CitroTech Inc., a leading specialty chemicalcompany delivering environmentally-safe fire inhibitor solutions, and HexionInc., a leading global producer of adhesives and performance materials andAmerican Securities portfolio company, today announced the formation of a 50/50joint venture. Through this partnership, the companies will deploynext-generation fire-retardant solutions for the lumber and building materialsindustry, helping plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and engineered wood manufacturersintegrate built-in fire resistance more effectively and at a global scale. 

The collaboration combines CitroTech’s patented,science-backed fire-retardant chemistry—the only formulation recognized underthe Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice program — withHexion’s deep understanding of wood product manufacturing, trustedrelationships across the industry, and proven ability to scale complextechnologies for commercial adoption. Together, these capabilities position theventure to redefine how the market approaches fire protection in wood products,bringing it closer to the construction process and supporting safer, moresustainable building outcomes. With technology validated through more than ayear of testing with several of North America’s largest wood productscompanies, the joint venture is now positioned to secure these market leadersamong its first commercial customers.

The joint venture will address the limitations oftraditional borate-based inhibitors, which are not environmentally friendly andrely on pressure treatment, which can weaken wood and lumber. CitroTech’ssolutions are engineered to penetrate wood fibers to prevent fire ignition,helping protect critical assets during emergencies. As the only long-term fireinhibitor recognized by the EPA’s Safer Choice program—and backed by rigorousthird-party testing, including UL GREENGUARD Gold certification and ASTM E84Extended compliance—this technology offers a significantly safer formulationfor people, pets, and the environment, enabling builders, manufacturers, andmunicipalities to meet increasingly strict safety and environmentalstandards. 

“We’re accelerating a shift away from pressure-treated woodproducts, which can compromise structural integrity and introduce health andenvironmental concerns, toward a new era of built-in fire protection,” said WesBolsen, CEO of CitroTech. “In the face of a growing wildfire crisis, builders,contractors, and homeowners need fundamentally better solutions. This is aboutsetting a new standard for achieving the highest levels of fire protection —with a solution that soaks in to penetrate wood and lumber at the molecularlevel without compromising performance, enabling more resilient infrastructureat unprecedented scale.”

“The wood products industry is ready for a new standard infire protection, and Hexion is positioned to lead that shift,” said MichaelLefenfeld, President and CEO of Hexion. “This partnership reflects a clearstrategic priority: bringing differentiated, high-value technologies to thebuilding and construction market at commercial scale. By combining CitroTech’sbreakthrough chemistry with Hexion’s manufacturing strength, technical depth,and commercial reach, we can help customers build fire performance directlyinto the production process more efficiently, more reliably, and at far greaterscale.”

The jointly-owned Delaware JV will develop and expand onCitroTech’s intellectual property and accelerate the manufacturing and sales ofproducts. Hexion has committed capital to support commercialization, reflectingits confidence in the technology and its potential to raise the industrystandard for fire protection in wood products.

CitroTech CEO Wes Bolsen and Hexion President & CEOMichael Lefenfeld will serve on a three-member board to oversee strategicdirection and governance.

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