Global specialty chemicals group for microbial control solutions, active ingredients, and CDMO development and manufacturing
Arxada AG
Basel (CH) · Visp (CH) · Hanover (DE) · Horhausen (DE) · Delft (NL) · Moerdijk (NL) · Barcelona (ES) · Morristown, NJ (US)New on Amplifa
About Arxada
Arxada is a specialty chemicals group headquartered in Basel that emerged in 2021 from Bain Capital's and Cinven's acquisition of Lonza's Specialty Ingredients division. The company researches, develops, produces and markets chemical products and materials for microbial control: biocides, preservatives, disinfectants, corrosion inhibitors, lubricants and specialty additives. Around 3,100 employees work at 24 production sites and 14 R&D centers worldwide; revenue in 2025 was CHF 2 billion. Core sites in the German-speaking region are Basel (headquarters) and Visp in Valais, where research and manufacturing are combined with around 800 employees: five interconnected multipurpose chemistry complexes with 22 production units and 670 m³ of reactor volume handle quantities from a few grams to several tonnes, including on-site production of ketene, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia as well as niacin production using vapor recompression. As a CDMO, Arxada supports customers from concept through to industrial production; customer industries range from Professional Hygiene to Paints, Coatings and Wood Protection to Home & Personal Care, Human Health & Nutrition and Material Protection.
- Site
- Basel
- Processes
- Custom Development and Manufacturing (CDMO), On-site production of key reagents (ketene, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia), Niacin production with vapor recompression, Microbial fermentation (biotechnology/white biotech), Research, development, manufacture and sale of chemical products and materials, CDMO (Custom Development and Manufacturing), Microbial control solutions, Regulatory Support
- Materials
- Ketene, Hydrogen Cyanide, Ammonia, Niacin, Plastics (additives/microbicides for plastics), Metalworking Fluids (preservatives), Powder metallurgy (lubricants), Active Ingredients (APIs) and Advanced Intermediates
- Certificates
- International quality standards (details not published)
- Founded
- 2021
- Employees
- 3100
- Industries
- Professional Hygiene, Paints & Coatings, Wood Protection, Home & Personal Care, Human Health & Nutrition, Material Protection (Plastics, Textiles, Leather, Metalworking Fluids, Energy)
- 01
Research and Development
- 02
On-site synthesis of key reagents (ketene, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia)
- 03
Multipurpose chemical synthesis
- 04
Microbial fermentation (white biotech)
- 05
Refinement and formulation (e.g. niacin production)
- 06
Quality inspection and regulatory support
- 07
Sales and CDMO customer service
Chemicals and Processes
Ketene
Produced on-site in Visp and used as a key reagent for syntheses.
Hydrogen Cyanide
On-site generated reagent for a broad range of synthesis technologies.
Ammonia
On-site produced key reagent for multipurpose chemical synthesis.
Niacin
Produced in Visp using energy-efficient vapor recompression technology.
Active Ingredients (APIs) and Advanced Intermediates
Exclusive CDMO manufacturing of active ingredients and intermediates in Visp.
Microbicides and Preservatives
Core portfolio for Hygiene, Paints & Coatings, Home & Personal Care and Material Protection.
Corrosion Inhibitors, Lubricants and Specialty Additives
Used in plastics, textiles, leather, metalworking fluids, powder metallurgy and energy.
Microbial Fermentation (White Biotech)
Biotechnological processes, among others for biocontrol and biological solutions in the CDMO business.
Sites
Basel
CHCorporate Headquarters (Peter Merian-Strasse 80)
Visp
CHR&D + Production (Lonzastrasse 239), around 800 employees
- Part weight / size
- a few grams to several tonnes
- Lot size
- prototype to multi-tonne quantities
- Materials
- Ketene, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, niacin, advanced intermediates, APIs
- 5 interconnected multipurpose chemistry complexes
- 22 production units (cumulative reactor volume 670 m³)
- Vapor recompression plant (niacin production)
Hanover
DEResearch & Development
Horhausen
DEProduction
Delft
NLCommercial Site
Moerdijk
NLProduction
Barcelona
ESCommercial Site
Morristown, NJ
USCommercial Site + R&D
Products and Solutions
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Development and Manufacturing (CDMO)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Casting | – | – | a few grams – several tonnes | – | Ketene, Hydrogen cyanide, Ammonia, Niacin, Advanced intermediates, Active ingredients (APIs) |
| On-site production of key reagents (ketene, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia)Casting | – | – | – | – | Ketene, Hydrogen cyanide, Ammonia |
| Niacin production with vapor recompressionCasting | – | – | – | – | Niacin |
| Microbial fermentation (biotechnology/white biotech)Casting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Surface | – | – | – | – | Plastics, Textiles, Leather, Metalworking fluids, Powder metallurgy, Energy |
| Research, development, manufacture and sale of chemical products and materialsCasting | – | – | – | – | – |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multipurpose chemistry complexes (production units/reactors) | – | 22 | cumulative reactor volume 670 m³ | – | Visp, Switzerland |
| Vapor recompression plant (niacin production) | – | – | – | – | Visp, Switzerland |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
The sites meet various international quality standards; as a CDMO, Visp also offers regulatory support and production according to pharmaceutical requirements. The company emphasizes Manufacturing Excellence and Product Quality as core competencies.
| Evidence | Visp |
|---|---|
| International quality standards (details not published) |
History
- 2021
Acquisition of Lonza's Specialty Ingredients division by Bain Capital and Cinven (July); initially as LSI, renamed Arxada in October
- 2021
Acquisitions of Troy Corporation and Enviro Tech Chemical Services
- 2024
Revenue of CHF 2 billion achieved
- 2025
Revenue CHF 2 billion; 3,100 employees, 24 production sites, 14 R&D centers
- 2026
Strategic partnership with Clorox Healthcare to develop sporicidal disinfection technology