SINTESI E RICERCA SPA

What SINTESI E RICERCA SPA does

SER (Sintesi e Ricerca) S.p.A. is a privately-held specialty wax manufacturer founded in 1990, incorporated in the Netherlands (legal seat) and operating manufacturing and offices in Italy (Santena for production, Torino for offices, Dronero as legal address). The company is a member of the AWAX Group, a multinational wax conglomerate that also includes Price's Candles (UK) and Chauvin Agro (France). SER produces tailor-made wax solutions spanning paraffin, microcrystalline, synthetic (polyethylene, polypropylene, Fischer-Tropsch), and natural (carnauba, beeswax, candelilla) chemistries, with a portfolio of 1,000+ products serving 5,000+ active customers across 12+ industrial verticals — adhesives, agriculture, candles, cosmetics and pharma, food, inks and coatings, metal industry, packaging, polymers, textile and leather, tyre and rubber, and wood.

Its core technology is wax formulation and fully automated manufacturing, supported by a dedicated R&D laboratory designed to replicate client production conditions to qualify custom blends. The business model is direct B2B enterprise sales with technical consultation: SER partners with clients on R&D projects to co-develop tailor-made formulations and supplies the resulting wax on a quotation-based, order-by-order basis. The company reports reinvesting more than 10% of annual turnover in innovation, and holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 14064-1, FSSC 22000, Halal, Kosher, and OK Compost Industrial certifications — gates that qualify SER for regulated food, pharma, cosmetics, and compostable-packaging buyers. Revenue, pricing, and headcount figures are not publicly disclosed; reporting shows approximately 18 employees at the operating-entity level.

Name

SINTESI E RICERCA SPA

Legal name

SER S.p.A.

Website

https://cere.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SINTESI E RICERCA S.p.A. is a privately-held Italian specialty wax manufacturer and member of the AWAX Group, producing tailor-made paraffin, microcrystalline, synthetic, and natural wax formulations for 5,000+ industrial customers across 12+ sectors including cosmetics, food, packaging, polymers, and candles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Santena

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wax Product Sales: SER generates revenue through manufacturing and selling specialized wax products including paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, synthetic waxes, natural waxes (beeswax, carnauba, candelilla), and custom blends to industrial customers across multiple sectors.
2. Custom Formulation Development: R&D partnership model where SER collaborates with clients to develop tailor-made wax solutions for specific industrial applications, creating custom formulations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SER manufactures and sells a portfolio of more than 1,000 specialty industrial waxes — including paraffin, microcrystalline, synthetic (polyethylene, polypropylene, Fischer-Tropsch), and natural (carnauba, beeswax, candelilla) waxes — for industrial buyers in sectors such as adhesives, agriculture, candles, cosmetics and pharma, food, inks and coatings, metals, packaging, polymers, textile and leather, tyre and rubber, and wood. The company sells primarily through direct B2B enterprise sales, backed by an in-house R&D laboratory that partners with clients to develop tailor-made wax formulations.

Product overview

SER (Sintesi e Ricerca) is a leading wax technology company and part of the AWAX Group, offering a comprehensive portfolio of over 1,000 wax products serving 5,000+ active customers globally. The company provides tailor-made waxes across multiple categories including natural waxes (carnauba, beeswax, coconut), synthetic waxes (polyethylene, polypropylene, Fischer-Tropsch), petroleum-derived waxes (paraffin, microcrystalline), and specialty formulations. Products are organized by application industry: Food Grade Waxes, Candle Waxes, Cosmetics and Pharma Waxes, Wood Industry Waxes, Tyre and Rubber Waxes, Polymer Waxes, Adhesive Waxes, Inks and Coatings Waxes, Metal Industry Waxes, Packaging Waxes, Textile and Leather Waxes, and Agricultural Waxes. The company also produces specialized product lines including cheese wax, bottle sealing wax, duck wax, dental wax, special effects wax, paraffin hand treatment wax, crystal clear wax, lotion wax, and investment casting waxes. SER operates with over 30 years of experience, reinvesting more than 10% of annual turnover in R&D, with state-of-the-art automated manufacturing processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SER Wax Products (overall portfolio) Comprehensive industrial wax portfolio including paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, natural waxes (carnauba, beeswax, candelilla), synthetic waxes (polyethylene, polypropylene, Fischer-Tropsch), and tailor-made specialty blends for diverse industrial applications.
• Food Grade Waxes Waxes for food industry applications including cheese coating, fruit coating, and chewing gum, formulated for protective and containment functions, organoleptic preservation, mould prevention, and shelf-life extension; products comply with FDA regulations and highest international quality standards.
• Candle Waxes High-quality waxes for candle manufacturing including mineral, synthetic, animal, vegetal wax, custom blends, and specialty additives for global candle factories.
• Cosmetics and Pharma Waxes Waxes for cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications including creams, ointments, lotions, depilatory waxes, A/O and O/A emulsions, color cosmetics, and hair products; supports rheological modification, viscosity control, and emulsion consistency.
• Wood Industry Waxes Emulsions and waxes for the wood sector including chipboard panels, wooden laminates, MDF, HDF, wood finishing and treatment, cleaning products, and oxidation/sliding protection for corks and wooden barrels.
• Tyre and Rubber Waxes Protective waxes for technical rubber and tyres providing ozone and weather (UV) protection, mechanical property enhancement, and controlled blooming effect for rubber product manufacturers.
• Polymer Waxes Specialty waxes for polymer production including PVC pipes, cables, and processing applications, improving insulation, protecting from deterioration and ozone, and reducing friction between PVC granules and equipment.
• Adhesive Waxes Waxes for adhesives and hot glues that regulate viscosity, bonding, flow time, and melting/bonding temperature, including paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, and tailor-made blends approved for food contact.
• Inks and Coatings Waxes Waxes for ink and coating formulations that increase waterproof and thermal insulation properties, reduce wear, control sliding, and act as carriers for pigments and additives.
• Metal Industry Waxes Waxes for metal industry applications providing non-stick function on molds and anti-corrosive protection for non-ferrous metals, including automotive thermostat components.
• Packaging Waxes Protective coatings for paper, film, and aluminium foil, wax for labelling and flexible packaging, tailored to specific client needs.
• Textile and Leather Waxes Hydrophobic wax treatments for fibers that soften and protect while providing gloss and abrasion resistance, used for yarn processing, finishing compounds, and fabric property enhancement.
• Agricultural Waxes Waxes for agricultural applications including biodegradable coatings, plant graft protection, and anticaking agents for fertilizers and pesticides.
• Cheese Wax Specialized wax coatings for cheese preservation extending shelf life, protecting from moisture loss and mold growth, including paraffin, microcrystalline, and beeswax options.
• Bottle Sealing Wax Traditional, synthetic, and custom wax blends for bottle sealing providing tamper evidence, moisture protection, and luxury presentation for spirits, wines, and beverages.
• Dental Wax Orthodontic wax for dental applications creating protective barriers against braces and dental apparatus, formulated with natural and petroleum-derived waxes.
• Investment Casting Waxes Specialty waxes for precision casting including soluble wax, sticky wax, specialist wax, pattern wax, repair wax, and gating wax for metal component manufacturing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years of experience in wax technology
• +3 more outcomes

Segments12 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Fondazione CAVOURminorOthers · 16 November 2017SER is a member of Fondazione CAVOUR, Italian foundation.
• AWAX GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSER is a member/company of the AWAX Group, a multinational wax group. The group includes companies like Price's Candles (UK) with Royal Warrant and Chauvin Agro (France) for agriculture.
• Price's CandlescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric British brand and member of AWAX Group, granted Royal Warrant by the British Royal Family. SER supplies waxes for candle production.
• Chauvin AgrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of AWAX Group specializing in the agricultural sector, providing tailored wax solutions for agricultural applications including plant grafts and fertilizers.
• CONFINDUSTRIAcoreOthersSER is a member of CONFINDUSTRIA, the Italian employers' confederation.
• CONCAWEminorOthersSER is associated with CONCAWE, the European oil refining industry association.
• EWF European Wax FederationcoreOthersSER is associated with the European Wax Federation.
• ECA-European Candle AssociationcoreOthersSER is associated with the European Candle Association.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Multiceras: Mexican specialty wax producer serving candles, cosmetics, packaging, and industrial markets. Comparable mid-sized specialty wax manufacturer with multi-vertical exposure.
• Strahl & Pitsch: US-based refiner and compounder of natural and synthetic specialty waxes serving cosmetics, candles, polishing, and industrial applications. Directly comparable in product portfolio and custom-blending focus.
• Paramelt: Dutch specialty wax and hot-melt adhesive manufacturer serving packaging, converting, cosmetics, and industrial customers. Closely comparable to SER in geography, scale, and B2B custom-formulation model.
• International Group Inc. (IGI): Canadian specialty wax manufacturer with paraffin, microcrystalline, and natural wax offerings for candles, packaging, and industrial uses. Comparable in vertical breadth and custom-formulation capabilities.
• Romonta: German specialty wax producer focused on montan wax and refined natural/synthetic waxes for industrial applications. Comparable European specialty wax manufacturer.
• Kerax: UK-based specialty wax manufacturer offering paraffin, microcrystalline, natural, and synthetic waxes for candles, packaging, and industrial applications. Comparable European specialty wax peer.
• Frank B. Ross Co. US specialty waxes and chemicals supplier serving industrial and consumer markets including cosmetics, polishes, and packaging. Comparable mid-sized specialty wax distributor/formulator.

Broad incumbents

• Evonik: German specialty chemicals major with additives and wax-related chemistries serving coatings, plastics, and personal care. Comparable end-markets but much larger portfolio and feedstock integration than SER.
• Wacker Chemie: German specialty chemicals company with silicone waxes, polymer additives, and construction/industrial chemistries. Competes with SER in specialty additives but across a far broader product range.
• Hexion: Large global specialty chemicals producer with epoxy resins, coatings, and adhesive-related chemistries. Overlaps with SER in supplying wax and resin inputs to industrial customers but operates at much broader scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sintesi-e-ricerca-spa

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 SINTESI E RICERCA SPA