Development and production of specialty chemicals for detergents, cleaning and care products.
Catexel GmbH
Leiden (NL) · Wiesbaden (DE) · West Chester (US) · Harrison (US) · Monthey (CH)New on Amplifa
About Catexel
Catexel is a global chemical company that develops and produces specialty chemicals. The portfolio comprises bleach activators, bleach catalysts, catalysts, surfactants, hydrotropes, emulsifiers, soil release polymers, rheology modifiers, builders and optical brighteners. The products are used in Home Care, Personal Care, Industrial and Institutional Cleaning, Construction and other industrial sectors. The company operates sites in Leiden (Netherlands), Wiesbaden (Germany), West Chester and Harrison (USA) as well as the production site Monthey (Switzerland), which as of 2026, in the course of the acquisition of BASF's optical brighteners business, operates under the name Catexel Production Switzerland. Sustainability is a central component of the corporate strategy, documented in annual sustainability reports and recognized with the EcoVadis Gold Medal.
- Site
- Leiden
- Processes
- Development of specialty chemicals, Sustainability reporting
- Materials
- Bleach Activators, Bleach Activators and Catalysts, Surfactants & Hydrotropes, Emulsifiers, Optical Brighteners, Soil Release Polymers & Rheology Modifiers, Builders
- Certificates
- EcoVadis Gold Medal (top 5 % worldwide), EcoVadis Gold Medal (Top 5 %)
- Industries
- Home Care, Personal Care, Industrial and Institutional Cleaning, Construction, Detergent and cleaning agent industry
- 01
Development of specialty chemicals
- 02
Production
- 03
Distribution
Product Groups
Bleach Activators
Activate bleach for effective cleaning even at low temperatures.
Bleach Activators and Catalysts
Catalysts for detergent and cleaning applications.
Surfactants & Hydrotropes
Fundamental detergent and cleaning active ingredients.
Emulsifiers
E.g. WeylCare® CetylP for stable and moisturizing personal care formulations.
Optical Brighteners
Acquired BASF business for whiteness optimization in modern detergents.
Soil Release Polymers & Rheology Modifiers
Improve soil removal and product consistency.
Builders
Support washing performance in detergent formulations.
Sites
Leiden
NLSite
Wiesbaden
DESite
West Chester
USSite
Harrison
USSite
Monthey
CHProduction site (Catexel Production Switzerland)
- Materials
- Optical Brighteners
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
Reference customers
Sustainability & Quality
Catexel has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold Medal, placing it among the top 5 % of companies worldwide in terms of sustainability performance. The annual sustainability report documents progress on emissions, resource efficiency and responsible practices.
| Evidence | Leiden | Wiesbaden | West Chester | Harrison | Monthey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoVadis Gold Medal (Top 5 %) |
Company History
- 2024
Conversion of WeylClean® SAS 30 and SAS 60 to new intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) with 30 % recycled material; saving of 6.7 kg CO₂ per IBC.
- 2024
Market launch of WeylCare® CetylP, an emulsifier of natural origin for personal care.
- 2025
Market launch of WeylClean® FDO PP2 for tea stain removal in automatic dishwashing.
- 2025
Award of the EcoVadis Gold Medal – Catexel ranks among the top 5 % of companies worldwide in terms of sustainability.
- 2025
Announcement of the acquisition of BASF's optical brighteners business; closing expected for Q1 2026.
- 2026
Closing of the acquisition of BASF's optical brighteners business; production site Monthey (Switzerland) operates as Catexel Production Switzerland.
- 2026
Publication of the 2025 sustainability report: among other things, 15.4 training hours per employee, 9.7 % reduction in the CO₂ footprint of products, avoidance of 347 t CO₂.