Chemistry Has Been Our Business Since 1978
From a single Houston plant making industrial cleaners, Acme Chemicals has grown into a global specialty chemical leader with operations across six continents.
Our story
Acme Chemicals was founded in 1978 by Dr. Eleanor Vance and James Ruiz, two industrial chemists who believed that specialty chemicals could be made better, safer, and more sustainably than the industry standard of the time.
Starting with a line of industrial surfactants for the Texas oil and gas sector, we expanded through the 1980s and 1990s into water treatment, specialty polymers, and eventually pharmaceutical-grade chemistries. Today we serve customers in 80+ countries from 12 manufacturing facilities.
That founding belief — chemistry done better — remains the core of everything we do.
Principles that guide every decision
Scientific Excellence
We invest 12% of revenue annually in R&D and maintain a culture where rigorous science drives every recommendation we make.
Uncompromising Safety
Zero harm is our goal — for our employees, our customers, and the communities near our facilities. Safety is never traded for efficiency.
Environmental Stewardship
We are committed to leading the chemical industry's transition to sustainable feedstocks, processes, and products.
Partnership First
We measure our success by our customers' success. Long-term relationships built on trust and technical excellence are our model.
46 years of milestones
Founded in Houston
Dr. Eleanor Vance and James Ruiz establish Acme Chemical Company with 24 employees and one manufacturing line producing industrial surfactants.
Water Treatment Division Launch
Acme expands into water treatment chemistry, securing major contracts with Houston municipal water utilities and Gulf Coast petrochemical facilities.
First European Plant Opens
Acquisition of Chemwerk AG in Germany provides Acme with its first international manufacturing base and entry into European markets.
Pharmaceutical Division Established
Acme opens its first GMP-certified facility in New Jersey, marking entry into the pharmaceutical excipient and process chemical market.
Asia-Pacific Expansion
Joint venture with Jiangsu Petrochemical creates a 60,000-ton manufacturing hub in Nanjing, serving rapidly growing Asian electronics and automotive sectors.
Green Chemistry Initiative
Acme launches its Greenline platform — a commitment to developing bio-based and biodegradable alternatives across every product family.
Semiconductor Grade Launch
Opening of Acme's ISO Class 5 cleanroom facility in Hillsboro, Oregon — dedicated to ultra-high purity chemicals for semiconductor fabs.
Net-Zero Commitment
Acme announces a science-based net-zero target for 2040, backed by a $400M decarbonization investment program over 10 years.
Guided by experience
Marcus Chen
Chief Executive Officer. Former McKinsey partner and chemical industry veteran with 28 years of experience across specialty and commodity chemicals.
Dr. Priya Rajan
Chief Science Officer. PhD in Polymer Chemistry from MIT. Led the team that developed Acme's bio-based surfactant platform and holds 14 patents.
Roberto Silva
Chief Operations Officer. Oversees 12 manufacturing plants across 8 countries. Former VP of Operations at BASF North America.
Join the Acme Chemicals team
We're always looking for curious, driven scientists and engineers who want to work on chemistry that matters.