West & Senior

What West & Senior does

West & Senior Ltd is a UK-based specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1952 and headquartered in Radcliffe, Manchester. The company produces pre-dispersed pigment formulations and chemical foaming agents for the global polymer industry, serving glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) composites manufacturers, epoxy coatings formulators, polyurethane processors, PVC and rubber producers, and marine/offshore corrosion-protection applicators. Its product portfolio spans the FASCOL, RAL Classic, BS5252/BS4800 and BS381C pigment dispersion ranges, the FASTINT Ultra Low Viscosity (ULV) mono-pigment tinters for automated dispensing, the FASCOM range of chemical foaming agents, Alocit epoxy coatings, and complementary X-Rite spectrophotometers distributed under a partnership agreement.

The underlying technology centres on pre-dispersing dry pigment powders into grinding resin prior to milling on high-speed dispersers and triple roll mills to achieve a typical 15-micron particle size, with batch-to-batch consistency assured through spectrophotometer-based formulation and quality control. Proprietary Ultra Low Viscosity (ULV) technology enables reduced-viscosity pigment pastes compatible with major tinting machine platforms (Fast & Fluid, Santint, Corob, Rexson), and a dedicated foam laboratory supports custom chemical foaming agent development. Manufacturing is consolidated at the ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certified Radcliffe site, which has been expanded twice (1990s equipment investment, 2000s 25% site expansion with 50%+ capacity uplift) and most recently modernised with a £500k production equipment investment in 2017 and a new ERP system in 2018.

Revenue is generated through one-time sales of branded chemical products across multiple packaging tiers (1kg FASPAK through 1000–1600kg IBCs) on a quote-based pricing model, distributed via an extensive global channel of over 30 named stockists and distributors spanning the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, Russia, the Middle East and Africa. The company has been structured as an Employee Ownership Trust since 2019 and is led by Managing Director John Daniels (appointed 2018) and Executive Chairman Stephen Senior.

Name

West & Senior

Legal name

West & Senior Ltd

Website

https://westsenior.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

West & Senior Ltd is a Manchester-based specialty chemicals manufacturer producing pigment dispersions, Ultra Low Viscosity tinters, chemical foaming agents, and epoxy coatings for the global polymer composites, coatings, and marine industries, distributed through 30+ international stockists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pigment Dispersions: Sale of pre-dispersed pigment products in various polymer systems including polyester, epoxy, polyol, and plasticiser carriers. Available in multiple packaging options from 1kg FASPAK to 1000-1600kg IBCs.
2. FASTINT Tinters: Mono-pigment dispersions for tinting machines, available in Ultra Low Viscosity (ULV) range for automated dispensing.
3. Fascom Chemical Foaming Agents: Polymer additives that decompose at elevated temperatures (150°C+) releasing gas to create cellular/foamed structures. Range includes AZ4, RP, CS Plus, CS Max, CS Define, CS Ultra, CW Range, BSH, and Natrium P grades.
4. Alocit Epoxy Coatings: Distribution of high-performance, environmentally friendly epoxy coating systems for marine, offshore, and industrial applications. Products include primers, standard/tropical grade coatings, concrete primer sealer, and thixotropic filler.
5. X-Rite Spectrophotometers: Official distributor of X-Rite spectrophotometers including benchtop and handheld devices, as well as light booths.
6. Automatic Tinting Systems: Distribution and integration of tinting machines from manufacturers including Fast & Fluid, Santint, Corob, and Rexson for automated pigment dispensing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

West & Senior manufactures and sells pre-dispersed pigment formulations in polyester, epoxy, polyol, and plasticiser carrier systems, supplied in packaging from 1kg to 1600kg for the GRP composites, epoxy coatings, polyurethane, and PVC/rubber industries. The company also produces Ultra Low Viscosity (ULV) mono-pigment tinters for automated dispensing (FASTINT range), chemical foaming agents (Fascom range) used to reduce polymer density, and distributes Alocit epoxy coatings plus X-Rite spectrophotometers as supporting measurement technology.

Product overview

West & Senior is a pigment dispersion manufacturer offering a portfolio of colour solutions for the polymer industries. The core product lines include: pigment dispersions (pre-dispersed into grinding resin, milled to 15 microns) available in polyester, epoxy, polyol, and plasticiser carrier systems across RAL Classic, BS5252/BS4800, BS381C, and Fascol colour ranges; FASTINT ultra low viscosity mono-pigment tinters designed for automated tinting machines; Alocit high-performance epoxy coatings for harsh environments including marine and offshore applications; Fascom chemical foaming agents for polymer weight reduction and insulation; and X-Rite spectrophotometers for colour measurement and quality control. The company distributes automatic tinting systems from Fast & Fluid, Santint, Corob, and Rexson to complement the FASTINT product range. Products are manufactured at the Manchester facility with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications, and distributed globally through a network of stockists and distributors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FASCOM: Range of chemical foaming agents for polymer additives designed to decompose during processing at elevated temperatures, releasing gas to create cellular or foamed structures.
• FASTINT
• FASCOL
• Alocit

Products and services

• Pigment Dispersions Pre-dispersed pigment formulations manufactured in polyester, epoxy, polyol, and plasticiser carrier systems for GRP composites, epoxy flooring, coatings, casting, winding, and flexible PVC/rubber applications. Available across RAL Classic, BS5252/BS4800, BS381C, and Fascol colour ranges in packaging from 1kg to 1600kg.
• FASTINT Tinters Ultra Low Viscosity (ULV) mono-pigment dispersions engineered for automated gravimetric and volumetric tinting machines, enabling point-of-production colour dispensing at approximately 1–4 kg per minute into resin or gelcoat drum sizes from 5kg to 25kg.
• Fascom Chemical Foaming Agents Chemical foaming agent blends in liquid or powder form (AZ4, RP, CS Plus, CS Max, CS Define, CS Ultra, CW Range, BSH, Natrium P) that decompose at elevated temperatures (150°C+) to release gas for creating cellular/foamed polymer structures with reduced specific gravity, used for weight reduction, insulation, cushioning, and design aesthetics in rubber, PVC, and PU processing.
• Alocit Epoxy Coatings High-performance, environmentally friendly, 100% solvent-free epoxy coating systems (28.14 Zinc Primer, 28.15 Standard Grade, Tropical Grade, 28.95 Concrete Primer Sealer, 28.96 Thixotropic Filler) for marine, offshore, and industrial corrosion protection. Applicable on wet, oily, or submerged surfaces for long-term protection with reduced maintenance downtime.
• Automatic Tinting Systems Distributed and integrated automatic tinting machines from Fast & Fluid (HA680), Santint (A9), Corob (EVOPWR), and Rexson (ColourPoint), ranging from lab scale to full production scale, designed to dispense FASTINT ULV pigment dispersions at 1–4 kg per minute.
• X-Rite Spectrophotometers Benchtop and handheld X-Rite spectrophotometers (including the CI6x family) plus light booths, distributed as official UK partner for colour measurement, formulation, and batch-to-batch quality control.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pigment particle size of 15 microns achieved through triple roll mill processing
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Gazechim Composites UKmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor for West & Senior products including pigment dispersions and foaming agents. Located at Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire.
• Gazechim Composites Nordics & BalticsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScandinavian distributor covering Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
• Gazechim Composites IbericamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish distributor covering Valencia region.
• Tricel CompositesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK and Northern Ireland distributor with locations in Leeds and Warrenpoint, Newry.
• IMCD Sweden ABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScandinavian distributor based in Malmö, part of IMCD global distribution network.
• IMCD Denmark A/ScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDanish distributor based in Helsingør.
• IMCD Norway AScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorwegian distributor based in Oslo.
• IMCD Finland OycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinnish distributor based in Espoo.
• IMCD Baltics UABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBaltic states distributor based in Vilnius, Lithuania.
• Polyfibre UKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor based in Birmingham.
• CFS Fibreglass SuppliesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor based in Redruth, Cornwall.
• Easy Composites LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor based in Stoke on Trent.
• East Coast Fibreglass SuppliesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor based in South Shields.
• GRP SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor based in Havant, Hampshire.
• Martin's PlasticsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor based in Norwich.
• GRP (UK) LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK distributor based in Warrington.
• Glassfibre & Resin SuppliesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIrish distributor based in Midleton, Co. Cork.
• PU Consulting ABminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwedish distributor also present in Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
• MC TechnicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBelgian distributor based in Visé.
• A.B. Fiber ApSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDanish distributor based in Vamdrup.
• Pultex GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman distributor based in Simmerath.
• Alvin Trade House LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHungarian distributor based in Budakeszi.
• Ravago Chemicals Poland Sp. z o.o.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPolish distributor based in Warsaw.
• Ravago Chemicals Czech Republic s.r.o.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCzech Republic distributor based in Prague.
• Intrey Polymernye SystemyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRussian distributor based in Moscow.
• VertemminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCroatian distributor based in Zagreb.
• Al Khowahir ChemicalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUAE distributor based in Sharjah.
• AMR Co.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEgyptian import/export company based in 10th of Ramadan.
• Industrial Chemicals and ResinsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSaudi Arabian distributor based in Dammam.
• Saudi Industrial ResinsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSaudi Arabian distributor based in Jeddah.
• X-RitecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial distributor of X-Rite spectrophotometers including benchtop devices, handheld devices (CI6x family), and light booths for colour measurement technology.
• Composites UKminorOthersIndustry association membership demonstrating commitment to the composites industry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tramaco GmbH: German specialty chemical producer of chemical foaming agents, blowing agents, and release agents for plastics and rubber processing. The closest direct comparable to West & Senior's FASCOM foaming agent product line, serving the same polymer-processing customer base.
• Penn Color: Manufacturer of pigment dispersions, masterbatches, and liquid colorants for plastics, fibers, and coatings. Closely mirrors West & Senior's pre-dispersed pigment dispersion business model and customer use cases in polyester, epoxy, and polyol carrier systems.
• Lansco Colors: Manufacturer of organic and inorganic pigments and pigment dispersions for industrial coatings, plastics, and specialty applications. Directly comparable specialty pigment company with a similar pre-dispersed dispersion offering for plastics and composites formulators.
• Dominion Colour Corporation (DCC): Specialty producer of organic pigments, complex inorganic colour pigments, and pigment dispersions for plastics, coatings, and inks. Comparable mid-tier competitor in industrial colorants with overlapping customer use cases in composites and protective coatings.
• Reedy Chemical Foam & Specialty Additives: US-based specialty producer of chemical foaming agents and blowing agent dispersions for polymer processing, particularly PVC, PU, and rubber foaming. Directly comparable to West & Senior's FASCOM chemical foaming agent range, with overlapping end-applications in insulation, cushioning, and structural foam.
• Heubach Group: Global manufacturer of organic and inorganic pigments and pigment preparations serving plastics, coatings, inks, and specialty applications. Acquired Clariant Pigments in 2022 to form one of the closest direct competitors to West & Senior's pigment dispersion business, with overlapping customer base in industrial and composites end-markets.
• Cappelle Pigments NV: Belgian specialty pigment manufacturer producing organic and inorganic pigments and pigment dispersions for industrial paints, plastics, coatings, and inks. Closely comparable mid-size European pigment specialist with a similar customer profile to West & Senior in GRP composites and industrial colorants.

Broad incumbents

• DIC Corporation: Japanese multinational chemical company with substantial pigments and performance materials portfolio, parent of Sun Chemical. Serves the same plastics, coatings, and graphics end-markets as West & Senior but at vastly greater scale and across many additional product lines.
• Sun Chemical (DIC Corporation): Subsidiary of DIC Corporation and one of the world's largest producers of pigments, inks, and colorants for packaging, publications, and industrial coatings. Overlaps with West & Senior in industrial pigment dispersions but operates at substantially larger scale and across a broader chemical portfolio.
• Polynt Composites: Major global supplier of unsaturated polyester, vinylester, and epoxy resins, gelcoats, and pigmented systems for the composites industry. Serves similar GRP composites customers as West & Senior in marine, transportation, and construction end-markets but at much larger scale and with a broader resin-and-additives portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/20563155
• Xx.com/WESTSENIOR

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 West & Senior