DENVER — A chemical company and a global producer of adhesives and other materials has entered into a joint venture to develop fire-retardant wood products.

CitroTech Inc., a specialty chemical company delivering environmentally safe fire inhibitor solutions, and Hexion Inc., a maker of adhesives and performance materials and an American Securities portfolio company, formated a 50/50 joint venture. Through this partnership, the companies will deploy next-generation fire-retardant solutions for the lumber and building materials industry, helping plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and engineered wood manufacturers integrate built-in fire resistance more effectively and at a global scale, the company's said.

The collaboration combines CitroTech’s patented, science-backed fire-retardant chemistry—the only formulation recognized under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safer Choice program — with Hexion’s deep understanding of wood product manufacturing, trusted relationships across the industry, and proven ability to scale complex technologies for commercial adoption. 

Together, these capabilities position the venture to redefine how the market approaches fire protection in wood products, bringing it closer to the construction process and supporting safer, more sustainable building outcomes. With technology validated through more than a year of testing with several of North America’s largest wood products companies, the joint venture is now positioned to secure these market leaders among its first commercial customers.

The joint venture will address the limitations of traditional borate-based inhibitors, which are not environmentally friendly and rely on pressure treatment, which can weaken wood and lumber. CitroTech’s solutions are engineered to penetrate wood fibers to prevent fire ignition, helping protect critical assets during emergencies. As the only long-term fire inhibitor recognized by the EPA’s Safer Choice program—and backed by rigorous third-party testing, including UL GREENGUARD Gold certification and ASTM E84 Extended compliance—this technology offers a significantly safer formulation for people, pets, and the environment, enabling builders, manufacturers, and municipalities to meet increasingly strict safety and environmental standards.

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

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

The jointly-owned Delaware JV will develop and expand on CitroTech’s intellectual property and accelerate the manufacturing and sales of products. Hexion has committed capital to support commercialization, reflecting its confidence in the technology and its potential to raise the industry standard for fire protection in wood products. 

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