Solenis acquires Pa. cleaner company Aqua ChemPacs

Aqua ChemPacs, which manufacturers pods of high-grade disinfectants, was bought by Solenis as a bid to expand its commercial product holdings. | PHOTO COURTESY OF SOLENIS

WILMINGTON — Solenis, the specialty chemical company that focuses on water-intensive industries, has recently acquired a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of concentrated pre-packaged liquid chemical packs.

Wilmington-based Solenis closed the deal for Aqua ChemPacs, LLC on June 10, acquiring the assets of the Huntingdon Valley, Pa. company. The terms of the deal between the private companies were not disclosed.

Aqua ChemPacs manufactures around 39 different eco-friendly cleaners and hand soaps and distributes them to clients in the health care, restaurants, arenas and stores across the world. Products range from floor cleaners, glass cleaners and dish detergents, all sold in pre-packaged packs. 

The basis of the company’s success is its dissolvable Chem Pacs that dissolve in water and produce a high-quality disinfectant on site. The packs are also lighter than traditional cleaners and cheaper to ship to customers.

The acquisition falls into Solenis’ portfolio which was established when it bought cleaning product company Diversey for $4.6 billion last summer. That deal granted Solenis a variety of hygiene, infection prevention and cleaning solutions on a global market  — as well as entry into a general consumer market.

“We are excited to welcome the Aqua ChemPacs team to Solenis and to add their eco-friendly cleaning and disinfection solutions to our Diversey portfolio,” Solenis Vice President and General Manager of Institutional Solutions Jim Marks said in a prepared statement. “Every time a ChemPac is used instead of a plastic bottle, it’s a win for the planet and a testament to our mission of delivering value to customers by helping them solve their operational and sustainability challenges.”

In 2022, Aqua ChemPacs opened a 70,000 square-foot manufacturing plant that includes a chemistry lab, loading dock and capacity to produce tens of millions of pods. Right now, Solenis plans on maintaining that plant while bringing on Aqua ChemPacs’ 25 employees.

Solenis emerged from former Hercules and Ashland water treatment divisions dating back to 1907, launching its current iteration in 2015. Solenis added the former BASF company in a 2019 deal to significantly grow its reach and footprint. In the last two years, the company has made several acquisitions, including wastewater treatment product company CedarChem and Diversey.

Led by CEO John Panichella, Solenis has 71 manufacturing facilities around the globe and employs more than 15,400 in 130 countries across six continents.