Chemicals can typically be divided into two groups—commodity and specialty. Commodity chemicals have a standardized formula, and are thus able to be produced in large batches and sold in bulk. Specialty chemicals, on the other hand, are custom-made for a client’s needs and for a niche purpose. If you need custom chemicals made, then you should know about the different chemical manufacturing specialties.
Tollers
Chemical toll manufacturing allows you to maintain a very hands-on approach to developing your chemicals. With this specialty, you pay a toll fee in order to rent their manufacturing assets—from equipment to the expertise of their employees. With this method, the toller doesn’t do any chemical development. Instead, you, as the client, provide a turnkey manufacturing plan and the materials necessary to do so. In short, you have the formula while the manufacturer has the skills and equipment, and you will work together to create the specialty chemicals you desire.
Custom Producers
Custom chemical producers are who you will likely turn to when you’ve got a new product but haven’t quite finished developing the processes necessary to create your new product. So, custom chemical producers work with you to both develop formulae concepts, as well as help you produce the final product as a toll manufacturer would. Because they help you formulate your processes, the custom producer may share ownership of the intellectual property, but they will also be responsible for helping supply raw materials.
Proprietary Producers
Lastly, tollers can rely on your intellectual property. The custom producers share ownership with you, which means that proprietary chemical producers will develop formulas all on their own based on the needs you specify. Of the different chemical manufacturing specialties, this is by far the most hands-off approach. The expertise of the proprietary producers means you are absolutely sure to get a high-quality product using the equipment and practices only a proprietary producer would have available to them.
