Bergen International

What Bergen International does

Bergen International LLC is a U.S.-based specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in February 1999 by former employees and agents of a major chemicals company that was a leading supplier of chemical foaming agents (CFAs) for the plastics industry. The company is privately held, founder/management-owned, and operates a manufacturing, sales, and R&D facility in Elgin, Illinois alongside a corporate headquarters in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with a headcount of 11-50 employees. It is single-category focused, producing only chemical foaming agents under the Foamazol™ brand, and does not compete in adjacent plastics additives.

The Foamazol™ product portfolio comprises 35+ grades across three chemistry families: endothermic CFAs (series 10-1003, including Bio901/Bio902 biodegradable variants) that absorb heat and release CO2 to produce fine cell structures; exothermic CFAs (series 14-816 and 1001-1002) that release heat and N2 gas at higher yields; and endo/exo blends (84, 813, 815) that combine the two for synergistic performance. Products are sold as powders, pelletized masterbatches, and liquids, compatible with polyolefins, styrenics, engineering resins (including polycarbonate), PVC, and TPE/TPO, and are used in injection molding, structural foam molding, rotational molding, gas counter pressure and co-injection molding, pipe and profile extrusion, sheet and film extrusion, direct gas extrusion, wire and cable, and wood-plastic composites. Custom formulation services and customer access to a processing laboratory are positioned as core differentiators. Documented customer outcomes include 25-30% line speed gains in extrusion, up to 30% cycle time reduction in injection molding, 10-25% weight reduction in molded parts (up to 20-30% with design optimization), and 40-60% density reduction in rotational molding.

The company runs a sales-led go-to-market model using a direct U.S. sales team supplemented by a network of sales agencies and representatives covering the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; customer evaluation begins with free samples in 1-10 lb quantities, with payment required above 10 lb. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales (no subscription, licensing, or recurring model in evidence), with marketing executed through the company website, an extensive technical library of processing and application guides, video tutorials, and trade publication placements. Geographic expansion is underway with planned additional manufacturing overseas to serve European customers, and the biodegradable product line and automotive lightweighting applications represent the most visible growth vectors. No institutional investment, acquisitions, or public market activity is evidenced.

Name

Bergen International

Legal name

Bergen International LLC

Website

https://bergeninternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bergen International LLC, founded 1999 and based in Illinois, is a specialty chemicals manufacturer that exclusively produces Foamazol™ chemical foaming agents (CFAs) for plastics processors. It serves injection molders, extruders, rotational molders, and wire/cable, wood-composite, and automotive manufacturers across North America and Europe through direct sales and a representative network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemical Additives

NAICS

Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins (325991)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)

akta.pro primary industry

Polymer Compounds & Masterbatches (Compounding, Color/Fill/Additive Concentrates) (IMAEANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Masterbatch Manufacturing (Color, Additive, White/Black) (IMANABAD)

Keywords

• Chemical foaming agents
• Plastic processing additives
• Polymer foaming agents
• Injection molding chemicals
• Extrusion additives

Headquarters

HQ city

Elgin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Foaming Agent Products: Bergen International generates revenue through the sale of Foamazol™ chemical foaming agents including endothermic, exothermic, and endo/exo blend products. Products are sold in various forms including powders, pelletized masterbatches, and liquids for use with a wide range of polymers including PP, PE, LDPE, HDPE, PS, PPO, ABS, HIPS, PET, PVC, TPE, TPO, and PPE. The company also offers custom formulation services as part of their product offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bergen International manufactures and sells the Foamazol™ line of chemical foaming agents (CFAs) for the plastics processing industry. The portfolio spans endothermic, exothermic, endo/exo blend, and biodegradable CFAs delivered in powder, pelletized masterbatch, and liquid forms for use with polyolefins, styrenics, engineering resins, PVC, and other polymers. The company also provides custom CFA formulation services and customer access to a processing laboratory to support injection molding, extrusion, rotational molding, structural foam molding, wire and cable, and wood-plastic composite applications.

Product overview

Bergen International is a chemical foaming agent manufacturer specializing in Foamazol™ chemical foaming agents (CFAs) for the plastics processing industry. The product portfolio includes three main CFA types: Endothermic CFAs (series 10-1003) that absorb heat during decomposition producing CO2 and finer cell structures; Exothermic CFAs (series 14-816, 1001-1002) that generate heat and release N2 gas with higher gas yields; and Endo/Exo Blend CFAs (84, 813, 815) combining both types for synergistic benefits. Additional specialized products include Biodegradable CFAs (Bio901, Bio902) and Custom Formulated CFAs for specific customer requirements. CFAs are available in powder, pelletized masterbatch, and liquid forms for use with polyolefins, styrenics, engineering resins, PVC, and other polymers. Applications span injection molding, structural foam molding, rotational molding, extrusion (pipe/profile/sheet), direct gas extrusion, wire & cable, and wood plastics composites. The company also offers a Product Finder tool to help customers select the optimal CFA based on process type, base resin, and desired outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Foamazol™: Chemical foaming agent (CFA) product line including endothermic, exothermic, and endo/exo blend CFAs in powder, pelletized masterbatch, and liquid forms for plastics processing applications.

Products and services

• Foamazol™ Endothermic CFAs Endothermic chemical foaming agents that absorb heat during decomposition, based on inorganic chemicals generating CO2 gas, producing foams with smaller cell structures, improved appearance, and better physical properties. Available in multiple series with various temperature ranges for molding and extrusion applications across PP, PE, LDPE, HDPE, PS, PPO, ABS, HIPS, PET, PVC, TPE, TPO, and PPE polymers.
• Foamazol™ Exothermic CFAs Exothermic chemical foaming agents that generate heat during decomposition, organic in nature releasing N2 gas, providing higher gas yields and pressure per gram than endothermic agents. Includes grades optimized for rotational molding, wire and cable, and high-temperature polymers such as polycarbonate (PC).
• Foamazol™ Endo/Exo Blend CFAs Blended chemical foaming agents combining endothermic and exothermic types for synergistic benefits, delivering high gas pressure and volume from the exothermic portion while using controlled gas yields from the endothermic portion to eliminate profile distortion.
• Foamazol™ Biodegradable CFAs Biodegradable endothermic chemical foaming agents designed for environmentally friendly applications, including Foamazol™ Bio901 and Bio902, intended for biodegradable applications requiring fine, uniform cell structure with smooth skins.
• Custom Formulated CFAs Custom chemical foaming agent development services for specific process requirements. Bergen International works with customers to develop or modify CFAs for applications including pipe, profile, sheet extrusion, injection molding, structural foam molding, rotational molding, films, wire/cable, and wood plastics composites, with technical assistance and onsite product development support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Line speed increases of 25-30% in extrusion processes compared to non-foamed extrusions
• +5 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sales Agencies and Representatives NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBergen International distributes its Foamazol™ chemical foaming agents through a network of sales agencies and representatives covering the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe. These channel partners extend the company's market reach beyond its direct sales operations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Kumyang Co., Ltd. Kumyang is a Korean chemical company with a well-known line of chemical foaming agents (KY- and ECK-series) widely used in PVC foam and extrusion applications. It is a regional peer because it directly competes in CFA chemistry but is primarily focused on the Asian market where Bergen has no presence.

Broad incumbents

• Avient Corporation: Avient (formerly PolyOne) is a global specialty polymer materials company offering a wide range of color and additive masterbatches, including foaming agent concentrates, through its Colorant Chromatics and Specialty Engineered Materials businesses. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping CFA-adjacent products but a much larger portfolio and global footprint.
• RTP Company: RTP Company is a custom specialty compounder that produces engineered thermoplastic compounds and additive masterbatches, including foaming agent masterbatches, for injection molding and extrusion. It is a broad incumbent with similar compounding capabilities to Bergen but operating across many more polymer systems and end markets.
• BASF SE: BASF, the world's largest chemical company, produces chemical foaming agents as part of its broader plastics additives portfolio. While not Bergen's primary head-to-head competitor, BASF's scale, global reach, and ability to bundle additives make it a relevant broad incumbent that could pressure niche players on commercial terms.
• Ampacet Corporation: Ampacet is one of the largest global masterbatch producers, offering additive masterbatches that include foaming agent masterbatches. It competes with Bergen's additive masterbatch offering but as part of a much broader color and additive portfolio serving injection molders and extruders worldwide.
• Adeka Corporation: Adeka is a Japanese specialty chemicals producer with a portfolio that includes chemical foaming agents and polymer additives. It is comparable to Bergen as a broader incumbent offering CFAs alongside other additives, with stronger Asia-Pacific reach but similar product chemistry and target end markets.

Direct peers

• Americhem: Americhem is a custom color and additive masterbatch manufacturer producing specialty concentrates, including foaming agent masterbatches, for plastics processors. It is a direct peer in additive masterbatch form, often competing with Bergen's pelletized masterbatch offerings in extrusion and molding applications.
• Tramaco GmbH: Tramaco is a German specialty chemical manufacturer producing chemical foaming agents (Cellcom™ line) and other plastics additives. It is a direct peer because it offers the same endothermic/exothermic CFA chemistries to plastics processors across Europe, often competing head-to-head with Bergen in extrusion and molding applications.
• Reedy International (PMC Group): Reedy International, now part of PMC Group, is one of the most direct competitors to Bergen, manufacturing the Safoam™ line of endothermic, exothermic, and endo/exo blend chemical foaming agents for plastics processing. Both companies sell into injection molding, extrusion, and rotational molding with comparable product positioning and customer bases.

Others

• Clariant (now part of Avient, additives business): Clariant historically produced chemical foaming agents and other plastics additives under its Performance Chemicals and Additives business, which was divested in segments. Comparable to Bergen as a legacy broad specialty chemicals player with CFA heritage, now operating under different ownership structures with overlapping chemistries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bergen-international

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 Bergen International