Element Solutions
Corporate brand
UnclaimedElement Solutions is a United States-based specialty chemicals company serving electronics manufacturing, industrial surface finishing, packaging, and offshore energy applications.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
Element Solutions Inc. is a publicly traded American specialty chemicals company whose products are used in manufacturing and industrial processes rather than primarily sold as finished consumer goods. The company develops, formulates, manufactures, and supplies chemical systems and material-process technologies for electronics, industrial finishing, packaging, water treatment, and offshore energy applications. Its customers and end uses include mobile phones, computers, communication infrastructure, automobiles, aerospace equipment, printed circuit boards, semiconductor packages, industrial machinery, consumer packaging, and offshore oil and gas production. The business was established in 2013 by Martin E. Franklin with financial backing from investor Bill Ackman. It initially operated as Platform Specialty Products, a specialty chemicals and agricultural-products holding company that expanded through acquisitions. A major early transaction was the October 2013 acquisition of MacDermid Incorporated, which provided a foundation in electronic chemicals, surface finishing, and related process technologies. Platform subsequently acquired the electronic chemicals and photomasks businesses of OM Group in 2015 and Alent plc later that year, broadening its electronics and engineered-materials capabilities. Platform Specialty Products later exited crop-protection chemicals. In July 2018, United Phosphorus Limited announced its acquisition of Arysta LifeScience, then the crop business of Platform Specialty Chemicals, for approximately $4.2 billion. Following that divestiture, the company renamed itself Element Solutions Inc. in 2019, reflecting its concentration on specialty chemicals and materials technologies. The company’s shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ESI. Element Solutions organizes its operations into two principal segments: Electronics and Industrial & Specialty. The Electronics segment supplies wet chemistries, soldering materials, surface treatments, metallization systems, and other process technologies used in printed circuit board production, semiconductor packaging, electronic assembly, and related manufacturing. Its products are designed to support increasingly complex circuit designs, fine-pitch interconnections, advanced packaging, reliability, and miniaturization. Brands associated with this area include MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Kester, Electrolube, and Compugraphics. The Industrial & Specialty segment develops chemistries that protect, decorate, and modify metal and plastic surfaces, as well as products used in industrial fluid control and water-treatment processes. Its portfolio includes surface-finishing systems, protective coatings, wastewater treatment and recycling solutions, chemical products for industrial manufacturing, and water-based hydraulic control fluids used in offshore energy production. Associated businesses include MacDermid Enthone, MacDermid Offshore Solutions, Fernox, Coventya, HSO Herbert Schmidt, and DMP Corporation. Element Solutions has expanded through a series of acquisitions. Important additions include Kester in 2019, DMP Corporation in 2020, HK Wentworth in 2021, Coventya in 2021, HSO Herbert Schmidt in 2022, and Kuprion in 2023. These transactions added soldering, electrochemical, surface-finishing, wastewater, and nano-copper technologies. In February 2025, the company sold MacDermid Graphics Solutions, its flexographic printing-plate business, for $323 million, further concentrating the portfolio on electronics and industrial specialty chemicals. The company operates a multinational manufacturing and research network. The reference material describes 63 manufacturing and research-and-development sites across 18 countries. In March 2025, Element Solutions was added to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Its competitive position rests on specialized formulation expertise, process know-how, customer qualification requirements, and long-standing relationships with electronics and industrial manufacturers. Rather than competing primarily through commodity chemical volume, it generally emphasizes application-specific performance, manufacturing reliability, and integration into customers’ production processes. The company operates a multinational manufacturing and research network. Reference material describes 63 manufacturing and research-and-development sites in 18 countries. In March 2025, Element Solutions was added to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Its competitive position relies on specialized formulation expertise, process know-how, customer qualification requirements, and long-term relationships.
History
Element Solutions traces its corporate history to 2013, when Martin E. Franklin established the company with financial backing from Bill Ackman. The business initially operated under the Platform Specialty Products name and was structured as an acquisition-led specialty chemicals group. Its early strategy combined businesses with technically specialized products, customer qualification requirements, and exposure to industrial markets. The October 2013 acquisition of MacDermid Incorporated was a foundational transaction. MacDermid brought expertise in electronic chemicals, printed circuit board processes, surface finishing, and related industrial technologies. Platform expanded its electronics position in October 2015 by acquiring the electronic chemicals and photomasks businesses of OM Group. In December of the same year, it acquired Alent plc, adding further electronic and surface-engineering capabilities. Platform’s original portfolio also included crop-protection activities. In July 2018, United Phosphorus Limited announced the acquisition of Arysta LifeScience, Platform’s crop business, for approximately $4.2 billion. The transaction represented a major strategic change because Platform exited crop chemicals and became more concentrated in specialty chemicals for electronics, industrial manufacturing, surface treatment, and energy-related applications. In 2019, the company changed its name to Element Solutions Inc. and continued as a New York Stock Exchange-listed company under the ticker ESI. After the rebranding, Element Solutions continued to build its portfolio through targeted acquisitions. It acquired Kester in December 2019, adding a well-known provider of solder and related electronic-assembly products. In August 2020, it acquired DMP Corporation, which supplied turnkey wastewater treatment and recycling and reuse solutions. These additions broadened the company’s exposure beyond electronic production into environmental and industrial process systems. The company added several surface-finishing and electrochemical businesses in 2021 and 2022. HK Wentworth, acquired in May 2021, supplied electrochemical products for electronics, LED, automotive, and industrial manufacturing. Coventya, acquired in September 2021, strengthened the global surface-finishing portfolio. In January 2022, Element Solutions acquired HSO Herbert Schmidt, a German developer of surface-finishing technologies and chemistry. Together, these transactions expanded the company’s ability to serve metal and plastic finishing, protective treatments, and specialized industrial processes. In July 2023, Element Solutions acquired Kuprion, whose next-generation nano-copper technology addressed semiconductor, printed-circuit-board, and electronics-assembly markets. The transaction was consistent with the company’s effort to participate in advanced electronics and higher-performance packaging and interconnection applications. During a July 2024 Bloomberg TV interview, Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Gliklich said the company saw opportunities for incremental mergers and acquisitions in advanced electronics and expected future transactions to be funded through cash flow. Element Solutions also reshaped its portfolio through divestiture. On February 28, 2025, it sold MacDermid Graphics Solutions, its flexographic printing-plate business, for $323 million. The sale reduced exposure to that business and supported concentration on electronics and industrial specialty chemicals. In March 2025, Element Solutions was added to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Operationally, the company reports two broad segments. Electronics covers chemistry and process technologies for printed circuit boards, semiconductor packaging, solderable finishes, metallization, surface treatment, and electronic assembly. Industrial & Specialty covers surface protection and decoration for metal and plastic, industrial process chemistry, wastewater treatment, and hydraulic-control fluids used in offshore energy production. The reference material describes a global footprint of 63 manufacturing and research-and-development sites in 18 countries. Its businesses go to market through specialized names including MacDermid Enthone, MacDermid Offshore Solutions, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, Compugraphics, Fernox, Electrolube, and Kester.
- 2025
MacDermid Graphics Solutions sold
[1]The company sold its flexographic printing-plate business for $323 million.
- 2025
Added to the S&P SmallCap 600
[1]Element Solutions joined the S&P SmallCap 600 Index in March 2025.
- 2023
Kuprion acquired
[1]Kuprion’s nano-copper technology was added to the company’s advanced electronics portfolio.
- 2022
HSO Herbert Schmidt acquired
[1]Element Solutions acquired the German surface-finishing technology developer.
- 2021
HK Wentworth and Coventya acquired
[1]The two acquisitions expanded electrochemical manufacturing products and global surface-finishing chemistry.
- 2020
DMP Corporation acquired
[1]DMP Corporation added wastewater treatment and water recycling and reuse systems.
- 2019
Element Solutions name adopted
[1]Platform Specialty Products changed its corporate name to Element Solutions Inc.
- 2019
Kester acquired
[1]Kester joined the group, adding solder and electronic-assembly products.
- 2018
Crop business divested
[1]United Phosphorus Limited announced the acquisition of Arysta LifeScience, enabling Platform to exit the crop-chemicals business.
- 2015
OM Group electronic businesses acquired
[1]Platform acquired OM Group’s electronic chemicals and photomasks businesses.
Products and positioning
A global specialty chemicals and materials-process technology provider focused on technically demanding electronics manufacturing and industrial applications. Element Solutions positions its businesses around application expertise, process reliability, surface engineering, advanced electronics, and customer-specific manufacturing performance rather than commodity-scale chemical production.
Electronics manufacturing chemicals
MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions
MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions represents a core electronics portfolio serving printed circuit board fabrication, semiconductor packaging, and electronics assembly. Its technologies include metallization chemistries, surface treatments, solderable finishes, soldering materials, and other process solutions used to create and protect electrical interconnections. The products are aimed at demanding manufacturing environments in communications, computing, automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics.
Soldering and electronic assembly materials
Kester
Kester supplies solder and related materials used in electronic assembly and joining operations. Its products support the attachment of components, formation of reliable electrical connections, and production processes across electronics manufacturing. Kester became part of Element Solutions in 2019 and complements the group’s broader portfolio of printed-circuit-board, semiconductor, and assembly chemistries.
Industrial surface finishing
MacDermid Enthone
MacDermid Enthone provides specialty chemistries for treating, protecting, and decorating metal and plastic surfaces. Its technologies are used in industrial finishing and manufacturing processes where corrosion resistance, appearance, durability, conductivity, or controlled surface characteristics are important. The business forms part of Element Solutions’ Industrial & Specialty segment.
Offshore energy chemicals
MacDermid Offshore Solutions
MacDermid Offshore Solutions supplies water-based hydraulic-control fluids and related chemical systems for offshore energy production and drilling. These products are designed for industrial fluid-control environments where operational reliability and compatibility with offshore equipment are important.
Electronic protection chemicals
Electrolube
Electrolube develops electrochemical and electronic-protection products for manufacturing and maintaining electronic equipment. Its portfolio is associated with applications such as protection, insulation, cleaning, and reliability improvement in electronic assemblies and industrial systems.
Photomask and electronic materials
Compugraphics
Compugraphics is associated with photomask-related technologies used in electronic and semiconductor manufacturing. The business contributes specialized patterning and electronic-material capabilities to Element Solutions’ electronics activities.
Water and wastewater treatment
DMP Corporation solutions
DMP Corporation provides turnkey wastewater treatment, recycling, and water-reuse solutions for industrial customers. Its capabilities extend Element Solutions’ process-chemicals offering into systems that help manage industrial water streams and recover water for reuse.
Advanced electronics materials
Kuprion nano-copper technology
Kuprion develops nano-copper technology for semiconductor, printed-circuit-board, and electronics-assembly markets. The technology supports Element Solutions’ focus on advanced electronics, next-generation interconnection, and materials for increasingly sophisticated electronic hardware.
Brand decisions
2025
Divestiture of MacDermid Graphics SolutionsStrategyBackground
Element Solutions continued to streamline its portfolio around electronics and industrial specialty chemicals.
Action taken
The company sold MacDermid Graphics Solutions, its flexographic printing-plate business.
Aftermath
The sale further reduced exposure to the graphics business and supported concentration on the company’s core electronics and industrial activities.
Sale proceeds. $323 million (February 28, 2025)
2019
Corporate rebrand to Element SolutionsStrategyBackground
Following the exit from crop protection, the company’s remaining activities centered on electronics, industrial surface finishing, specialty process chemistry, and related technologies.
Action taken
Platform Specialty Products changed its name to Element Solutions Inc.
Aftermath
The new identity aligned the corporate brand with its more focused specialty-chemicals portfolio.
2018
Exit from crop chemicals through Arysta LifeScience saleM&ABackground
Platform Specialty Products still owned a major crop-protection operation while also building specialty chemical businesses in electronics and industrial markets.
Action taken
The company sold Arysta LifeScience, its crop business, to United Phosphorus Limited in a transaction announced at approximately $4.2 billion.
Aftermath
The divestiture enabled the company to concentrate on specialty chemicals and led to the adoption of the Element Solutions name in 2019.
Reported transaction value. $4.2 billion (2018)
Recent events
Reported
Solstice Advanced Materials and Element Solutions terminate planned acquisition[2]
Solstice Advanced Materials abandoned its planned acquisition of Element Solutions after both companies' boards agreed to terminate the transaction following discussions with shareholders. Neither company will pay a termination fee.
Reported
Element Solutions updates 2021 financial guidance[3]
Element Solutions updated its full-year 2021 guidance, expecting adjusted EBITDA of $515 million to $525 million and adjusted EPS above $1.35.
Reported
Element Solutions announces third-quarter 2021 results[3]
Element Solutions announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, including third-quarter net sales of $616 million, up 29% year over year.
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