What Sharp Chemical does

Sharp Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd. (シャープ化学工業株式会社) is a Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer headquartered in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, that produces modified silicone sealants, acrylic sealants, waterproofing materials, and specialty adhesives. The company's core technology is its proprietary modified silicone (変成シリコーン) chemistry, encompassing moisture-curing single-component formulations, non-bleed (ノンブリード) additive systems, and low-modulus silicone formulations engineered for high-movement joints in Japanese construction applications, including ceramic siding (窯業系サイディング). Its product portfolio spans professional-grade sealants featuring a 70-color palette for color-matching applications, specialized products such as fire-retardant (BURN HARD1), heat-resistant (HEAT RESIST1), peelable (つかないシール / ピタッとpeel), and PP-bonding sealants, as well as consumer DIY products like the patented toilet gap fill (トイレのスキマフィル). Sharp Chemical also offers the SK Pouch eco-friendly packaging system, which reduces packaging waste to 1/10 of standard cartridges and carries Gold Eco-Tech certification.

The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model across three primary customer segments: construction industry professionals (contractors, builders requiring high-performance sealants), DIY homeowners (purchasing through hardware stores, home centers, and direct e-commerce), and OEM/private-label partners (manufacturing custom-formulated sealants for other brands, including the June 2025 PC Cox Japan business transfer). Distribution channels include a proprietary e-commerce storefront (sharpchem.shop-pro.jp), retail and home center distribution, direct B2B field sales supported by offices in Tokyo and Sapporo, and OEM manufacturing. Marketing relies heavily on SEO-driven educational content, social media presence across YouTube/Instagram/Facebook/X, trade show participation (EXPO2025, National Hardware Show Las Vegas, Thailand's Architect Expo), and industry association memberships (Japan Adhesive Industry Association, Sakai Brand certification).

Since January 2025, Sharp Chemical has been majority-owned by Belgian construction chemicals group Soudal, which acquired the company as its platform for Asia-Pacific expansion in technically demanding construction chemicals markets. The company employs 101-250 people and continues operating as a focused Japanese specialty sealant manufacturer with international visibility through targeted trade show participation and overseas project references (e.g., Singapore SunTec City refurbishment in 2015). Pricing is not publicly disclosed, but industry benchmarks place sealer manufacturing gross margins at 40-50% and net margins at 15-25%; Sharp Chemical has implemented multiple price revisions since 2021 in response to raw material and logistics cost pressures.

Name

Sharp Chemical

Legal name

Sharp Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd.

Website

https://sharpchem.co.jp

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sharp Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd. is a Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer producing modified silicone sealants, adhesives, and waterproofing materials for construction professionals, DIY homeowners, and OEM partners. Headquartered in Sakai, Osaka, and majority-owned by Belgium's Soudal since January 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Sealants and Adhesives

NAICS

Adhesive Manufacturing (32552), Adhesive Manufacturing (325520)

SIC

Adhesives & Sealants (2891)

akta.pro primary industry

Adhesives & Sealants Chemicals (IMAEABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sealants (Construction & Industrial) (IMAEAGAI), Primers, Bonding Agents & Surface Preparation Products (IMADAOAK)

Keywords

• Construction sealants
• Industrial adhesives
• Waterproofing materials
• Modified silicone sealants
• Caulking products

Headquarters

HQ city

Osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sealant and Adhesive Product Sales: Sharp Chemical generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of modified silicone sealants, acrylic sealants, waterproofing materials, and specialty adhesives. Products are sold via direct e-commerce, retail/hardware store distribution, and B2B/OEM channels. The company serves both professional contractors and DIY homeowners.
2. B2B/OEM Manufacturing: The company produces OEM products for other brands and has received business transfers from partners (e.g., PC Cox Japan business received in June 2025), suggesting OEM manufacturing agreements and white-label production as a revenue stream.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sharp Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd. manufactures and sells modified silicone sealants, acrylic sealants, waterproofing materials, and specialty adhesives for the Japanese construction and DIY markets. Its portfolio spans professional building sealants (NB-LM low-modulus color-matching line), consumer DIY products (Toilet Gap Fill, Water-area Gap Fill, Peelable Seal), industrial specialty sealants (fire-retardant, heat-resistant, PP-bonding, wood repair), and OEM/private-label custom formulations, supported by an AI chatbot (SharpchemGPT) and the eco-friendly SK Pouch packaging system.

Product overview

Sharp Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd. (シャープ化学工業株式会社) is a Japanese manufacturer specializing in construction sealants, adhesives, and waterproofing materials. The product portfolio includes modified silicone sealants (ヘンセイシリコーン series), general-purpose DIY sealants (スキマフィル series), peelable sealants (つかないシール), fire-retardant sealants (BURN HARD1), and specialized industrial sealants. Core products like シャーピー ヘンセイシリコーン NB-LM serve professional construction applications with a 70-color palette for color-matching, while consumer products like トイレのスキマフィル address specific household gap sealing needs. The company also offers an AI chatbot assistant (SharpchemGPT) for customer support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sharpy Hensay Silicone NB-LM (シャーピー ヘンセイシリコーン NB-LM) Moisture-curing one-component modified silicone building sealant with low modulus (LM) properties, featuring a 70-color palette for color-matching applications on cement siding and ALC panels, a non-bleed formula to prevent staining on finish coatings, and an anti-fungal additive. Designed for professional construction joint sealing on ceramic siding and ALC assemblies.
• Toilet Gap Fill (トイレのスキマフィル) Moisture-curing one-component special modified silicone DIY sealant explicitly labeled as a patented product. Blocks water and urine penetration at the gap between toilet and floor, and can be peeled off after hardening for easy cleaning and reapplication. Targeted at DIY homeowners.
• Mokumoku Repair Material NB Pouch Type (もくもく補修材NB パウチタイプ) Moisture-curing one-component modified silicone wood repair sealant in hand-squeezable pouch format. Designed for log house and wood deck repair applications with dedicated primer P-50 recommended for substrate preparation.
• Pitattsu to Peel (ピタッとpeel) Peelable sealing material that can be removed by peeling once hardened. Includes a suction-cup variant (ピタッとpeel 吸盤用) for DIY adhesion of suction cup fixtures, providing easy cleanup and replacement for various gap-sealing and mounting applications.
• Water-Area Gap Fill (水まわりのスキマフィル) Water-based modified silicone sealant with anti-fungal additive for bathroom and kitchen water-area repairs. Suitable for gaps around sinks, bathtubs, and other wet areas where mold resistance is required.
• DrySara (ドライサラ) High-weatherability modified silicone sealant with approximately 20 years of durability. Low modulus, non-silicone-oil formulation intended for long-term exterior applications where weather resistance is critical.
• Acrico NB (アクリコNB) Acrylic modified sealant for tile wall and ceiling joints. Used for uneven surface preparation before painting applications in interior finishing work.
• BURN HARD1 Fire-Retardant Sealant (難燃シーリング材 BURN HARD1) Fire-retardant sealant with high elongation rate and stable adhesion. Features minimal surface tack, making it suitable for exposed applications where fire-resistance certification is required.
• HEAT RESIST1 Heat-Resistant Sealant (耐熱シーリング材 HEAT RESIST1) Heat-resistant sealant that maintains performance after heating at 200°C for 2 hours. Suitable for high-temperature industrial sealing applications such as around ovens, exhausts, and machinery.
• Dansei Bond PP Seal (ダンセイボンド PPシール) Adhesive sealant with excellent adhesion to polypropylene (PP), which is typically difficult to bond. Used in industrial assembly and repair applications involving PP substrates.
• Tsukanai Seal (つかないシール) Peelable (removable) sealing material. Hardens to form a seal that can be cleanly peeled off when removal is needed, enabling maintenance and reapplication without substrate damage.
• Water-Based Gap Fill NB (水性スキマフィルNB) Water-based sealant that can be smoothed with a wet brush immediately after application and cleaned up easily with water, providing a low-odor, user-friendly DIY option.
• Silicone Cover NB (シリコンカバーNB) Silicone topcoat sealant that allows water-based or solvent-based paints to be applied over cured silicone sealant, enabling paint finishing on otherwise unpaintable silicone joints.
• MSC1-42 (Tsubutsubu Repair Material NB / つぶつぶ補修材NB) Texture-matching repair sealant with minimal shrinking, formulated to produce inconspicuous texture-matched repairs on finished surfaces.
• Sharpy Hensay Silicone M-22 (シャーピー ヘンセイシリコーン M-22) Modified silicone sealant with very low initial surface tack, enabling immediate post-application painting without waiting for surface cure.
• Dansei Bond Mega Hard One (ダンセイボンド メガハードワン) Heavy-duty floor joint sealant for factory floors, concrete slab joints, and crack repairs in industrial settings. Used at Singapore Suntec City renovation (2015) and China Yixing City Eight Baxxan Shopping Mall subsidiary project (2015).
• Stove Gap Fill (コンロのスキマフィル) Specialized sealant designed for gaps between kitchen stoves and countertops to prevent water and debris infiltration in residential cooking areas.
• Weed-Prevention Gap Fill (防草用のスキマフィル) Weed-prevention sealant applied to gaps in paved surfaces and construction joints to inhibit weed growth in outdoor environments.
• SK Pouch System (SKパウチシステム) Original eco-friendly pouch packaging system for sealants that reduces post-use packaging waste to approximately one-tenth of standard cartridge containers. Awarded Gold Eco-Tech certification in 2010 and offered across multiple product lines as a sustainability differentiator.
• OEM / White-Label Sealant Manufacturing Custom-formulated sealant and adhesive manufacturing service supplied under partner brands for OEM and private-label applications. Sharp Chemical received the PC Cox Japan business transfer in June 2025, evidencing active OEM relationship management and white-label production capability.

Quantifiable outcome

• Elongation at break of 700% for NB-LM product (50% modulus: 0.15 N/mm²; maximum strength: 0.70 N/mm²)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SoudalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In January 2025, Soudal (a Belgian construction chemicals group) announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Sharp Chemicals (シャープ化学工業株式会社), Sharp Chemical's Japanese sealants business. This acquisition strengthens Soudal's position in Asia's technically demanding construction chemicals market and marks Sharp Chemical as a strategic platform for the acquirer's Asia-Pacific expansion.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sika: Swiss construction-chemicals major with broad sealants, waterproofing, and adhesives portfolio including MS-polymer products that compete directly with Sharp's NB-LM line in commercial and residential sealing.
• Shin-Etsu Chemical (Silicone Division): Japan-based global silicone producer supplying base polymers and silicone sealants to construction and industrial markets; comparable upstream/sideways competitor for silicone-based construction sealants.
• Soudal: Belgian parent and global leader in sealants, adhesives, and PU-foams; the most direct strategic reference point because Soudal now owns a majority of Sharp Chemical and uses it as its Asia-Pacific platform for modified-silicone sealants.
• Henkel (Adhesive Technologies): Global adhesives and sealants incumbent with construction-industry offerings including MS-polymer and silicone sealants; competes with Sharp in B2B construction channels and consumer-DIY sealants through Pattex/Ceresit brands.
• Tremco (incl. illbruck): European construction-sealants and building-envelope brands now under RPM International; comparable to Sharp for window/façade silicone and MS-polymer sealants used in commercial construction.
• Sekisui Chemical: Major Japanese diversified chemicals/building-materials conglomerate with sealant and construction-chemical offerings adjacent to Sharp's modified silicone and waterproofing products.

Direct peers

• Cemedine: Japanese specialty chemical manufacturer with a leading domestic sealants and adhesives portfolio — the closest in-country competitor to Sharp in construction sealants, consumer DIY, and OEM/private-label supply.
• Toagosei Co., Ltd. Japanese chemical company with a construction-sealants and adhesives line (Aron Alpha, AICA) and broader specialty-chemicals business — direct competitor in MS-polymer sealants and consumer instant adhesives.
• Konishi Co., Ltd. Japan-based adhesives and sealants maker (Bond brand) covering construction, DIY, and industrial applications — overlaps with Sharp across construction sealants, consumer repair products, and OEM manufacturing.
• Bostik: Global adhesives and sealants manufacturer (Arkema group) producing MS-polymer and silicone sealants for construction and industrial assembly — overlapping with Sharp's modified-silicone and structural-adhesive range.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sharpchem_jp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC916Ne70dJKPCr-9LnvsOcw
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharp.chemical
• Instagraminstagram.com/sharpchem.jp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sharp-chemical-ind-co-ltd

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 Sharp Chemical