Solenis

Solenis

Company type	Private
Industry	Specialty chemicals
Predecessor	Ashland Water Technologies
Founded	2014 (2014)
Headquarters	Wilmington, Delaware , United States
Area served	Worldwide (130 countries)
Products	Process chemicals, functional chemicals, water treatment chemicals, monitoring and control technologies
Number of employees	15,000+
Website	www.solenis.com

Solenis, previously known as Ashland Water Technologies, is a U.S.-based producer of specialty chemicals catering to industries such as pulp, paper, oil and gas, chemical manufacturing, mining, biorefining, power generation, and municipal services. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company manages 71 production sites across 130 countries and employs more than 15,000 people. Its offerings encompass process, functional, and water treatment chemicals along with advanced monitoring and control technologies.

History

• March 2023: Solenis declared its $4.6 billion purchase agreement for Diversey Holdings, with the transaction anticipated to finalize by the end of 2023.
• November 2021: Ownership transferred from BASF and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice to Platinum Equity for $5.25 billion.
• 2021: Platinum Equity announced plans to acquire Solenis at a valuation of $5.25 billion.
• 2019: The company combined operations with BASF's Paper and Water Chemicals division, continuing under the Solenis name.
• 2014–Present: Private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) acquired the business from Ashland Inc. and rebranded it as Solenis.
• 2008-2014: Ashland expanded its portfolio by acquiring Hercules Inc. for $2.6 billion, enhancing its presence in papermaking, water treatment, and construction chemicals.
• 1998-2008: Hercules grew its specialty chemicals segment through the $2.4 billion acquisition of BetzDearborn.
• 1996-1998: BetzDearborn was created when Betz Laboratories acquired Dearborn; subsequently, it was sold to Hercules.
• 1957-1996: Betz Laboratories specialized in chemical solutions for pulp and paper before merging with Dearborn to establish BetzDearborn.
• The company’s roots trace back to late 19th-century collaborations and enterprises centered on water treatment chemicals in Philadelphia and Chicago.
• Founded in 1882 by DuPont alongside Laflin & Rand Powder Company, Hercules Inc. evolved from an explosives manufacturer into a specialty chemicals firm by mid-20th century, broadening its water process chemical offerings following the BetzDearborn acquisition in 1998.

Soyad Adhesives Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award

Solenis created a soy-derived adhesive designed for wood composites, providing furniture manufacturers with a safer substitute to traditional petrochemical resins. The Soyad product line is free of formaldehyde and features low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), adhering to California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase 2 regulations as well as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. This advancement earned Solenis (formerly Ashland Water Technologies) the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, shared with Columbia Forest Products and Kaichang Li, Ph.D., from Oregon State University.

Biobond. 2013 Breakthrough Technology of the Year

The Biobond initiative boosts both sustainability and operational efficiency for recycled paperboard producers. This achievement secured the 2013 Breakthrough Technology of the Year accolade for Solenis (then Ashland Water Technologies), presented by Pulp & Paper International during RISI's Global Outlook Conference held in Dubai.

ABTCP Best Chemical Supplier of the Year

On October 9, 2013, Solenis was honored as the Best Chemical Supplier of the Year in the Pulp and Paper category by the Brazilian Pulp & Paper Association (ABTCP), marking their second straight year receiving this distinction.

Business

• Solenis delivers specialized chemical solutions across industries such as oil and gas, papermaking, mining, chemical processing, and power generation.
• The company has a workforce of approximately 6,300 employees operating in 118 countries worldwide.
• Research facilities are maintained in Wilmington, Delaware, and Krefeld, Germany.
• Customer Application laboratories are situated in Wilmington; Barendrecht, Netherlands; Krefeld; Shanghai; and Leme, Brazil.
• Beyond supplying chemicals, Solenis provides services aimed at reducing both chemical and water usage while enhancing pulp quality and operational efficiency. Its offerings include cooking aids, washing aids, pitch and scale control agents, defoamers, along with specialized programs that improve productivity and lower energy consumption.
• Primary markets served encompass biorefining, chemical processing, industrial water treatment, mining operations, municipal services, oil and gas sectors, packaging paper and board production, power generation facilities, printing and writing paper manufacturing, pulp production, tissue and towel products, specialty chemicals, and wood adhesives.