Not every customer is a fit for Monument Chemical's pilot-to-production capabilities. And that's exactly the point.

Pilot-to-production, or P2P, exists to solve a specific challenge in the chemical industry: commercialization. Many companies have promising products but lack the manufacturing assets, infrastructure or capital needed to bring them to market. Monument's P2P capabilities provide a pathway forward, allowing customers to test, refine, and ultimately scale their products without committing to large upfront investments.

“The riches are in the niches,” said Rob Einterz, Business Development Manager, Oxides. “The key is finding those customers who have something promising but need the right partner to help bring it to market. When we focus on those opportunities—and support them the right way—it creates real value for the customer and a strong long-term partnership for both sides.”

Here's how Monument makes that happen.

How It Works

The process typically begins with a technical package provided by the customer. From there, Monument’s team moves the product through several testing phases in a pilot plant or R&D setting. Depending on the complexity of the chemistry involved, it may take one to three samples to land on the final product formulation.

Once that formulation is validated, the focus shifts to scaling production.

That timeline can vary widely, from six months to three years, but Monument’s integrated approach helps streamline the transition. Unlike other testing facilities that only support development work, Monument can also manufacture the product at commercial scale.

That end-to-end capability makes a meaningful difference for customers.

“By the time we get to commercial scale, we've been working side by side with the customer for months,” said Liam McMillan, Custom Manufacturing Director, Solvents. “That relationship makes both the product and the entire process better.”

Speed to market is another major advantage. By combining development and manufacturing capabilities under one roof, Monument can move quickly from concept to production. All of Monument’s manufacturing hubs are equipped to support P2P projects, giving customers access to diverse capabilities and scalable infrastructure.

Built Through Collaboration

Building a P2P process that runs efficiently required pulling together nearly every function at Monument. Process technology, manufacturing, supply chain, R&D, purchasing, accounting, sales and operations all had to work together seamlessly.

“It came down to getting everyone aligned,” said Alexandra Bledsoe, Production Manager, Oxides. “Once we improved communication across teams and aligned on priorities, we were able to move much faster. That coordination helps us keep projects moving while making sure we’re delivering exactly what customers need.”

That internal alignment and investment show up clearly in the customer experience. Because P2P projects can span months or years, strong communication and trust become the foundation of the relationship. As customers see their product move efficiently from pilot work to production, they gain confidence in the process and the team behind it. Many who begin with a single project go on to expand the partnership across multiple products and categories.

Eyes on the Horizon

Monument’s team recently returned from the annual Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) event, and they were energized by strong conversations with customers and industry partners about where the market may be headed next.

While external pressures have kept many specialty chemical companies in a cautious posture over the past few years, at SOCMA, the team saw early signs that momentum may be starting to rebuild again. Companies are beginning to talk more openly about what comes next—new products, new applications, and how to bring them to market.

For Monument, that shift plays directly into the strength of its P2P model.

“We’re starting to hear a lot more about what customers want to launch over the next couple of years,” said Deb Schofner, Sales Director. “There’s still caution out there, but there’s also momentum building. Companies have ideas they want to move forward with—and they’re looking for partners who can help them get there.”

That’s where Monument’s integrated capabilities make a difference. When customers are ready to move, the ability to test, refine, and scale in one place helps remove barriers that might otherwise slow launches down.

And Monument isn’t waiting for the market to catch up. Our capabilities, infrastructure, and team needed to support pilot-to-production projects are already in place—ready to help customers move forward when the next opportunity is ready to scale!