Kemira strengthens its North American industrial water treatment services by acquiring Ohio-based AquaBlue, expanding service expertise and customer value.
Kemira, a globally recognized provider of sustainable chemical solutions for water-intensive industries, has successfully finalized the acquisition of AquaBlue, Inc., a privately held water services company headquartered in Ohio, United States. The transaction, valued at less than USD 10 million, represents a strategic step in Kemira’s long-term growth agenda, particularly in strengthening its footprint across North America and expanding its industrial water treatment services portfolio. This segment is currently experiencing faster growth compared to traditional municipal water treatment markets, driven by increasing regulatory pressures, sustainability targets, and water reuse requirements across industrial sectors.
Through this acquisition, Kemira reinforces its commitment to delivering advanced, service-oriented water treatment solutions tailored to industrial customers. AquaBlue specializes in wastewater and industrial water treatment services and serves a diversified customer base across industries such as food and beverage processing, manufacturing, and healthcare. These sectors demand high-performance, reliable water treatment systems to ensure operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship. AquaBlue’s localized service expertise and hands-on operational model complement Kemira’s broader technology-driven offerings.
AquaBlue is expected to generate approximately USD 9 million in revenue in 2025 and currently employs a team of eight professionals with strong technical and customer service capabilities. While relatively small in scale, the company brings valuable customer relationships, field service knowledge, and operational agility that align well with Kemira’s growth ambitions in the industrial water treatment services market. By integrating AquaBlue’s service model with Kemira’s advanced chemical solutions and digital tools, the combined offering is expected to deliver enhanced value to customers seeking comprehensive water management solutions.
Commenting on the acquisition, Tuija Pohjolainen-Hiltunen, Executive Vice President of Water Solutions at Kemira, highlighted the strategic importance of the deal. She noted that the acquisition enables Kemira to better serve customers by combining AquaBlue’s practical service expertise with Kemira’s strong portfolio of water treatment technologies. She also emphasized that this transaction marks Kemira’s first acquisition since the purchase of Water Engineering, Inc., which previously established a robust foundation for both organic expansion and further inorganic growth in industrial water treatment services across North America.
Following the acquisition, AquaBlue will be fully integrated into Kemira’s Water Solutions business unit. Despite the integration, the company will continue to operate from its existing location in Ohio, ensuring continuity for customers and employees alike. This approach reflects Kemira’s strategy of preserving local expertise and customer proximity while leveraging the scale, resources, and technological capabilities of a global organization.
Overall, the acquisition underscores Kemira’s focused strategy to grow beyond traditional product supply and deepen its service-based offerings. As industrial customers increasingly seek integrated water treatment solutions that combine chemicals, services, and technical support, Kemira’s expanded capabilities position the company to capture new growth opportunities in a rapidly evolving market.
