Arichem Forms Partnership With SetaTech to Develop Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Common Chemicals

15 Jan 2025
News
Dale County has turned into a hub for sustainable chemical production as two local companies – Arichem and SetaTech become partners. Arichem has been a staple of Dale County for decades, even when it was still owned by Sloss Industries. SetaTech is a much newer company that was supported by the HudsonAlpha/Gener8tor AgTech Accelerator program and has since found a home in the Wiregrass region of Alabama.
“My personal belief is that established businesses should feel a moral responsibility to give a leg up to startups and entrepreneurs in the area,” says Mike Owen, CEO of Arichem. “We’re eager to step in and work with SetaTech to support their growth.”
Learn more about these two companies and how they are changing the local economy in Dale County.
Arichem Replaces Hazardous Products With Safer Alternatives
You might not realize it, but most people use Arichem products every day. The company identifies chemicals that are toxic, cancer-causing, or hazardous in landfills and develops safer alternatives that are just as effective. Its products can be found in your smartphone, car, TV, and washing machine.
“Most of our business goes to Asia, primarily because many manufacturers are there,” says Owen. This is why a lot of people in Dale County don’t know what Arichem does.
Arichem specializes in low-volume, high-margin products that replace some of the nastier chemicals used to make modern technology. This means the average household product is safer to use and less hazardous when recycled or thrown away.
Arichem operates out of a 212-acre site with a 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and a
35,000-square-foot warehouse. Arichem has been part of the Wiregrass since 1976 and has
supported anywhere from 40 to 70 employees. A management-led buy-out took the company
private in 2006.
“We have a full-service facility and a laboratory with very sophisticated equipment that you would expect from a much larger company,” says Owen. “When we bought the division,
we were able to cherrypick the best equipment and technology from a larger facility in
Birmingham, Alabama.”
SetaTech Turns Waste Into Biosolutions
SetaTech was started with the plan to “utilize the world's waste to clean up the world’s mess.” It is known for keeping hair trimmings and chicken feathers from landfills and using these waste materials to create sustainable products. Its main product, Smart4Growing, is a biostimulant that is designed to support sustainable farming.
SetaTech was a natural fit for a partnership with Arichem. The companies have similar goals in the products they create and similar values in how they operate. It helps that both businesses operate out of Dale County.
“They’re just good people,” says Owen when asked about the SetaTech team. “We also believe in taking waste products and converting them into better and safer technology.”
Owen emphasizes that Arichem is committed to good stewardship for its employees, the local community, and the environment. He sees how Blair Blacker, Chairman of the Board at SetaTech, also enacts policies that reflect these values.
This Partnership Was Supported by the Ozark-Dale EDC
The Ozark-Dale Economic Development Corporation (ODEDC) supports companies of all industries and works with businesses individually to discover opportunities and needs. Holle Smith, president of the ODEDC, helped connect Owen at Arichem with Blacker at SetaTech so the companies could work together and eventually form this partnership.
“Holle has done a great job promoting the Wiregrass, and she has the right personality to further the agenda of Dale County.”
Not only can both of these companies learn from each other and grow together, but they can also invest in the future of the region. Any employee training and workforce development investment can benefit the residents of Dale County and make this region more appealing to other biochemical corporations.
Help Shape the Future of Ozark-Dale County
There are plenty of opportunities for business owners and residents of Ozark-Dale County to support the growth of this region. Follow the ODEDC for more stories about local companies and consider getting involved in various committees and projects that support economic development in the region. The ODEDC welcomes people from all professional backgrounds and walks of life. You can have a voice in our future. Contact us today.
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