PQ
PQ is a privately held US specialty chemicals manufacturer producing silicates, silicas, and zeolites sold as functional ingredients to industrial customers across paints, water purification, tires, construction, personal care, and cleaning end markets across 13 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1815
- HeadquartersMalvern, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What PQ does
PQ is a privately held US-incorporated specialty chemicals manufacturer (headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania) that produces silicates, silicas, and derivative products sold as functional ingredients to industrial customers worldwide. The company traces its lineage to 1815 (Joseph Crosfield and Sons in Warrington, England) and 1831 (Joseph Elkinton and Sons in Philadelphia), with the modern entity generating over $800 million in annual revenue, employing more than 1,500 people across 13 countries, and operating 31 manufacturing facilities globally. Its portfolio is built from four chemical building blocks (silica, alumina, alkali, water) and centered on six product lines: sodium silicate (the upstream platform), precipitated silica, silica gel, zeolites (specializing in 4A and P types), metasilicate, and specialty silicates (potassium and lithium), distributed under established brands including Gasil® and Sorbosil®.
PQ sells performance chemicals through a direct sales-led B2B model to industrial manufacturers across six horizontal end markets: Paints & Coatings, Purification, Silica & Chemical Manufacturing, Construction & Drilling, Personal Care/Nutrition/Food & Beverage, and Cleaning. Application examples include matting agents in low-VOC coatings, adsorbents for drinking water and edible oil purification, functional fillers in fuel-efficient "green tires," geopolymers displacing Portland cement, and abrasives/cleaning agents in toothpaste and detergents. The company pursues an active M&A strategy, having acquired vanBaerle's specialty silicates business (January 2024), Sibelco's Swedish specialty silicates (January 2025), and signing an agreement to acquire BASF's silicates business including the Düsseldorf site in May 2026 (closing expected H2 2026), while concurrently expanding organic capacity at Pasuruan, Indonesia and planning a new high-efficiency furnace in Augusta, Georgia.
PQ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PQ
- Legal name
- PQ
- Website
- https://pqcorp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1815
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- PQ is a privately held US specialty chemicals manufacturer producing silicates, silicas, and zeolites sold as functional ingredients to industrial customers across paints, water purification, tires, construction, personal care, and cleaning end markets across 13 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PQ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Industrial Chemicals
- NAICS
- Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251), Chemical Manufacturing (325), Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Silica (Quartz, Fumed, Precipitated) (IMAEAFAD)
Keywords
Where PQ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Malvern
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices17 records
Markets served
PQ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Silicates and Silica Products: PQ generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of silicates, silicas, and derivative products including sodium silicate, precipitated silica, silica gel, zeolites, metasilicate, and specialty silicates. Products serve diverse industrial and consumer applications. Revenue exceeds $800 million annually.
- Performance Chemical Ingredients: PQ sells performance chemicals as ingredients used in customer manufacturing processes and final products - from decorative paints to green cement, drinking water treatment to green tires, toothpaste to biofuels and beer.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
PQ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PQ manufactures and globally supplies specialty silicates, silicas, and derivative products — sodium silicate, precipitated silica, silica gel, zeolites, metasilicate, and potassium/lithium silicates — for use as functional ingredients in industrial customers' manufacturing processes across paints and coatings, water and oil purification, green tires, construction, personal care, food and beverage, and cleaning applications. Selling primarily under the Gasil® and Sorbosil® brands through 31 manufacturing facilities in 13 countries, PQ supplies B2B customers with consistent, specification-controlled performance chemicals.
Product overview
PQ is a leading global provider of silicates, silicas, and derivative products used in industrial and consumer applications. The company's portfolio centers on four key building blocks—silica, alumina, alkali, and water—processed into six main product lines: Sodium Silicate (the core building block for derivatives), Silica Gel, Precipitated Silica, Zeolites, Metasilicate, and Specialty Silicates (potassium and lithium). Key brands include Gasil® and Sorbosil®. Products serve diverse markets including paints & coatings, purification, silica & chemical manufacturing, construction & drilling, personal care/nutrition/food & beverage, and cleaning. The company operates 31 manufacturing facilities across 13 countries with over 1,500 employees and generates over $800m in revenue.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gasil®: Registered trademark brand for specialty silica products
- Sorbosil®
Products and services
- Sodium Silicate Versatile silicate (nSiO2:Na2O) used to adhere, buffer pH, agglomerate, immobilize, coat, and disperse, serving industrial customers in paints, detergents, construction, and as a feedstock for downstream silica and zeolite production. Available in solid glass, hydrous powder, and liquid forms.
- Silica Gel Synthetic amorphous silica with tightly controlled pore size distribution and surface areas from low to ultra-high, supplied in hydrogel and xerogel forms for adsorption, carrier, and moisture-control applications.
- Precipitated Silica Amorphous silica with more open structures than silica gels, available in many combinations of surface area, oil absorption, and bulk density for green tires, toothpaste, free-flow, and coating applications.
- Zeolites Crystalline aluminosilicates (Na(AlO2)(SiO2)x·yH2O) with three-dimensional cage-like structures capable of cation exchange and molecular adsorption, sold as Zeolite 4A and P-type grades for detergents, adsorption, and ion-exchange applications.
- Metasilicate Highly alkaline sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) supplied in anhydrous and pentahydrate forms (bead, granule, powder) for cleaning, binding, and drilling applications.
- Specialty Silicates (Potassium and Lithium) Potassium silicate and lithium silicate grades used as agricultural nutrients, binders in agglomeration, protective coatings, and concrete treatments.
Quantifiable outcome
- PQ's OSHA Total Recordable Incident rate is in the top quartile of ACC member companies
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use PQ
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
PQ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
PQ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and important.
- BASFcoreBASF and PQ signed an agreement for the sale of BASF's silicates business, including assets at the Düsseldorf/Holthausen site to PQ. Subject to customary closing conditions such as regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to be completed in H2 2026. The parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the transaction.
- Sibelco GroupimportantPQ agreed to acquire the specialty silicate business of the Sibelco Group operated at the Lödöse plant in Sweden. The transaction was completed on January 13, 2025. Sibelco's silicate business has a long history of success in Sweden. This acquisition expands PQ's Nordic presence.
- vanBaerle GroupimportantPQ acquired the specialty silicate business of the vanBaerle Group. Headquartered in Münchenstein, Switzerland, vanBaerle is a leading manufacturer of high-grade silicates, serving customers across Europe, America, Africa, and Asia.
- NouryonimportantPQ was named Nouryon's 2025 Supplier of the Year, recognizing close partnership and collaboration across operations, supply chain, technical, and business teams. Award reflects PQ's core value of Customer Focus, commitment to listening, responding, and acting with urgency to support partners' success and ensure supply continuity. Nouryon employs over 1,400 people across 13 countries and serves more than 900 customers globally.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PQ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tosoh Corporation: Tosoh produces silica gel and zeolites alongside its core chemicals portfolio. Competes with PQ in silica gel, zeolites, and specialty silica products for adsorbent, catalyst, and detergent applications globally.
- Wacker Chemie: Wacker produces HDK-branded fumed silica and is a global leader in specialty silica. Competes directly with PQ in silica-based products serving construction, coatings, electronics, and personal care applications.
- Tokuyama Corporation: Tokuyama is a major Japanese producer of precipitated silica for tires and silicones. Direct competitor to PQ in precipitated silica grades serving rubber/tire and personal care applications, particularly in Asia-Pacific markets.
- Cabot Corporation: Cabot produces specialty silica (CAB-O-SIL fumed silica) for batteries, construction, and inks. Direct competitor to PQ in silica product categories, with particularly strong overlap in construction, rubber, and performance materials applications.
- Evonik Industries: Evonik's Smart Materials division produces precipitated silica (Aerosil brand) used in tires, coatings, and personal care. Direct competitor to PQ across silica and silicates, with comparable global manufacturing footprint and similar end-market exposure.
- Madhu Silica: Madhu Silica is an Indian manufacturer of precipitated silica serving tires, oral care, and industrial applications. Direct competitor to PQ in precipitated silica with regional focus on India and Asia-Pacific markets.
- Solvay: Solvay produces precipitated silica under its Soda Ash & Derivatives business (now separate Syensqo entity), serving tires, oral care, and food. Direct competitor to PQ in precipitated silica and soda ash-derived chemistries.
Broad incumbents
- Nouryon: Nouryon is a major global specialty chemicals producer supplying silicates, surfactants, and chelating agents to industrial customers. Named PQ as its 2025 Supplier of the Year, reflecting both partnership and overlapping customer portfolios in cleaning, water treatment, and coatings.
- Imerys: Imerys is a French specialty minerals producer with a Performance Minerals segment covering silica, kaolin, and related materials. Overlaps with PQ in specialty silica/functional fillers for coatings, plastics, and personal care applications.
Regional players
- Oriental Silicas Corporation: Oriental Silicas is a Taiwan-based producer of precipitated silica and silica gel serving primarily Asia-Pacific markets. Regional competitor to PQ in silica products for tires, personal care, and industrial applications.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PQ social profiles
Digital presencePQ compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
PQ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PQ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
PQ subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
PQ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PQ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A3 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PQ
What does PQ do?
PQ manufactures and globally supplies specialty silicates, silicas, and derivative products — sodium silicate, precipitated silica, silica gel, zeolites, metasilicate, and potassium/lithium silicates — for use as functional ingredients in industrial customers' manufacturing processes across paints and coatings, water and oil purification, green tires, construction, personal care, food and beverage, and cleaning applications. Selling primarily under the Gasil® and Sorbosil® brands through 31 manufacturing facilities in 13 countries, PQ supplies B2B customers with consistent, specification-controlled performance chemicals.
Is PQ a public or private company?
PQ is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was PQ founded?
PQ was founded in 1815. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is PQ based?
PQ is headquartered in Malvern, United States, in the North America region.
How does PQ make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Silicates and Silica Products are the primary driver. The others are performance Chemical Ingredients.
Who are PQ's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tosoh Corporation, Wacker Chemie, Tokuyama Corporation, Cabot Corporation, Evonik Industries, Madhu Silica and Solvay. Broad incumbents are Nouryon and Imerys. Oriental Silicas Corporation is listed as a regional player.
Does PQ have an API?
No public API is recorded for PQ.
What industry is PQ in?
PQ's product category is Specialty Industrial Chemicals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAFAD, Silica (Quartz, Fumed, Precipitated). Its NAICS code is 3251 and its SIC code is 2890.