What Pelchem does

Pelchem (legal name: Pelchem SOC Ltd) is a South African state-owned specialty fluorochemical manufacturer founded in 1984 and headquartered at Pelindaba in the Brits District, North West Province. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Necsa (South African Nuclear Energy Corporation Soc Ltd), giving it vertical integration into nuclear-derived fluorine inputs and government backing. Pelchem manufactures and globally supplies commodity and specialty fluorochemicals — including hydrogen fluoride, hydrofluoric acid, fluoride salts, fluorine gas, fluorine/nitrogen mixtures, xenon difluoride, molybdenum hexafluoride, perfluoroheptane, perfluorodecalin, and specialty polymer intermediates — alongside an ethanol-based sanitizer product line sold in 500ml through 1000L IBC formats.

The company's underlying technology centers on fluorochemical production and processing, with a patented surface fluorination capability developed over more than 20 years of commercial operation. Surface fluorination modifies polymer surfaces using fluorine gas mixtures to improve permeation and adhesion properties, and Pelchem is developing modularized surface fluorination plant technology intended for on-site customer deployment. Process quality is governed by ISO 14001:2004, ISO 9001:2008, OSHAS 18001:2011-aligned SHEQ, FDA approval for surface fluorination, and compliance with DOT, ECE, ERA, and CARB permeability requirements. Capacity extends to several million fluorinated containers (3ml to 1,200L) and pipes up to 100m in length per year.

Pelchem operates a B2B direct sales model targeting petroleum, pharmaceutical, electronics, automotive, packaging, construction, cosmetics, steel, mining/agriculture, recreational/sport, and sanitizer end-markets in South Africa and internationally. Revenue is generated through chemical product sales (one-time), toll R&D and contract manufacturing, surface fluorination services, gas cylinder assembly (internal preparation, inspection, valve fitting, leak testing, passivation), and technical advisory/safety awareness training. Marketing is conducted via the corporate website, direct email and phone contact, newsletter, and industry association participation (CAIA, CGA, HFIPI, CTEF, RPMASA). Pelchem has a wholly owned subsidiary, Ketlaphela, indicating modest scope extension beyond its historical core. The company employs approximately 11 people.

Name

Pelchem

Legal name

Pelchem SOC Ltd

Website

https://pelchem.co.za

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pelchem is a South African state-owned fluorochemical manufacturer (Necsa subsidiary) producing hydrogen fluoride, fluorine gas, and specialty fluorides, serving global pharmaceutical, petroleum, electronics, and packaging customers via patented surface fluorination technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brits District

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Product Sales: Manufacturing and global supply of commodity and specialty chemicals including hydrogen fluoride, hydrofluoric acid, fluoride salts, fluorine gas, fluorine gas mixtures, and specialty fluoride materials to South African and international customers.
2. Toll Manufacturing Services: Toll R&D and manufacturing of fluorochemicals for customers, and toll surface fluorination of plastic components.
3. Surface Fluorination Services: Surface fluorination service based on patented processes and knowhow for modifying polymer surfaces, compliant with DOT, ECE, ERA, CARB and FDA requirements.
4. Technical Advisory Services: Technical advice and safety awareness training regarding safe handling of products provided to customers and potential new customers.
5. Cylinder Assembly Services: Gas cylinder assembly services including internal surface preparation, inspection, valve fitting, leak testing, and passivation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pelchem is a global manufacturer and supplier of commodity and specialty fluorochemicals including hydrogen fluoride, hydrofluoric acid, fluoride salts, fluorine gas, fluorine gas mixtures, and specialty fluoride materials. It also offers toll R&D and manufacturing of specialty fluorochemicals, toll surface fluorination of plastic components, gas cylinder assembly, and technical advice and safety awareness training on safe handling of fluorochemical products.

Product overview

Pelchem is a global manufacturer and supplier of commodity and specialty fluorochemicals. The product portfolio includes core chemical products (Hydrofluoric Acid, Fluorine, Fluorine/Nitrogen Mixtures, Xenon Difluoride, Molybdenum Hexafluoride, Calcium Sulphate, Perfluoroheptane, Perfluoroalkane Mixture, Perfluorodecalin, and DY 2.6 polymer solution) supplemented by a sanitizer product line (1000L IBC, 5L, 1L, 500ml, 25L bottles, and MSDS documentation). Services include Cylinder Assembly for gas cylinders, Surface Fluorination (a patented polymer surface modification process), Toll Fluorochemical Manufacturing for custom R&D and production, and Technical Advice and Safety Awareness training. The company operates as a toll manufacturer of specialty fluorochemicals and provides surface fluorination of plastic components, positioning itself as both a product supplier and service provider in the fluorochemical industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hydrofluoric Acid Commodity chemical with chemical formula HF, supplied as a colourless liquid with pungent odour. UN No: 1790, CAS No: 7664-39-3. Used in electronics, petroleum, and steel industries.
• Sanitizer Product Line WHO-recommended ethanol-based sanitizer formulations supplied in 500ml, 1L, 5L, 25L, and 1000L IBC formats for hand and hard surface disinfection, with downloadable MSDS documentation.
• Perfluoroheptane Perfluorinated C7 liquid with chemical formula C7F16. Colourless, odourless liquid used in recreational and sport applications. CAS No: 335-57-9, density 1.75 kg/L.
• Perfluoroalkane Mixture Perfluorinated C7-C8 liquid mixture consisting primarily of C7F16 and C8F18, used in recreational and sport applications.
• DY 2.6 (MV31 K-Salt Aqueous Solution) Polymer product with ≥55% m/m concentration, ≤1% m/m fluoride content, and ≤30% m/m water content. Used in polymer applications with a shelf life of 2 years.
• Fluorine/Nitrogen Mixtures Fluorine gas mixtures with nitrogen (F2/N2) supplied as green-yellow coloured gas with characteristic odour. UN No: 3303, used in construction, electronics, and packaging applications.
• Xenon Difluoride XeF2 white solid compound with pungent odour, used in electronics applications. UN No: 3085, CAS No: 13709-36-9, melting point 129°C, boiling point 114°C.
• Fluorine Compressed fluorine gas (F2) supplied as green-yellow coloured gas. UN No: 1045, CAS No: 7782-41-4. Used in construction and pharmaceutical applications.
• Calcium Sulphate CaSO4 anhydrous calcium sulphate used in construction applications. HS Code: 2833 29 90, melting point 1450°C, boiling point 1193°C.
• Molybdenum Hexafluoride MoF6 colourless liquid used in pharmaceutical applications. UN No: 3264, CAS No: 7783-77-9, melting point 17.5°C, boiling point 37°C.
• Perfluorodecalin Perfluorinated compound for cosmetics applications; can be applied topically to provide extra oxygen to specific locations and accelerate wound healing. Used in tissue preservation for organ transplants.
• Cylinder Assembly Gas cylinder assembly service for new, refurbished or hydro-tested cylinders, including internal surface preparation, inspection, valve fitting, leak testing, preparation, and passivation of cylinders.
• Surface Fluorination Patented surface fluorination service modifying polymer surfaces using fluorine gas mixtures to improve permeation and adhesion characteristics. Compliant with DOT, ECE, ERA, CARB permeability requirements and approved by FDA. Quality control per ISO 9001:2008.
• Toll Fluorochemical Manufacturing Toll R&D and manufacturing service that produces specialty fluorochemicals for customers on a contract manufacturing basis, including toll surface fluorination of plastic components.
• Technical Advice and Safety Awareness Technical advice and safety awareness training service regarding the safe handling of fluorochemical products, provided to customers and potential new customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Several million containers fluorinated annually ranging from 3ml to 1200 litres and pipes up to 100m length

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa Soc Ltd)coreOthersPelchem is a wholly owned subsidiary of Necsa Soc Ltd, the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation. This parent-subsidiary relationship provides Pelchem with nuclear industry connections and government backing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Navin Fluorine International: Indian specialty fluorochemicals company producing HF, refrigerants, fluorinated aromatics, and contract-manufactured APIs for pharma and agro majors. Comparable to Pelchem in being a specialty fluorine chemistry operator serving regulated end-markets globally.
• SRF Limited: Indian specialty chemicals manufacturer with a dedicated fluorochemicals and specialty gases business producing HF, refrigerants, and fluorinated intermediates for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and electronics customers. Direct mid-cap peer to Pelchem in fluorochemicals.
• Arkema SA: French specialty chemicals company with a leading fluoropolymers business (Kynar PVDF) and fluorinated specialty additives. Direct peer to Pelchem in fluoropolymer and fluorinated surface-treatment chemistries used across construction, batteries, and electronics.
• AGC Inc. Japanese chemicals and glass group with a substantial fluorochemicals segment including fluorinated polymers, F2/etch gases, and fluoroelastomers. Direct overlap with Pelchem in fluorine chemistry and surface fluorination-adjacent fluoropolymer offerings.
• The Chemours Company: Pure-play fluorochemicals and fluoropolymers business spun out of DuPont, producing HF, fluoropolymers (Teflon, Viton), refrigerants, and Opteon products. Directly comparable to Pelchem as a fluorine chemistry specialist serving overlapping industrial end-markets.
• Daikin Industries: Japanese fluorochemical leader producing fluoropolymers, refrigerants, and F2 derivatives as a core business alongside air-conditioning equipment. Comparable to Pelchem in HF, fluorinated gases, and specialty fluorochemical capability, with global scale.
• Solvay SA: Belgian specialty chemicals major with a Specialty Polymers franchise strong in fluorinated polymers, fluorinated fluids, and fluorinated intermediates. Comparable to Pelchem as a specialty fluorine chemistry player serving pharma, electronics, and industrial users.
• Orbia (Koura): Mexican-listed Orbia operates Koura, one of the world's largest integrated fluorochemical and refrigerant producers, supplying HF, fluorine derivatives, and fluoropolymer feedstocks. Highly comparable in fluorochemical product mix and toll-manufacturing orientation.

Broad incumbents

• 3M Company: US diversified industrial with a large historical fluoropolymers and fluorinated chemicals franchise (currently being divested as 'Solventum'/independently separated). Adjacent broad incumbent comparable to Pelchem in fluoropolymer applications, though much larger and now restructuring the relevant business.
• Honeywell International: Diversified industrial conglomerate with a leading Performance Materials & Technologies (PMT) fluorine franchise including HFO refrigerants, blowing agents, and fluorochemical intermediates. Overlaps with Pelchem in HF chemistry and fluorinated specialty gases, but is far broader and larger.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pelchem

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Pelchem