NATIONAL CHEMICAL LABORATORIES, INC.

What NATIONAL CHEMICAL LABORATORIES, INC. does

National Chemical Laboratories, Inc. (NCL) is a privately held, Philadelphia-based manufacturer of professional cleaning chemicals, dilution control systems, and dispensing equipment serving commercial and institutional customers. Founded in the late 1930s by Alfred Pollack originally as a hair shampoo manufacturer for family beauty salons, the company shifted focus after World War II to soaps and cleaners for contract packaging, expanded into the sanitary supply industry in the 1950s as a regional private-label manufacturer, and during the latter half of the 1990s transitioned to promoting NCL as a national brand with distribution reaching more than 40 countries worldwide.

The company's core technology is proprietary chemical formulations developed by an in-house chemistry team at a computerized on-site laboratory, supported by captive raw material production through large high-pressure reactors in a half-million-square-foot manufacturing facility. NCL's product portfolio includes floor care finishes and strippers (24/7, BARE BONES, ONE), hand care solutions (Afia), bio-enzymatic cleaners (SHA-ZYME), dilution control and dispensing systems (Dual-Blend, CleanSMART, Main Squeeze, UNI-POWER), the Green Seal-certified Earth Sense environmentally responsible line, and specialty care solutions for stone, carpet, rubber, luxury vinyl tile, and restroom surfaces. Proprietary features include the Dual-Blend super-concentrate chemical management system, EPT and ECT encapsulation technologies for carpet care, and bio-enzymatic multi-strain bacteria formulations.

NCL's business model is B2B distribution exclusively through a network of authorized distributors in the United States and more than 40 countries, with dedicated regional representatives and in-house technical service specialists supporting the channel. Pricing is quote-based and varies by distributor, quantity, and contract terms, with no direct consumer retail sales. Target segments include Building Service Contractors, Education, Government/Municipal Services, Healthcare, Heavy Industry, and Retail — a vertical segmentation approach designed to address facility-specific cleaning, disinfection, and cost-control requirements. The company supplements product revenue with free training programs through NCL University and an 8,000-square-foot physical training center, plus technical resource libraries including SDS, TDS, efficacy data sheets, calculators, and a video library.

Name

NATIONAL CHEMICAL LABORATORIES, INC.

Legal name

National Chemical Laboratories, Inc.

Website

https://nclonline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

National Chemical Laboratories (NCL) is a Philadelphia-based, privately held manufacturer of professional cleaning chemicals, dilution control systems, and dispensing equipment serving building service contractors, healthcare, education, government, retail, and industrial customers across the United States and more than 40 countries worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial cleaning chemicals and sanitation supplies

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Institutional (I&I) Cleaning Chemicals (IMAEABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Beverage Process & CIP/Sanitation Chemicals (IMAEAJAK), Cleaning Chemicals & Disinfectants Distribution (CRAOAGAB)

Keywords

• Commercial cleaning chemicals
• Floor care products
• Industrial sanitation supplies
• Disinfectant solutions
• Dilution control systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cleaning Chemical Products: NCL manufactures and sells a comprehensive line of professional cleaning, hygiene, and maintenance chemical products including floor finishes, strippers, disinfectants, hand cleaners, and specialty cleaners. Products are sold as concentrates and ready-to-use formulations through distributor network.
2. Chemical Management Systems: Proprietary dispensing systems including Dual-Blend wall-mounted and portable units, Main Squeeze containers, CleanSMART, and UNI-POWER dispensers sold along with corresponding chemical concentrates. Revenue from both equipment and ongoing consumable chemical refills.
3. Equipment and Accessories: Sale of dispensing equipment, hand soap dispensers (manual, touch-free, floor stands), foam dispensing units, and related accessories for use with NCL chemical products.
4. Training and Support Services: Free public training programs and NCL University online training modules providing product education, certification exams, and technical support to distribution partners and end customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

National Chemical Laboratories, Inc. (NCL) manufactures and sells a comprehensive line of professional cleaning, hygiene, and maintenance chemicals including floor finishes, strippers, disinfectants, hand cleaners, bio-enzymatic products, food service cleaners, and specialty cleaners. The company also sells proprietary chemical dispensing and dilution control systems (Dual-Blend®, CleanSMART™, Main Squeeze™, UNI-POWER™) along with related equipment and accessories. Products are formulated by in-house chemists in a computerized on-site laboratory and sold exclusively through an authorized distributor network to commercial and institutional facility customers.

Product overview

NCL (National Chemical Laboratories, Inc.) is a manufacturer of World Class Cleaning & Hygiene Solutions® offering a comprehensive portfolio of chemicals, equipment, and specialized cleaning systems. The core product line includes: chemical cleaning products across multiple categories (floor care with 24/7®, BARE BONES®, ONE® finishes and strippers; hand care with Afia™ brand; disinfectants; bio-enzymatic products with SHA-ZYME™; specialty cleaners); dilution control systems (Dual-Blend® Chemical Management System, CleanSMART™, Main Squeeze™, UNI-POWER™); environmentally responsible Earth Sense® products meeting Green Seal standards; and complete care solutions for stone, carpet, rubber, LVT, and restroom surfaces. The company operates a 500,000+ square foot manufacturing facility in Philadelphia, PA, and serves customers throughout the US and in more than 40 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Earth Sense®: Environmentally responsible cleaning products that minimize environmental impact, provide a more positive health profile, improve air and water quality, and provide optimum cleaning efficacy.
• Dual-Blend®
• Afia™
• Main Squeeze™
• NCL Wipes™
• Mechanics Select™

Products and services

• 24/7® Extended Performance Floor Finish Extended performance floor finish designed for 24/7 use with easy maintenance and brilliant gloss for commercial facilities.
• Afia™ Skin Care Solutions Complete line of hand cleaners including foaming hand cleaners, antimicrobial hand cleaners, and hand sanitizers with packaging that uses 40% less plastic than rigid containers.
• Dual-Blend® Chemical Management System Proprietary super-concentrate chemical management system with wall-mounted or portable dispensing units for accurate dilution, labor savings, and Green Seal certified formulas.
• CleanSMART™ Dilution Control System Chemical dilution system engineered for commercial kitchens in educational, healthcare, and institutional environments with precision dispensing capability.
• Main Squeeze™ Dilution Control Super concentrate program with built-in measuring spout for precise dilutions without additional dispenser installation or plumbing restrictions.
• UNI-POWER™ Dispensing Program Streamlined wall-mounted single-button chemical dispensing solution with low or high flow rates and built-in backflow prevention.
• Earth Sense® Environmentally Responsible Products Green cleaning solutions that minimize environmental impact, provide positive health profiles, and meet Green Seal certification standards (GS-37, GS-40, GS-41).
• SHA-ZYME™ Bio-Enzymatic Products Family of bio-enzymatic products using proprietary synergized multi-blend live bacteria strains for cleaning, degreasing, and malodor control in food service and healthcare environments.
• BARE BONES® No-Rinse Floor Stripper No-rinse, no-scrub liquefying floor stripper with over 55% active ingredients, positioned as a standard for floor stripping.
• ONE® Labor Saving Sealer/Finish Super high-solids floor sealer/finish with exceptional leveling properties for professional floor care applications.
• ProLEX™ Warewashing Program Complete warewashing system for hotels, resorts, restaurants, and facilities including machine detergents, rinse additives, and delimers.
• NCL Wipes™ Disinfectant Wipes Quat-based disinfectant wipes providing bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal efficacy for one-step disinfecting on hard non-food, non-porous surfaces.
• Stone Care Solutions™ Complete professional program for restoration, protection and long-term maintenance of natural stone and ceramic surfaces including marble, granite, terrazzo, and quarry tiles.
• Carpet Care Solutions™ Comprehensive carpet care system incorporating EPT™ Powder Encapsulation Technology and ECT™ Crystal Encapsulation Technology for exceptionally clean carpeting.
• Restroom Care Solutions™ Advanced product formulas for cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing restrooms, including disinfectant cleaners, bowl cleaners, and specialty products.
• LVT Floor Care Products Products specifically formulated for luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring including LVT-CLEAN, LVT-PROTECT, NEXT CENTURY coating, and SURFACE PREP deep scrub cleaner.
• Rubber Floor Care Products Specialized rubber floor care including FLEXI-CLEAN intensive cleaner and FLEXI-SHEEN wax and conditioner formulated without high alkaline or solvent-based components.
• Food Service Solutions™ Broad line of cleaners, degreasers, sanitizers, and equipment for food industries including meat processing, fish counters, delicatessens, bakeries, and restaurants.
• NCL University Online Training Online interactive training modules with detailed manuals, video instruction, and certificate exams for surface care and safe maintenance practices, provided as a free public training program to customers and distribution partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products contain no heavy metals, dyes, added fragrance, butyl/glycol ether solvents, caustics, nonylphenol ethoxylates, or phosphates
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Green SealcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Seal is an independent, non-profit organization using science-based standards to create a more sustainable world. NCL holds Green Seal certifications for products meeting GS-37 (general purpose cleaners), GS-40 (floor care), and GS-41 (hand cleaners/sanitizers) standards.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCL aligns products with EPA Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. Executive Order #13148 on Greening the Government through Leadership in Environmental Management influences product development toward federal compliance.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCL products support LEED certification projects for green buildings. USGBC is a leading third party consensus organization for high-performance buildings that minimize environmental impact.
• Healthy Schools CampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthy Schools Campaign is a national nonprofit working to ensure schools provide students with healthy environments. NCL's education market segment aligns with HSC's mission for healthy school cleaning.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zep Inc. Manufacturer and distributor of maintenance and cleaning chemicals for commercial, industrial, and institutional markets. Comparable to NCL across product categories (floor care, disinfectants, hand hygiene) and B2B distributor channel model.
• Diversey (Solenis): Global commercial cleaning, sanitation, and hygiene solutions provider now owned by Solenis. Direct competitor across NCL's six end-verticals with a comparable product mix of dilution control, floor care, disinfectants, and warewashing, but at significantly greater scale.
• Rochester Midland Corporation: Privately held manufacturer of specialty cleaning and water treatment chemicals serving food service, healthcare, and industrial customers. Comparable to NCL's food service and warewashing (ProLEX) product lines and institutional distributor channel.
• Betco Corporation: Privately held US manufacturer of professional cleaning chemicals, equipment, and floor care systems. Closely comparable to NCL in size, family/private ownership profile, BSC and education customer focus, and distributor-led go-to-market model.
• SC Johnson Professional: B2B division of SC Johnson offering commercial cleaning, hygiene, and floor care solutions. Directly comparable to NCL's product categories (hard surface cleaners, disinfectants, hand care, floor finishes) and institutional customer base.
• Spartan Chemical Company: Privately held, family-owned manufacturer of industrial and institutional cleaning chemicals headquartered in Maumee, OH. Closely comparable to NCL in customer base (BSCs, healthcare, education, government), distributor-led B2B model, and product portfolio of cleaners, disinfectants, floor care, and hand care.
• State Industrial Products: Cleveland-based manufacturer of industrial and institutional cleaning and maintenance chemicals with a comparable focus on BSCs, industrial, and institutional end-markets and a private/distributor-led go-to-market.

Broad incumbents

• Ecolab: Global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions serving foodservice, healthcare, hospitality, and industrial markets. Overlaps with NCL across nearly every end-vertical but operates at vastly greater scale with integrated service and equipment offerings.
• CloroxPro: Commercial cleaning division of The Clorox Company serving healthcare, education, and facility management with disinfectants, cleaners, and wipes. Overlaps directly with NCL's healthcare disinfection and education verticals, though backed by a major consumer-brand parent.

Emerging players

• GOJO Industries: Inventor of Purell, specializing in hand hygiene and skin care for commercial and healthcare settings. Partial overlap with NCL's Afia hand care line and healthcare vertical, with a stronger consumer brand and proprietary dispensing technology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nclonline
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nclonlineus/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-chemical-laboratories-inc.
• Facebookfacebook.com/ncl-national-chemical-laboratories-206765429346864

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 NATIONAL CHEMICAL LABORATORIES, INC.