We empower bold people with big ideas. For more than 40 years, we’ve driven value for market innovators in various industries, and we continue to do so today.

Manufacturing is holistic. Every stage determines outcomes. We add value all along the manufacturing journey -- from the seed of an idea to getting your products into the hands of people who need them most.

NAGASE Specialty Materials is a distributor of specialty chemicals and a manufacturer of chemical technologies. We provide solutions for industries impacting everyday life around the world: textiles; coatings; inks; plastics; packaging; automotive; aerospace; personal care; household, industrial and institutional; pharmaceutical; and electronics. We are chemists and problem-solvers, scientists and creative thinkers.

We began in 1985 as Fitz Chem. Our founder’s motto: Grow through reputation. We became known as a company where people and ideas could thrive. In 2017, after three decades of growth, we became part of NAGASE Group, an $8 billion innovator known for making high-end Japanese technologies accessible globally.

Our collective values came from a shared passion for customer success, trust and respect, and honest communication. With global access to experts and ahead-of-the-wave technologies, our unique chemistries give customers a competitive edge.

Today, we offer innovation centers that support R&D and application testing, an expansive supplier network enabling unmatched access to materials, and a market-solution driven mindset to address complex process challenges.

NAGASE was founded in 1832 as a specialized purveyor of dyes and chemicals. NAGASE Group includes 100+ group companies and more than 6,000 team members in 27 countries and regions, providing value-added opportunities in global markets. Along with our worldwide reach, we continue to provide dedicated support and commitment to our customers. What is important to you inspires us to deliver our best work with the greatest of care.

Our beginnings were humble.

The year was 1985. Founder Robert Becker, a veteran in the chemical industry, launched Fitz Chem as a place where people and ideas could thrive. His motto: Grow through reputation.

Fast forward to 2017. After three decades of growth, the perfect partner found us. NAGASE, an $8 billion innovator known for high-end Japanese technologies, shared our foundational values – a passion for building other people’s success, trust and respect, and honest communication. With global access to experts and ahead-of-the-wave technologies, our unique chemistries give customers an opportunity to win.

Today, we are a hybrid company.

Fitz Chem NAGASE Group is both a traditional distributor of specialty chemicals and a manufacturer of chemical formulations. We are scientists and technology geeks, thinkers and creatives. We are always questioning: What is the impact of our work on the future of consumer goods?

Hang up the phone, then trust.

In a marketplace where rapid change is the norm, a promise kept can mean the difference between going to market on time and missing a critical window of opportunity altogether. Our reputation is built on unshakable ground: on-time delivery and shipping, suppliers prepared for orders with minimal disruption, access to chemists and industry experts, and a flawless track record of follow-through rooted in our values.