Key Takeaways
- • CitroTech and Hexion established a 50/50 global joint venture (named HexiTech) effective April 17, 2026, combining CitroTech's EPA-recognized fire-retardant chemistry with Hexion's manufacturing and commercialization capabilities for wood products.
- • CitroTech's patented fire-retardant formulation is the only chemistry recognized under the EPA's Safer Choice program and penetrates wood fibers at the molecular level without compromising structural integrity, addressing limitations of traditional borate-based pressure-treatment methods.
- • The joint venture targets plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and engineered wood manufacturers, with technology validated through over one year of testing with several North American wood products companies positioned as first commercial customers.
- • CitroTech monetizes its fire-retardant intellectual property while leveraging Hexion's deep industry relationships, manufacturing expertise, and committed capital to achieve global commercial scale in response to rising wildfire threats and building code requirements.
- • The venture addresses a structural market gap: traditional pressure-treated wood weakens lumber and introduces health and environmental concerns, while HexiTech's solution delivers Class A fire ratings for sustainable construction without compromising material performance.
Summary
CitroTech Inc. and Hexion Inc. announced the formation of HexiTech, a 50/50 global joint venture established on April 17, 2026, to commercialize next-generation fire-protected wood products at scale. The partnership pairs CitroTech's proprietary fire-retardant chemistry—the only formulation recognized under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program—with Hexion's established manufacturing infrastructure, industry relationships, and commercialization expertise. According to CitroTech CEO Wes Bolsen, the venture represents "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."
The joint venture targets manufacturers of plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and engineered wood products, aiming to help these producers integrate built-in fire resistance more effectively at a global scale. CitroTech's fire-retardant technology addresses critical limitations in traditional borate-based inhibitors, which rely on pressure treatment processes that weaken wood and raise environmental and health concerns. By contrast, CitroTech's formulation penetrates wood fibers at the molecular level, delivering long-lasting fire protection—enabling Class A fire-rated materials—without compromising structural performance or introducing safety liabilities.
The technology has undergone extensive validation through more than one year of testing with several of North America's largest wood products companies, positioning these industry leaders as first commercial customers for HexiTech. Hexion has committed capital to support global commercialization. The venture's timing aligns with growing wildfire threats and increasingly stringent building code requirements for fire-resistant materials in both commercial and residential construction. By combining CitroTech's breakthrough chemistry with Hexion's proven ability to scale complex technologies across the wood products supply chain, the joint venture is positioned to redefine market standards for fire protection in lumber and building materials while supporting safer, more sustainable construction outcomes.
The joint venture targets manufacturers of plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and engineered wood products, aiming to help these producers integrate built-in fire resistance more effectively at a global scale. CitroTech's fire-retardant technology addresses critical limitations in traditional borate-based inhibitors, which rely on pressure treatment processes that weaken wood and raise environmental and health concerns. By contrast, CitroTech's formulation penetrates wood fibers at the molecular level, delivering long-lasting fire protection—enabling Class A fire-rated materials—without compromising structural performance or introducing safety liabilities.
The technology has undergone extensive validation through more than one year of testing with several of North America's largest wood products companies, positioning these industry leaders as first commercial customers for HexiTech. Hexion has committed capital to support global commercialization. The venture's timing aligns with growing wildfire threats and increasingly stringent building code requirements for fire-resistant materials in both commercial and residential construction. By combining CitroTech's breakthrough chemistry with Hexion's proven ability to scale complex technologies across the wood products supply chain, the joint venture is positioned to redefine market standards for fire protection in lumber and building materials while supporting safer, more sustainable construction outcomes.
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