The Schundler Company

What The Schundler Company does

The Schundler Company is a family-owned supplier of expanded perlite and vermiculite products founded in 1951 by Otto Schundler in New Jersey and currently headquartered in Nahant, Massachusetts. The company's portfolio centers on two mineral families—perlite (a volcanic glass expanded 4-20x its original volume when heated to approximately 1,600-1,700°F) and vermiculite (a hydrated laminar mineral exfoliated through thermal processing)—offered in multiple gradations (supercoarse, coarse, medium, fine) and formulated products conforming to ASTM standards C-332, C-35, C-549, and C-150. Products are organized across four end-markets: horticulture (Supercoarse, Choice, Soilac, Perl-Lome perlites; Glitter, VMG, Extra Coarse, and Extra Fine vermiculites), swimming pool construction (V+16 Pool Base, Ultra Mix, Ultra Mix II, Aqua-Clean filter media), construction (perlite and vermiculite plasters, insulating concretes, loose-fill masonry and attic insulation), and industrial (PF-60 filter aids, anti-skid traction material, perlite concrete blocks for LNG tank insulation). The company previously manufactured the Classic 5 cementitious sprayed-on fireproofing line (LD/MD/XY) under Underwriters Laboratories listings but has discontinued that product family and ceased production at its former Edison, NJ facility.

The company operates a strict distributor-only go-to-market model, explicitly stating it does not sell direct to consumers. Distribution flows through three channels: mass-market retail (Home Depot, Lowe's, K-Mart, Walmart for retail-package garden/lawn products), pool/spa specialty distributors (for V+16 and Ultra Mix pool base products via the Pool and Spa News Online Directory), and industrial distributors serving construction and specialty manufacturers. Products are packaged across multiple SKU sizes (4-CF and 6-CF poly bags, 4-quart to 1.5-bushel retail packages, 40-45 CF Super Sacks, and dump trailers for bulk). Pricing is per-unit across packaging tiers with no publicly disclosed pricing; billing operates on a transactional basis.

The business is currently managed by three of Otto Schundler's sons, with no external capital, public listing, institutional investment, or recent M&A activity. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees despite active manufacturing at the Metuchen, NJ facility. The company's primary off-product asset is a 165+ page website (schundler.com) described as the largest and most comprehensive collection of information about perlite and vermiculite on the internet, supplemented by an affiliated consumer-facing site (Vermiculite.com). The Schundler Company's operations continue with safety data sheet revisions through August 2024 and a 75-year anniversary celebration in 2026.

Name

The Schundler Company

Legal name

The Schundler Company

Website

https://schundler.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Schundler Company is a family-owned supplier of expanded perlite and vermiculite products founded in 1951, serving horticultural, construction, swimming pool, and industrial markets across the US through distributor networks and mass-market retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lightweight Mineral Aggregates

NAICS

Ground or Treated Mineral and Earth Manufacturing (327992), All Other Miscellaneous Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (327999), Brick, Stone, and Related Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers (42332)

SIC

Abrasive, Asbestos & Misc Nonmetallic Mineral Prods (3290), Wholesale-Metals & Minerals (No Petroleum) (5050)

akta.pro primary industry

Perlite & Vermiculite (IMAEAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Aggregates (Rail Ballast, Riprap/Armor Stone, Gabion Stone) (IMAKAHAJ), Industrial Minerals Trading (Phosphate, Potash, Sulfur, Borates, Barite, Talc) (IMAKAJAF)

Keywords

• Expanded perlite products
• Vermiculite processing
• Horticultural aggregates
• Lightweight concrete aggregates
• Industrial filter aids

Headquarters

HQ city

Nahant

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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Perlite and Vermiculite Aggregate Sales: B2B sales of expanded perlite and vermiculite products in various gradations (supercoarse, coarse, medium, fine) to distributors who resell to contractors, growers, and industrial users. Products sold in bags (4-CF poly bags, 6-CF bags, retail packages from 4 quart to 1.5 bushel), bulk shipments (Super Sacks/jumbo bags of 40-45 CF, enclosed/open dump trailers).
2. Perlite Filter Aids: Sale of specialized perlite filter media products (PF-60, Aqua-Clean) for industrial filtration, swimming pool filters, and liquid/solid separation applications.
3. Fireproofing Products: Sale of cementitious sprayed-on fireproofing materials (Classic 5 LD, MD, XY) - premixed products requiring only water addition. Products manufactured at Metuchen, NJ facility and sold through distribution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Schundler Company processes and supplies expanded perlite and vermiculite mineral products for horticultural, construction, swimming pool, and industrial filtration applications. Products are manufactured to ASTM standards (C-332, C-35, C-549, C-150) and sold exclusively through distributors in standard bags, retail packages, Super Sacks, and bulk trailer shipments. The portfolio includes graded horticultural perlite and vermiculite aggregates, pool construction products (V+16 Pool Base, Ultra Mix, Ultra Mix II), pool filtration media (Aqua-Clean), industrial filter aids (PF-60), and construction-grade plaster and concrete aggregates.

Product overview

The Schundler Company is a supplier of perlite and vermiculite products serving the horticultural, construction, swimming pool, and industrial markets since 1951. The product portfolio centers on two core mineral families—expanded perlite and expanded vermiculite—each offered in multiple grades and formulations. For horticulture, products include Supercoarse Perlite, Choice Perlite, Soilac, Perl-Lome, Glitter Vermiculite, and various vermiculite grades. In swimming pool construction, the company offers V+16 Pool Base, Ultra Mix, Ultra Mix II, and Aqua-Clean filtration media. Construction products include perlite and vermiculite plasters and concretes for fireproofing, insulation, and structural applications. Industrial offerings encompass filter aids (PF-60), anti-skid materials, and cryogenic insulation. The company previously manufactured cementitious fireproofing products (Classic 5 LD, MD, XY) but no longer produces them. Products are distributed through garden centers, pool dealers, and industrial distributors in the Northeast US and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Supercoarse Perlite A coarse, screened grade of horticultural perlite conforming to the Perlite Institute's 'coarse grade' designation. Used in peat mixes and potting soils where a combination of aeration, drainage, and water retention is desired. Sold to distributors serving commercial growers.
• Choice Perlite An unscreened, coarse grade horticultural perlite ideal for most potting soils, peat mixes, and bulking applications. Provides both excellent aeration and drainage with water retention. Sold through distributors to commercial growers.
• Soilac Perlite A screened medium grade of horticultural perlite with both coarse particles and fine particles screened out. Used for propagation and seed mixes.
• Perl-Lome Perlite Medium and fine grades of horticultural perlite carefully blended to provide maximum water retention while loosening clay soils and preventing compaction. Ideal for gardens, lawns, landscaping, and general outdoor use.
• Glitter Vermiculite A medium to coarse grade of vermiculite approximately the size of peas. The most popular horticultural grade, sold extensively for peat mixes, potting soils, and special indoor container mixes.
• Extra Coarse Vermiculite A particularly large grade of vermiculite approximately the size of cut carrots, used for greater drainage and aeration in special mixes.
• Vermiculite Medium Grade (VMG) Used by producers of special propagation mixes, seed starting mixes, and for use over seed trays.
• Extra Fine Vermiculite Used by professional growers for additional water retention both in growing mixes and on top of seed trays and containers.
• Schundler V+16 Pool Base A vermiculite-based product used in the construction of vinyl liner swimming pools. Mixed with Portland cement and trowelled on the pool bottom to provide a resilient, level surface that protects vinyl liners. Sold to pool contractors via pool/spa distributors.
• Ultra Mix A premix of vermiculite and Portland cement designed for vinyl liner pool construction, offering advantages over packed sand and regular concrete grout mixes. Sold as a convenience alternative to field mixing.
• Ultra Mix II An improved premix formulation of vermiculite and Portland cement for vinyl liner pool construction with enhanced properties.
• Schundler Aqua-Clean Fine ground perlite used as a filter media in swimming pool filters, providing a safe, non-toxic, non-hazardous filtration alternative to traditional DE (diatomaceous earth) filters. Filters particles at 2-5 microns.
• Schundler PF-60 Perlite filter aid used in industrial and commercial liquid filtration and air/gas filtration applications.
• Schundler Anti-Skid An environmentally safe traction material made from perlite, used for anti-skid applications.
• Schundler Spec 1-2 and Spec 3-4 Vermiculite Vermiculite products designed for absorption and lab packing applications.
• Schundler Vermiculite Mica Pellets Attic Insulation Loose-fill attic insulation made from vermiculite mica pellets. Ideal for filling gaps in existing insulation, completely fireproof with flame spread, fuel contribution, and smoke development all rated '0'.
• Perlite Plaster Aggregate Lightweight perlite aggregate for gypsum or Portland cement plasters used in fireproofing and insulating applications, conforming to ASTM C-35 specifications.
• Vermiculite Plaster Aggregate Lightweight vermiculite aggregate for gypsum or Portland cement plasters providing fireproofing and insulation properties, conforming to ASTM C-35 specifications.
• Vermiculite Insulating Concrete Lightweight concrete consisting of Portland cement, water, and vermiculite aggregate. Used for insulating roof decks with up to 4-hour fire ratings. One inch equals 20 inches of regular concrete in insulating value.
• Perlite Insulating Concrete Lightweight perlite concrete aggregate combined with Portland cement for roof decks, floor fills, cryogenic tank bases, and various insulating applications.
• Perlite Underfloor Insulation Loose-fill perlite insulation for underfloor applications including floating concrete floors, asphalt floors, and floating board floors. Provides sound insulation and floor leveling capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Perlite concrete weighs approximately 60% less than sand-based concrete
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Keltech Energies Ltd (India)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeltech Energies Ltd is an ISO 9002 certified Indian company mentioned as a leading manufacturer of expanded perlite involved in LNG tank construction. They manufacture and install perlite concrete blocks and perform annular filling of cryogenic tanks using site-operated portable expanders worldwide. The Schundler Company provides perlite for cryogenic applications through this relationship.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sun Gro Horticulture: Leading North American horticultural substrate producer (peat, bark, perlite mixes) selling to commercial greenhouses and garden centers. Competes with Schundler horticultural perlite and vermiculite grades in the same grower/distributor channels.
• Therm-O-Rock Industries: US-based processor of expanded perlite and vermiculite serving horticultural, construction, and industrial markets. Direct competitor in plaster aggregates, concrete, and loose-fill insulation; comparable scale and channel strategy to Schundler.
• Cornerstone Industrial Minerals: Producer of perlite, vermiculite, and other industrial minerals for filtration, construction, and horticulture. Comparable product breadth and channel strategy to Schundler.
• Whittemore Company: Family-owned US producer of expanded perlite and vermiculite with a similar heritage, distributor-based model, and product range spanning horticulture, construction, and industrial filtration. Closest analog in size and operating philosophy to Schundler.
• Specialty Vermiculite Corp. US vermiculite processor serving horticulture, construction, and industrial markets. Direct competitor for vermiculite aggregates, attic insulation, and industrial grades.
• Dicaperl Minerals Corporation: One of the largest North American producers of expanded perlite and a direct head-to-head competitor to Schundler across horticultural, construction, and filtration grades. Both companies supply bagged and bulk perlite through distributors and overlap in the same end markets.

Broad incumbents

• Imerys S.A. Global industrial minerals leader with a sizable perlite and vermiculite product portfolio through its Performance Minerals and Filtration & Solutions segments. Larger incumbent offering broader specialty mineral lines that compete with Schundler in filtration aids, lightweight aggregates, and horticultural substrates.
• EP Minerals (U.S. Silica Holdings): Major producer of diatomaceous earth (DE) and perlite filter aids, now part of U.S. Silica. Direct overlap with Schundler PF-60 and Aqua-Clean filter media products in industrial and pool filtration; broader portfolio but competes head-to-head in filter aids.

Others

• Palabora Mining Company (exxaro/VerE): South African vermiculite producer (the source Schundler explicitly references for non-asbestos vermiculite). Functions as upstream supplier to the industry and a competitor for raw vermiculite trade; also a customer/prospect for downstream collaborators serving industrial insulation.
• Perlite-Hempshire Corp. / The Perlite Institute members: Trade association hub for perlite producers including operators like Perlite-Hempshire, Midwest Perlite, and others. Members are direct or near-direct competitors to Schundler in expanded perlite across horticultural and construction end uses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-schundler-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 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 The Schundler Company