Updated:
MicroCare
MicroCare was founded in 1983 and grew from a regional chemical supplier into a niche industrial-technology company under CEO Tom Tattersall.
MicroCare
MicroCare was founded in 1983 and grew from a regional chemical supplier into a niche industrial-technology company under CEO Tom Tattersall. The firm focuses on high-purity cleaning fluids and conformal coatings that remove microscopic contaminants from precision-manufactured components, serving regulated industries where failure is measured in microns. The product portfolio spans vapor degreasing solvents, hydrocarbon cleaning chemistries, and silicone-based conformal coatings. Core end-markets include medical-device manufacturing — where its cleaners prepare implantable hardware — and fiber-optic telecommunications, alongside aerospace and electronics assembly. MicroCare sells to over 50 countries through distributors and direct technical-sales teams. The firm does not publish a fund structure; it operates as a privately held specialty-chemical manufacturer and technical-services provider, not as a pooled investment vehicle. The company maintains its headquarters in New Britain, Connecticut, with additional operations in Europe and Asia to support contract manufacturers. MicroCare has invested in expanding its cleanroom-compatible packaging capacity and proprietary fluid-recycling logistics in recent years. It competes against divisions of 3M and Henkel but positions itself as the higher-touch, application-engineering alternative, with field technicians who audit client production lines. Structurally, MicroCare is not a classic single-family office. It is a founder-led operating company that reinvests operating cash flows into R&D and geographic expansion rather than acting as a steward of outside liquid capital. Its distinct advantage is a dual regulatory posture: the firm must simultaneously meet EPA volatile-organic-compound mandates in the U.S. and REACH chemical restrictions in Europe, creating a high barrier for new entrants attempting to replicate its formulations across jurisdictions.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
1983
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New Britain
Corporate office
New Britain, CT, United States
Principals
Tom Tattersall
CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What does MicroCare actually manufacture?
MicroCare produces precision cleaning fluids, vapor degreasing solvents, and conformal coating materials used during the assembly of medical devices, fiber-optic cables, printed circuit boards, and aerospace components. The chemistry targets sub-micron contaminants that interfere with adhesion, sterility, or signal integrity. The firm also supplies the dispensing and recycling equipment tied to those chemistries, functioning as a closed-loop application partner rather than solely a bulk-chemical vendor.
Which industries depend on MicroCare's products?
Three verticals drive the majority of demand: medical-device manufacturing, where stringent biocompatibility and sterilization requirements apply; fiber-optic telecom, where end-face contamination causes signal loss; and electronics assembly, where flux residues and particulate residue cause circuit failure. Aerospace and automotive-sensor production represent smaller but growing exposures.
How does MicroCare differentiate from larger chemical conglomerates?
MicroCare competes on application engineering rather than price-per-gallon. The firm embeds field-service engineers inside customer facilities to audit cleaning lines, validate process metrics, and train operators — a service layer that 3M and Henkel typically leave to distribution partners. It also develops custom solvent blends for proprietary manufacturing workflows that off-the-shelf products cannot address.
Is MicroCare a private equity-backed business or founder-owned?
MicroCare has been privately held and management-led throughout its history. The firm has not disclosed any institutional minority or majority transactions, and its go-to-market rhythm — multi-decade customer tenures, steady R&D investment, no publicized exit processes — aligns with an owner-operator posture rather than a sponsor-backed holding period.
Does MicroCare face regulatory risk from environmental chemical restrictions?
Yes. Many of MicroCare's legacy vapor-degreasing fluids, such as n-propyl bromide (nPB), face tightening exposure limits from the EPA and phasedown schedules under European REACH regulation. The firm has responded by accelerating development of proprietary halogen-free and aqueous-alternative blends. Its regulatory-approvals team maintains ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certifications required for medical-device supply chains, functioning as a compliance moat against smaller, less-capitalized chemical formulators.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: