Dober Acquires Lygos’ Soltellus™ Agronomy and Water Treatment Businesses
Dober, a leading specialty chemical manufacturer, has announced the acquisition of the Agronomy and Water Treatment businesses of Lygos, Inc., a sustainable specialty chemicals innovator. The strategic transaction significantly expands Dober’s portfolio of high-performance products and strengthens its position in key growth markets, particularly agronomy and industrial water treatment.
The deal builds on an existing partnership between the two companies and marks a major step in Dober’s long-term strategy to expand its sustainable and performance-driven product offerings. While Dober assumes ownership of the Agronomy and Water Treatment segments, Lygos will continue marketing Soltellus™ polymers into Home Care, Personal Care, and Hygiene applications and will retain its proprietary polymer technology platform.
Strengthening Dober’s Specialty Chemicals Portfolio
The acquisition brings a rapidly growing line of Soltellus™ biopolymer products into Dober’s portfolio. Soltellus™ polymers are known for delivering high-performance functionality while supporting sustainability objectives — a combination increasingly sought after across agricultural and industrial markets.
By integrating the Agronomy and Water Treatment businesses, Dober gains direct access to innovative polymer technologies that enhance crop performance, improve nutrient efficiency, and optimize water treatment processes. The move aligns with Dober’s commitment to offering environmentally responsible solutions that help customers meet performance targets while reducing environmental impact.
Chris Dobrez, Chief Executive Officer of Dober, emphasized the strategic importance of the acquisition.
We’re excited to build on the strong foundation established by Lygos. 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.
Dobrez noted that the addition of Soltellus™ products supports Dober’s broader expansion strategy, allowing the company to deepen its expertise in sustainable polymers while serving evolving customer needs.
Expanding Capabilities Through Vertical Integration
Prior to the acquisition, Dober and Lygos had entered into a manufacturing collaboration aimed at scaling production of Soltellus™ polymers. That partnership laid the groundwork for the current transaction.
With the acquisition now complete, Dober gains greater control over the entire value chain — including manufacturing, quality assurance, sales, and product development. This vertical integration enables faster innovation cycles, tighter quality management, and improved customer responsiveness.
According to Dobrez:
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.
By consolidating operations, Dober can align production capacity with market demand more effectively while accelerating the development of next-generation polymer solutions for agronomy and water treatment applications.
Strategic Focus for Both Companies
The transaction also provides strategic clarity for Lygos, allowing the company to sharpen its focus on high-growth segments within home care, personal care, and hygiene markets.
Rich Weber, Chief Business Officer of Lygos, described the deal as a natural strategic fit.
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 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.
By divesting the Agronomy and Water Treatment businesses, Lygos can concentrate resources on advancing its proprietary biodegradable polymer platform and expanding partnerships in consumer-facing sectors. The company continues to position itself as a leader in replacing persistent, non-biodegradable chemicals with high-performing sustainable alternatives.
Seamless Transition for Customers
Dober has emphasized that the transition will be smooth and uninterrupted for customers. Production of Soltellus™ polymers will continue at manufacturing facility in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, while research and product development activities will be conducted at the company’s headquarters in Woodridge, Illinois.
Tony Weisner, Senior Vice President at Dober, reassured customers that service levels will remain consistent.
It’s business as usual. 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 family and set everyone up for long-term success.
Maintaining continuity in supply, quality, and customer support remains a top priority as integrates the acquired operations. The company aims to ensure that existing clients experience no disruptions in ordering or delivery.
Dober’s Legacy and Global Reach
Founded in 1957, is a privately held, third-generation, family-owned company with a longstanding reputation for innovation in specialty chemicals. Headquartered in Woodridge, Illinois, the company has built its business around developing sustainable, performance-driven solutions for industrial and commercial markets.
Today, serves more than 3,000 customers across 12 global locations. Its core capabilities span multiple sectors, including:
- Water Treatment
- Performance Fluids
- Formulated Detergents
- Robotics
- Operations Management Software
The addition of the Soltellus™ Agronomy and Water Treatment businesses enhances presence in agriculture and industrial sustainability, two sectors experiencing strong demand for environmentally responsible technologies.
Lygos’ Commitment to Sustainable Innovation
Lygos, Inc. remains focused on accelerating the transition to sustainable chemistry solutions. The company specializes in biodegradable polymers engineered to deliver high performance across a variety of home care and personal care applications.
Through its integrated supply chain and commercial-scale production capabilities, Lygos provides cost-effective, environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional persistent chemicals. Its technology platform supports brands seeking to improve sustainability metrics without sacrificing product performance.
By retaining its proprietary polymer development capabilities, Lygos continues advancing innovation in biodegradable materials designed for hygiene, cleaning, and consumer applications.
Positioning for Future Growth
The acquisition reflects broader industry trends favoring sustainable, bio-based polymers across agriculture and water treatment markets. As regulatory pressures and environmental concerns increase, demand for biodegradable and high-performance specialty chemicals is expected to grow.
For Dober, the transaction represents both expansion and strategic alignment. By combining manufacturing expertise, polymer science capabilities, and established customer relationships, the company is positioned to scale Soltellus™ solutions and explore new applications in agronomy and water treatment.
At the same time, Lygos gains the flexibility to concentrate on its core innovation platform and partnerships in consumer markets.
Together, the move underscores a shared commitment to sustainability, performance, and long-term value creation — reinforcing both companies’ roles in advancing next-generation specialty chemicals.
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