Dober Expands its Product Portfolio Through Acquisition of Lygos’ Soltellus™ Agronomy and Water Treatment Businesses

WOODRIDGE, Ill. & HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dober, a specialty chemical manufacturer, announced today it has acquired the Agronomy and Water Treatment businesses from Lygos, Inc., a sustainable specialty chemicals company. The transaction adds a fast-growing portfolio of high-performance products to Dober’s existing portfolio and supports the company’s continued strategic expansion. Lygos will continue to sell Soltellus into Home and Personal Applications and retains its proprietary technology for the development of high-performance polymers for a variety of home care, personal care and hygiene applications.

“We’re excited to build on the strong foundation established by Lygos,” said Chris Dobrez, chief executive officer of Dober. “Their team has done exceptional work launching Soltellus™ into the Agronomy market, and we look forward to continuing that momentum while expanding the Soltellus portfolio.”

Dober and Lygos had previously entered into a manufacturing collaboration to expand the production of Soltellus polymers. The acquisition gives Dober greater control over manufacturing, quality and new product development. “Bringing sales in-house allows us to more fully leverage our production technology and deep expertise in biopolymers as we pursue new product opportunities in these spaces,” said Dobrez.

Rich Weber, chief business officer of Lygos, Inc., agrees with this assessment. “Dober’s deep experience in polymers, combined with its production technology and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, makes this a clear strategic fit. The transaction allows Dober to meet the strong growth for Soltellus in Agronomy and enables Lygos to focus on our partnerships and growth opportunities in Home Care, Personal Care and Hygiene.”

Dober will continue to produce Soltellus™ at its Hazleton, PA facility and will conduct product development at the Woodridge, IL headquarters. The transition is expected to be seamless with customers not seeing any disruptions in their orders. “It’s business as usual,” said Tony Weisner, senior vice president at Dober. “Customers can expect the same level of personalized service they received from Lygos. We’re all eager to welcome both current and new customers to the Dober family and set everyone up for long-term success.”

Founded in 1957, Dober is a privately held, third-generation, family-owned specialty chemical manufacturer headquartered in Woodridge, IL, which has worked to foster ideas that create sustainable solutions to help businesses thrive. The company serves more than 3,000 customers across 12 global locations, with core capabilities spanning Water Treatment, Performance Fluids, Formulated Detergents, Robotics, and Operations Management Software.

Lygos, Inc. is a sustainable specialty chemical company accelerating the transition to high-performing, sustainable solutions. We create biodegradable polymers tailored for diverse applications for home care and personal care applications. With an integrated supply chain, we ensure efficient, cost-effective delivery on a commercial scale, enabling brands to meet their performance and sustainability goals. By replacing persistent chemicals with superior alternatives, Lygos is driving measurable environmental and operational impact.