories and industrial QA teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production turnaround: Standard 2-5 business days, emergency orders in 24 hours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Global Distributor NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCPAchem has built a global network of distributors who provide localized support, fast and reliable delivery, and ensure regulatory compliance with local and international standards. Distributors are trained to offer the same commitment to quality as CPAchem headquarters.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Restek Corporation: Restek is a US-based manufacturer of chromatography columns, supplies, and certified reference standards for GC, GC-MS, HPLC and LC-MS workflows. It directly competes with CPAchem in custom organic CRMs and multi-component mixes for environmental, food and pharma applications.
• Spex CertiPrep: Spex CertiPrep (an Antylia Scientific brand) is a US-based manufacturer of certified reference materials and standards for clinical, forensic, environmental and food safety applications. It is a direct competitor to CPAchem in custom inorganic and organic CRMs.
• AccuStandard: AccuStandard is a US-based manufacturer of certified reference standards for environmental, food safety, forensics, petrochemical and pharmaceutical testing. It overlaps directly with CPAchem in custom organic and inorganic standards and shares many of the same end-customer laboratories.
• Ricca Chemical Company: Ricca Chemical is a US-based manufacturer of chemical reagents, standard solutions, and custom-prepared certified reference materials for laboratory, environmental and industrial use. It is a direct comparable to CPAchem in custom inorganic and reagent-grade CRM production.
• Inorganic Ventures: Inorganic Ventures is a US-based manufacturer of inorganic certified reference materials (CRMs) and calibration standards for ICP, ICP-MS, AA and ion chromatography. It is one of the most direct competitors to CPAchem's inorganic CRM catalog and custom standards business.
• LGC Standards: LGC Standards (part of LGC Group) is a global producer and distributor of reference materials, CRMs and proficiency testing schemes across pharmaceutical, environmental, food and clinical end markets. It directly competes with CPAchem in custom and catalog CRMs and has integrated brands including Dr. Ehrenstorfer and VHG.

Broad incumbents

• Agilent Technologies (Standards): Agilent Technologies is a leading analytical instrument vendor that also sells certified reference materials, tuning solutions, and consumables used alongside its ICP-MS, GC-MS and LC-MS systems. As an instrument-led incumbent, it competes with CPAchem where customers buy standards bundled with instrument purchases.
• Merck (Sigma-Aldrich) Analytical Standards: Merck's Sigma-Aldrich brand is the largest global supplier of analytical reagents, certified reference materials, and chromatography standards. It overlaps with CPAchem across nearly every product category but offers a vastly broader portfolio and global footprint as part of a much larger life-science tools business.
• Honeywell Research Chemicals (incl. Fluka, Riedel-de Haën): Honeywell's Research Chemicals business (formerly Fluka and Riedel-de Haën) supplies analytical reagents, standards and certified reference materials globally. It is a broad incumbent in CRMs and competes with CPAchem particularly in analytical, physico-chemical and pharmacopoeia-grade standards.

Emerging players

• Toronto Research Chemicals (TRC): Toronto Research Chemicals manufactures reference standards, impurities, metabolites and stable-isotope-labeled compounds primarily for pharmaceutical and forensic research. It overlaps with CPAchem's custom organic CRM and stable-isotope-labeled standards offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c-p-a-ltd-

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 CPAChem