PQ Corporation

PQ Corporation is a global specialty chemicals company that supplies silicates, silicas and derivative products. Its products are essential ingredients in a wide range of industrial processes and consumer goods, from decorative paints and green cement to clean drinking water, green tires, toothpaste, biofuels and beer. The company describes itself as a leading global provider of performance chemicals that act as cleaning and whitening agents in toothpaste, create matte finishes on surface coatings, and remove impurities from beer and edible oils. PQ manufactures its products using four simple building blocks—silica, alumina, alkali and water—which are considered among the safest chemicals used in industry. Its portfolio includes sodium silicate, specialty silicas and derivative products, and it is known for brands such as Gasil® and Sorbosil®. PQ operates 31 manufacturing facilities worldwide and employs over 1,500 people, more than half of whom are located outside the United States. The company generates over $800 million in revenue and serves customers in 13 countries. Its core values are integrity, safety, people, customer focus and sustainability. In 2026, PQ was named Responsible Care® Member Company of the Year (Small Size Category) by the American Chemistry Council, the chemical industry's top safety and sustainability honor. The company is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and its roots trace back to 1815 with Joseph Crosfield and Sons in Warrington, England, and 1831 with Joseph Elkinton and Sons in Philadelphia. Both entrepreneurs began with the manufacture of candles and soaps, starting a two-century story of innovation in performance chemicals.

PQ Corporation's history spans more than two centuries, with roots tracing back to 1815 when Joseph Crosfield and Sons was founded in Warrington, England, and 1831 when Joseph Elkinton and Sons was established in Philadelphia. Both enterprises began as manufacturers of candles and soaps, marking the start of a long tradition of innovation in performance chemicals. Over the decades, the company evolved into a global supplier of silicates, silicas and derivative products. Today, PQ operates 31 manufacturing facilities worldwide, employs over 1,500 people—more than half outside the United States—and generates over $800 million in revenue. Its products serve diverse markets including paints and coatings, purification, silica and chemical manufacturing, construction and drilling, personal care, nutrition, food and beverage, and cleaning. The company has built a reputation for safety and sustainability, with an OSHA Total Recordable Incident rate in the top quartile of American Chemistry Council members. In 2026, PQ was named Responsible Care® Member Company of the Year (Small Size Category) by the ACC, the industry's top honor for environmental, health, safety and security performance. Headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, PQ continues to innovate, guided by its five core values: integrity, safety, people, customer focus and sustainability.

• 2026

  PQ named Responsible Care® Member Company of the Year (Small Size Category) by the American Chemistry Council.

• 1831

  Joseph Elkinton and Sons founded in Philadelphia, also beginning with candles and soaps.

• 1815

  Joseph Crosfield and Sons founded in Warrington, England, starting with candle and soap manufacturing.

Leading global provider of silicates, silicas and derivative products, emphasizing safety, sustainability and collaborative innovation.

• Sodium Silicate

  A versatile product used to adhere, buffer pH, agglomerate, immobilize, coat and disperse. Made via furnace or hydrothermal processes.

• Gasil®

  A brand of specialty silicas.

• Sorbosil®

  A brand of specialty silicas.

1. 1PQ Corp. – Global Silicates and Silicas Providerpqcorp.com
2. 2About Us – PQ Corp.pqcorp.com
3. 3Products – PQ Corp.pqcorp.com
4. 4PQ Named Responsible Care® Member Company of the Year by the American Chemistry Council – PQ Corp.pqcorp.com
5. 5PQ Corporation – Wikidatawikidata.org