SNF is a privately held, specialty chemical company based in the Rhone-Alpes region of France, with a long-standing presence on every continent. With 21 production sites in Europe, Asia, Australia, and America, with a production capacity of 1,465,000 tonnes, SNF has the largest polyacrylamide production capacity in the world.
As a leader in manufacturing and processing water-soluble polymers (based on polyacrylamide), SNF has developed a range of more than 1,080 products that help preserve our natural resources, encourage recycling, and improve efficiencies of industrial processes. Our polymers are used in all markets where water is present: drinking water production, wastewater treatment, sludge dewatering, oil and gas extraction, mining, agriculture, and the manufacture of paper, textiles, and cosmetic formulations.
SNF products are sold into 140 countries, across every sector of the economy, with 70 subsidiaries located in more than 40 countries, in 3 major economic regions (The Americas, Europe, and Asia).
With a long-term strategy focused on innovation and investment, SNF maintains a high level of R&D expenditure along with continual investment in improving and expanding its production sites. As a result, SNF now accounts for almost half of all global polyacrylamide production, which underscores the effectiveness of this innovation and investment policy.
SNF products include powders, emulsions, liquids, dispersants, and beads that are produced with various chemical properties (anionic, non-ionic, and cationic) and many different molecular forms (linear, branched, cross-linked, comb, and star). Our knowledge in combining these different characteristics gives us the ability to tailor our products to specific applications and the specific requirements of end-users.
In addition to PAM, SNF also produces related specialty chemicals such as coagulants, which are used primarily in water treatment, and monomers. SNF also manufactures dispersants, which are used in the paper, household products, and mining industries; mining reagents, which are used in the minerals processing industry; and equipment that facilitates the utilization of PAM.
SNF’s products help preserve natural resources. Likewise, our manufacturing processes are designed to minimize the environmental impact of our operations. Our primary monomer is therefore produced enzymatically at room temperature under atmospheric pressure. Given the volumes involved, this biological catalytic process makes us a pioneer of soft chemistry.
SNF is constantly improving its processes to protect the environment, and many changes have been made in our factories to limit waste and discharges. Processes that consume large quantities of water have been eliminated, thus reducing water consumption for each product in the space of ten years. Furthermore, rinsing water is partially re-circulated through the installation, thus lowering the required volumes by 70%. The choice of processes, installation design, and employee training ensure that production activities are extremely safe.
SNF is the leading polymer manufacturer and supplier in all fields where water treatment is required: drinking water production, wastewater treatment, sludge dewatering, oil and gas extraction, mining, agriculture, and the manufacture of paper, textiles, and cosmetics.
SNF has developed a range of more than 1,080 products that help to preserve our natural resources, encourage recycling, and improve efficiencies of industrial processes.
SNF has developed a long-term strategy focused on innovation and investment. SNF maintains a high level of R&D expenditure alongside constant investment in improving and expanding its production sites.
51 subsidiaries located in more than 40 countries in 3 major economic areas (the Americas, Europe, and Asia) enable us to sell our products in 140 countries across every sector of the economy. Located as close as possible to our clients, SNF provides globally unparalleled security of supply of polymers.
With 21 industrial sites and 8 primary manufacturing sites strategically located closest to the regions where our products are in highest demand, SNF is able to provide the shortest lead times possible to need customer demand.
The SNF Sales Team of approximately 575, spans 4 continents and 140 countries and is coordinated by a global industry-specific management team to address all market needs.
With 445 Scientists/Laboratory Technicians, 275 Field Technicians, and 100 Engineers; R&D, Engineering, and Innovation are at the Heart of our Strategy.
SNF, founded in 1978, has developed a strategy of organic growth and reinvestment that could not be achieved by a publicly traded corporation. SNF is committed to continuously maintaining it’s privately held status.
