What Food Processors Should Know About Peracetic Acid (PAA)

As food safety standards tighten and sustainability expectations rise, peracetic acid (PAA) is becoming the sanitizer of choice for processors seeking reliable microbial control, operational efficiency, and environmental stewardship.

What disinfectant should food processors use? There is no universal ‘best’ disinfectant for every food processing operation, but peracetic acid (PAA) has become one of the fastest-growing sanitation technologies because it provides rapid, broad-spectrum antimicrobial performance while supporting water conservation, sustainability initiatives and operational efficiency. Many processors now evaluate PAA based on its total operational value rather than cost per gallon alone.

Why More Food Processors Are Switching to PAA

Food processors are not abandoning chlorine overnight—but many are asking a different question: ‘Which sanitizer delivers the best overall operational value?’ Modern sanitation programs are increasingly evaluated by food safety, production uptime, water use, wastewater management, worker safety, sustainability, and total operating cost. That’s where PAA continues to gain momentum.

Why PAA Stands Out

Peracetic acid has become increasingly popular because it checks multiple boxes at once. It offers rapid antimicrobial performance, broad-spectrum effectiveness, strong performance in the presence of organic matter, minimal environmentally persistent byproducts, support for water conservation initiatives and compatibility with modern sustainability programs. Rather than solving a single sanitation challenge, PAA often improves several parts of an operation at once.

“Food processors aren’t simply replacing one sanitizer with another—they’re rethinking how sanitation supports the entire operation. The conversation today includes food safety, water stewardship, operational reliability, and long-term sustainability. Peracetic acid has become an important tool because it helps facilities address all of those objectives simultaneously.”

— Derk Pinkerton, Market Manager – Water Treatment, Brainerd Chemical Company

Today, PAA is commonly used across broad food processing applications:

  • Poultry, beef, pork and seafood processing
  • Fresh produce washing
  • Dairy and beverage production
  • Breweries and wineries
  • Process water treatment
  • Food-contact surface sanitation
  • Select Clean-in-Place (CIP) applications

The Cheapest Sanitizer Can Become Your Most Expensive Decision

Chemical price is only one line on the budget. Production interruptions, equipment downtime, wastewater treatment, worker training and environmental reporting all influence the true cost of a sanitation program. Leading processors increasingly evaluate total operational value rather than cost per gallon.
The question is no longer whether to evaluate PAA—but where it can create measurable value in your operation. Peracetic acid isn’t intended to replace every traditional sanitizer, but its growing adoption reflects a broader shift toward smarter sanitation strategies.
Whether you’re expanding production, improving food safety protocols, reducing wastewater challenges or exploring more cost-effective solutions, Brainerd Chemical’s water treatment specialists can help evaluate where peracetic acid fits into your operation.

Brainred’s team works alongside food processors to develop practical, application-specific sanitation programs backed by technical expertise, dependable supply, and decades of experience serving North American industry. Contact Brainerd Chemical today to schedule a consultation with a member of the water treatment team and discover whether PAA is the right solution for your facility.

Five Questions Every Chemical Procurement Team Should Ask

Price is only one part of the equation. Today’s leading manufacturers evaluate chemical suppliers based on reliability, expertise, safety, and long-term partnership potential.

Two suppliers submit bids for the same chemical. One is 4% less expensive. The other has a stronger safety record, regional inventory, technical support, and decades of regulatory expertise.
Which supplier represents the better business decision? For experienced procurement leaders, the answer is becoming increasingly clear: the lowest price rarely delivers the lowest total cost.

So, What Should You Expect (Demand) From Your Chemical Supplier?

The best chemical suppliers offer more than competitive pricing. Manufacturers should evaluate supply reliability, technical expertise, regulatory support, safety performance, inventory capabilities, packaging flexibility, logistics, and long-term partnership potential. Choosing the right supplier can reduce operational risk while improving production continuity and total cost of ownership.

  1. Can They Deliver Consistently?
    Your production line can’t wait for a delayed shipment. Reliable delivery protects production schedules—and customer commitments. Evaluate:
    • JIT capabilities
    • Inventory availability
    • Multiple distribution locations
    • Emergency response capabilities
    • Proven delivery performance
    • Supply chain resilience
  2. Do They Bring Technical Expertise?
    Industrial chemicals are rarely “plug-and-play.” Technical guidance often creates more long-term value than incremental price savings. True partners help you optimize your supply chain:
    • Product selection
    • Handling procedures
    • Storage requirements
    • Application performance
    • Regulatory compliance

The strongest customer relationships begin long before the first shipment arrives. Our role is to help customers reduce operational risk by combining dependable supply with practical technical expertise that supports their long-term success.
— Brian Miller, President, Brainerd Chemical Company

  1. Is Safety Part of Their Culture?
    Strong safety cultures often translate into stronger operational performance. Safety shouldn’t end when a shipment leaves the loading dock. Look for suppliers with demonstrated commitment to:
    • Employee training
    • Regulatory compliance
    • Product stewardship
    • Responsible transportation
    • Emergency preparedness
  2. Can They Grow With Your Business?
    Scalable partnerships reduce the need to change suppliers as operations evolve. Today’s supplier should also support tomorrow’s production goals. Ask about:
    • Packaging options
    • Technical resources
    • Regional inventory
    • Manufacturing capabilities
    • Capacity for future growth
  3. Will They Be a Partner—or Just a Vendor?
    The best suppliers solve problems before they become disruptions. They proactively communicate, share technical knowledge, and collaborate to improve operations—not simply process purchase orders.
    Those relationships often create measurable value long after the initial contract is signed.

Stewardship – Value Beyond Price

Procurement has evolved. Today’s purchasing decisions influence production reliability, operational efficiency, sustainability initiatives, regulatory confidence, and long-term business resilience.
The organizations creating the greatest competitive advantage are not simply buying chemicals – they are choosing strategic partners.
The right chemical supplier does far more than deliver product. They help manufacturers reduce risk, improve operational performance, and prepare for future growth.
As supply chains become more complex and customer expectations continue to rise, procurement decisions have never carried greater strategic importance.
The question is no longer: “Who offers the lowest price?”
The question is: “Who will help us operate more successfully over the next decade?”

Move Toward Success

Whether you’re evaluating a new supplier, expanding production, or strengthening supply chain resilience, Brainerd Chemical’s technical and logistics specialists work alongside manufacturers to build dependable, long-term partnerships that support operational success.
Contact Brainerd Chemical to learn how the right supplier relationship can create value well beyond the purchase order.

Six Conversations We’ll Be Having at ChemEdge 2026

ChemEdge offers more than a look at new products—it provides an early view of the conversations shaping the future of chemical distribution. Here are six topics every manufacturer should be watching.

Walk the aisles of ChemEdge and you’ll notice something interesting. The most engaging conversations aren’t about commodity pricing or the latest product announcement. They’re about resilience, risk, workforce challenges, and how manufacturers can build stronger partnerships in an increasingly complex operating environment. Those conversations matter long after the conference ends because they influence how leading organizations choose suppliers, manage operations, and prepare for the future.

Our customers expect more than dependable chemical supply. They value technical expertise, operational insight and the ability to help solve tomorrow’s challenges—not just fill today’s orders.”

— Neil Morgan, President, Brainerd Chemical Company, COO

  1. How can manufacturers build a more resilient chemical supply chain? Manufacturers can build a more resilient chemical supply chain by working with suppliers that maintain regional inventory, diversified sourcing, strong logistics networks, and contingency plans for disruptions. Those resilient suppliers also provide proactive communication, technical support, and collaborative planning to help customers reduce operational risk and maintain production continuity. The past several years demonstrated that supply chain resilience is no longer simply a logistics game—it’s a competitive advantage. Weather events, transportation disruptions, changing regulations, and geopolitical uncertainty continue to challenge manufacturers across virtually every industry. Forward-thinking organizations increasingly evaluate suppliers based on their ability to anticipate disruptions, communicate early, and develop contingency plans before production is affected. At Brainerd Chemical, those conversations increasingly center on building long-term resilience through regional distribution, dependable inventory, and collaborative planning—not simply responding after a disruption occurs.
  2. What should manufacturers look for in a chemical supplier? The best chemical suppliers offer more than competitive pricing. Manufacturers should evaluate technical expertise, safety performance, regulatory knowledge, inventory availability, logistics capabilities, packaging flexibility, and long-term partnership potential. A supplier that contributes operational insight often creates greater long-term value than one competing primarily on price. Increasingly, procurement leaders are asking a different question. Instead of, “Who has the lowest price?”, savvy organizations are asking, “Who helps us be more competitive?”. The strongest supplier relationships combine dependable delivery with technical expertise that helps customers improve efficiency, reduce risk, and solve operational challenges. That’s one reason conversations at ChemEdge continue shifting from transactional purchasing toward strategic partnerships.
  3. How is sustainability changing the chemical industry? Sustainability in the chemical industry is increasingly focused on practical operational improvements rather than reporting metrics alone. Manufacturers are evaluating a wide variety of aspects from packaging improvements to delivery logistics that reduce environmental impact while improving productivity and lowering total operating costs. Today’s sustainability initiatives are becoming measurable business improvements. Organizations are looking for opportunities to: • reduce packaging waste • improve transportation efficiency • optimize chemical usage • reduce water consumption • improve operational efficiency Suppliers that understand both environmental stewardship and day-to-day manufacturing operations can help customers identify opportunities that benefit both sustainability objectives and operational performance.
  4. How is technology changing chemical distribution? Technology is transforming chemical distribution through improved inventory visibility, shipment tracking, digital documentation, predictive analytics, AI-assisted customer support, and data-driven supply chain planning. Manufacturers increasingly expect suppliers to provide both chemical products and digital tools that improve operational decision-making. Digital transformation extends well beyond online ordering. Manufacturers increasingly expect: • electronic documentation • faster regulatory information • shipment visibility • predictive inventory planning • faster technical support The distributors creating the greatest value are using technology to strengthen relationships—not replace them. We expect our ChemEdge conversations will focus on how digital capabilities are increasingly becoming a core expectation.
  5. What workforce challenges are chemical manufacturers facing? Chemical manufacturers face growing workforce challenges as experienced professionals retire and competition for technical talent increases. Companies are investing in knowledge transfer, workforce development, safety training, and technical partnerships to preserve operational expertise while preparing the next generation of employees. Perhaps the most important challenge facing the industry is not technological. It’s human. Decades of operational knowledge are leaving the workforce through retirement. Organizations increasingly depend on supplier partners who can supplement internal expertise through technical consultation, training, regulatory guidance, and application support. Collaborative relationships help preserve institutional knowledge while supporting operational continuity.
  6. Why are manufacturers choosing strategic chemical partners instead of transactional suppliers? Manufacturers are increasingly choosing strategic chemical partners because dependable supply, technical expertise, regulatory support, and collaborative problem-solving reduce operational risk and improve long-term performance. Strategic partnerships create value beyond the purchase order by helping organizations improve safety, efficiency, compliance, and business continuity. The chemical supply is only part of the value equation. Our customers increasingly rely on us to: • Help them solve complex problems • Truly understand their operational demands • Scale in lock step with their business • Provide strategic solutions that help them be competitively positioned for the long term

The Conversation That Matters Most

After all the discussions about supply chains, technology, sustainability, workforce development, and digital transformation, one conversation ultimately matters most: choosing the right partner.

For decades, Brainerd Chemical has built its business around that belief. By combining dependable chemical supply with technical expertise, responsive service, and collaborative planning, we strive to become an extension of our customers’ operations—not simply another supplier.

We are also proud to support the broader chemical distribution industry as an Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) Platinum Sustaining Partner. ChemEdge represents more than an annual conference; it’s an opportunity to share ideas, strengthen relationships, and work alongside manufacturers, suppliers, and industry leaders to advance safety, innovation, and operational excellence.

The conversations at ChemEdge don’t end when the exhibit hall closes. They continue in manufacturing facilities, procurement meetings, engineering offices, and operations centers across the country. If your organization is evaluating supplier relationships, strengthening supply chain resilience, or preparing for future growth, we would welcome the opportunity to continue the conversation. Together, we can explore practical ideas that help reduce risk, improve performance, and create long-term value.

If you’re attending ChemEdge 2026, connect with Brainerd Chemical and say hello. We would enjoy hearing what’s at the top of mind for your team, exchanging ideas, and discussing the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of manufacturing and chemical distribution.

Join us at ChemEdge 2026 • August 12–14, 2026 • Atlanta, Georgia

Brainerd Chemical — Platinum Sustaining Partner

The New Competition for Chemicals

How America’s manufacturing resurgence is changing the way chemical buyers think about supply chain resilience.

If you’ve been following industrial development across the United States, you’ve likely noticed the pace of expansion accelerating.

New semiconductor facilities. Battery plants. Data centers. Advanced manufacturing campuses.

Across the country, major investments in domestic manufacturing are increasing demand for the chemicals that keep modern industry running.

Hydrofluoric acid. Nitric acid. Sulfuric acid. Sodium hydroxide. Water treatment chemistries. Specialty process chemicals.

Demand is growing across the board. For chemical buyers and operations leaders, the question isn’t whether demand is increasing—it’s whether supply chains are prepared to keep pace.

What does manufacturing expansion mean for chemical supply chains? Supply chain resilience is the ability to maintain reliable access to critical materials despite fluctuations in demand, transportation disruptions, market volatility, or supplier constraints. For chemical buyers, that means dependable supply, flexible packaging options, reliable logistics networks, and suppliers capable of supporting long-term growth.

New Facilities, New Demand

The semiconductor industry is one of the most visible examples. As new fabrication facilities come online across the United States, demand is increasing for the chemicals used to clean wafers, etch circuits, treat water, manage waste streams, and support production processes.

In many cases, these industries aren’t competing for the exact same chemical products—but they are competing for the same manufacturing capacity, transportation resources, packaging assets, and distribution networks. Many similar chemistries are used by:

  • Water treatment facilities
  • Industrial manufacturers
  • Agricultural operations
  • Energy producers
  • Metal processors

That’s why semiconductor growth matters to far more than semiconductor manufacturers.

The Questions Buyers Are Asking

Most procurement and operations teams have experienced some form of supply chain disruption over the past several years.

Extended lead times.

Transportation delays.

Packaging shortages.

Unexpected demand spikes.

The result is often the same: A delayed railcar. A missed delivery window. A production schedule that suddenly needs to be adjusted. Small disruptions can create outsized consequences when critical materials aren’t available when they’re needed.

As demand grows, these are the conversations happening in procurement offices and operations meetings across the country:

  • Can our supplier support future growth?
  • Do they have packaging flexibility?
  • How resilient is their logistics network?
  • Do they have multiple sourcing options?
  • Can they maintain supply during periods of increased demand?

Those questions are increasingly important as domestic manufacturing capacity continues to expand.

Reliability Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage

Price will always matter. But if you’ve ever had a critical shipment delayed, you know the real cost of supply disruption often extends far beyond the purchase order.

A delayed shipment, unexpected shortage, or disruption in supply can quickly affect production schedules, inventory planning, customer commitments, and operating costs. That’s why manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on supplier capabilities, geographic reach, inventory strategies, packaging options, and transportation expertise.

In an environment where demand is growing, reliability becomes a competitive advantage.

Looking Ahead

America’s manufacturing resurgence is creating exciting opportunities across multiple industries. It is also reshaping chemical supply chains.

Organizations that understand how these changes affect sourcing, inventory planning, logistics, and supplier relationships will be better positioned to navigate future demand and support long-term growth. For chemical buyers, the conversation is becoming less about securing the lowest price and more about securing dependable access to the materials that keep operations moving.

As domestic manufacturing continues to grow, the organizations that invest in resilient supply chains today will be better positioned to respond to future demand, manage disruption, and maintain a competitive advantage. 

About Brainerd Chemical Company

Brainerd Chemical Company is a leading North American manufacturer, distributor, packager, and logistics provider of specialty and commodity chemicals. Through chemical manufacturing, custom packaging, private-label programs, contract packaging, and supply chain support, Brainerd helps customers operate safely, maintain compliance, and keep critical operations moving.

Media Inquiries

Brainerd Chemical Company

📞 +1 (918) 622-1214

🌐 www.BrainerdChemical.com

Safety Happens Between People, Not Policies 

Why the Strongest Safety Programs Depend on People, Not Policies. 

Every chemical facility has procedures. Training is scheduled. Audits are completed. Safety meetings fill calendars. 

Yet the safest organizations know something that can’t be captured in a binder or measured on an inspection form: safety is ultimately a people business. 

Long before an incident occurs—or is prevented—employees make hundreds of decisions that influence outcomes. They ask questions. Double-check a connection. Pause a task that doesn’t feel right. Speak up when they see a potential risk. 

Those moments are where safety culture is built. Yet the organizations that consistently achieve the best safety outcomes understand an important truth: Safety is not created during an audit. It is created every day through a culture fostered by leadership and embraced by people. 

Policies, procedures, and regulations establish an essential foundation. They define expectations and provide structure. But real safety performance is determined by thousands of decisions made by employees, supervisors, operators, drivers, and leaders throughout the course of normal operations. 

The strongest safety cultures emerge when safety becomes more than a requirement. It becomes a shared responsibility. 

Safety culture in chemical manufacturing is built through daily behaviors, decisions, and conversations—not just audits, training programs, or compliance requirements. While policies and procedures provide the foundation, lasting safety performance depends on leadership, communication, teamwork, and employee engagement. Organizations with strong safety cultures create environments where every employee takes ownership of safety, identifies risks, and actively looks out for one another. 

Why Compliance Alone Doesn’t Create a Safety Culture 

In highly regulated industries such as chemical manufacturing and distribution, compliance matters. Regulatory standards exist for good reason. They help establish consistent practices designed to protect employees, communities, customers, and the environment. 

But compliance alone does not create a safety culture. 

Organizations can maintain complete documentation, conduct required training, and still struggle to create an environment where employees feel empowered to identify risks, stop unsafe activities, or speak up when something doesn’t seem right. 

The difference lies in engagement. 

When employees view safety as a management responsibility, opportunities can be missed. When employees view safety as everyone’s responsibility, awareness becomes part of daily operations. 

Every Employee Influences Safety 

One of the most powerful characteristics of a mature safety culture is the understanding that every individual contributes to safer outcomes. 

A driver completing a pre-trip inspection. 

A production employee identifying a potential hazard. 

A supervisor reinforcing a best practice. 

A team member asking a question before proceeding with an unfamiliar task. 

These moments may seem small, but collectively they shape workplace culture. Mike Hodnett, General Branch Manager of Brainerd’s Dunn facility, reminds us that every single employee plays a role in creating a workplace built on thoughtful decisions and shared responsibility. Organizations with strong safety records understand that responsibility cannot rest solely with management, policies or safety notices. It must be a culture embraced by the entire workforce. 

Leadership Sets the Tone 

While safety belongs to everyone, leadership plays a critical role in establishing expectations and reinforcing behaviors. 

Employees pay close attention to what leaders prioritize. When production schedules consistently outweigh safety concerns, employees notice. When leaders invest in training, encourage communication, and actively participate in safety discussions, employees notice that too. 

At Brainerd Chemical, COO Neil Morgan often emphasizes that effective safety programs must be practical enough to work in the real world. As he recently explained, successful safety cultures are built by creating processes that are “clear, practical and actionable” and supporting them through strong communication and teamwork. 

That philosophy reflects an important reality: safety procedures only create value when people understand them, trust them, and consistently apply them. 

The Connection Between Teamwork and Safety 

Safety is often discussed as an individual responsibility, but it is equally a team effort. 

Communication, trust, and accountability are critical components of effective safety performance. 

Teams that communicate openly are more likely to identify hazards before they become incidents. 

Teams that trust one another are more willing to ask questions and raise concerns. 

Teams that hold one another accountable create environments where safe behaviors become standard operating practice rather than occasional reminders. 

In many ways, safety serves as a reflection of organizational teamwork. Strong teams tend to operate more safely because they actively look out for one another. 

Building a Better Industry 

In chemical manufacturing, safety culture is not defined by the absence of incidents. It is defined by the daily behaviors, decisions, and conversations that help prevent them. 

Creating a stronger industry requires more than regulatory compliance. It requires leadership, accountability, continuous improvement, and a shared commitment to doing the right thing—even when no one is watching. 

That commitment is reflected in the perspectives shared throughout Brainerd’s organization: practical safety processes, clear communication, strong teamwork, thoughtful decisions, and shared responsibility. Together, these principles help create an environment where safety is not simply a program—it becomes part of how people work every day. 

The organizations that will lead the future of the chemical industry are not simply those with the strongest products or largest facilities. They will be the organizations that create cultures where safety is embedded in every decision, every conversation, and every action. 

Because the strongest safety programs are not built during audits. They are built between them. 

About Brainerd Chemical Company 

Brainerd Chemical Company helps manufacturers, municipalities, agricultural operations, and industrial organizations solve complex chemical challenges safely and reliably. As a leading U.S. chemical manufacturer and distributor, Brainerd combines quality products, technical expertise, and responsive service to help customers succeed every day. 

Media Inquiries 

Brainerd Chemical Company 

📞 +1 (918) 622-1214 

🌐 www.BrainerdChemical.com 

Smarter Chemical Packaging

Learn how the right packaging solutions can help you improve safety, compliance, and operational performance.

A chemical package has one job: arrive safely and perform exactly as expected.

Yet packaging decisions influence far more than transportation.

The right packaging strategy can improve safety, simplify compliance, reduce handling costs, support private-label programs, and strengthen supply chain performance. The wrong one can create operational headaches long after the shipment leaves the facility.

Proven chemical packaging providers like Brainerd Chemical Company help manufacturers improve safety, compliance, operational efficiency, and supply chain reliability.

What are chemical packaging services?
Chemical packaging services help manufacturers safely package, label, store, transport, and distribute chemical products. Services may include custom packaging, private labeling, contract packaging, bulk handling, regulatory compliance support, and logistics coordination. Many manufacturers also rely on chemical packaging providers to support brand expansion, new product launches, and regional distribution strategies.

Packaging Impacts More Than Transportation

Every chemical operation is different. What works well for one facility may create challenges for yours. Container size, material compatibility, handling requirements, storage constraints, transportation methods, and end-user needs all influence the right packaging strategy.

When packaging is treated as an afterthought, organizations often experience:

  • Increased handling and labor costs
  • Product waste and container damage
  • Storage inefficiencies
  • Transportation limitations
  • Higher regulatory risk
  • Greater potential for spills and exposure incidents

These costs rarely appear on an invoice, but they can significantly impact operations over time.

Safety Starts With the Right Container

For hazardous and specialty chemicals, packaging is a critical part of risk management.

The right packaging helps protect employees during handling, transportation, storage, and use. The wrong packaging can increase exposure risks, create unnecessary handling steps, and complicate emergency response efforts.

Your packaging strategy should support safe operations from the moment a product is filled until it reaches its final application.

That requires more than selecting a container. It requires understanding how the product will move through the entire supply chain.

Packaging That Scales With Demand

Many organizations face changing production schedules, fluctuating demand, and evolving customer requirements. A packaging partner should be able to support a variety of formats, including pails, drums, totes, bulk shipments, and customized white-label packaging solutions.

Flexibility helps organizations adapt to changing business needs without disrupting operations or introducing unnecessary risk.

Packaging That Supports Your Brand

Chemical packaging involves more than filling containers. It requires an understanding of chemical compatibility, labeling requirements, transportation regulations, quality control procedures, and customer-specific specifications.

Packaging experience matters because many problems can be prevented long before a shipment leaves the facility.

Private labeling and white-label chemical packaging allow your organization to bring products to market under your own brand while relying on an experienced packaging partner to execute behind the scenes. You’ll better maintain consistency across packaging formats, support regulatory compliance, and simplify supply chain management without requiring additional internal resources.

Whether you need branded containers, custom labeling, blind shipping, or specialized packaging requirements, flexibility matters because it supports both operational goals and business growth.

This is especially valuable when your organization is looking to expand product offerings, enter new markets, or streamline distribution without investing in additional packaging infrastructure.

Brainerd Chemical Company supports a wide range of packaging requirements, including custom packaging, contract packaging, private-label programs, blind shipping, and bulk packaging solutions. Packaging operations support everything from pails and drums to totes and bulk shipments, including products that require specialized handling due to corrosive, oxidizing, or hazardous characteristics.

With packaging operations strategically located across the United States, Brainerd helps customers maintain supply chain flexibility while supporting regional and national distribution requirements.

Packaging Is a Strategic Decision

Whether packaging nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, or specialty chemical formulations, the requirements extend far beyond selecting a container. When evaluating packaging options, you’ll need to consider material compatibility, transportation regulations, storage conditions, customer requirements, and worker safety.

The best packaging programs do more than move products from one location to another. They help protect your employees, support compliance, strengthen customer relationships, and create operational flexibility.

Whether the need is bulk transportation, custom packaging, private labeling, or specialized handling for hazardous chemicals, the right packaging partner becomes an extension of your operation.

That’s why the most effective organizations no longer view packaging as a shipping function. They view it as a competitive advantage.

About Brainerd Chemical Company

Brainerd Chemical Company is a leading North American manufacturer, distributor, packager, and logistics provider of specialty and commodity chemicals. Through chemical manufacturing, custom packaging, private-label programs, contract packaging, and supply chain support, Brainerd helps customers operate safely, maintain compliance, and meet the demands of an increasingly complex marketplace.

Media Inquiries

Brainerd Chemical Company

📞 +1 (918) 622-1214

🌐 www.BrainerdChemical.com

The AI Boom Has a Water Treatment Problem

Data centers are becoming one of America’s largest water treatment challenges – Brainered Chemical has the solution.

Artificial intelligence is fueling a massive wave of data center construction across the United States. Most people focus on the servers, chips, and electricity required to power AI. Few realize another resource is becoming just as critical: Water.

Data centers generate enormous amounts of heat. Keeping those systems cool requires significant water resources—and effective water treatment.

According to research from Uptime Institute, water management has become a strategic consideration for data center operators, with cooling system design playing a central role in determining water consumption, sustainability performance, and long-term operational resilience.

As AI workloads continue to increase cooling demands, operators are under growing pressure to reduce water use while maintaining reliability.

Here are six reasons water is becoming one of the biggest challenges facing modern data centers.

1. AI Is Driving Water Demand

More computing power creates more heat. More heat requires more cooling. More cooling often requires more water.

As AI adoption accelerates, data centers are consuming millions of gallons annually to support operations.

2. Water Quality Impacts Reliability

Cooling systems depend on clean, properly treated water. Without effective treatment, operators can face:

  • Scale buildup
  • Corrosion
  • Reduced efficiency
  • Increased maintenance
  • Unplanned downtime

Reliability starts with a strategic approach to sustainable water quality.

3. Sustainability Goals Are Raising Expectations

Leading data center operators are under increasing pressure to reduce both energy and water consumption. That is driving investment in:

  • Water reuse
  • Cooling optimization
  • Efficiency improvements
  • Advanced treatment technologies

4. Every Gallon Counts

Many new facilities are being built in fast-growing regions where water resources are already under pressure. Communities, regulators, and investors are paying closer attention to how water is managed.

Water treatment is no longer just a maintenance function. It has become a strategic asset and a critical factor in:

  • Operational reliability
  • Sustainability performance
  • Infrastructure planning
  • Risk management

As data centers expand, operators are investing in smarter monitoring, automation, chemistry optimization, and water conservation strategies.

The goal is simple: Use less water while maintaining maximum reliability.

5. Smarter Water Treatment Can Reduce Cost, Risk, and Environmental Impact

As data center operators look for ways to improve efficiency and sustainability, many are reevaluating traditional water treatment programs.

One area receiving increased attention is the use of advanced oxidizing chemistries such as peracetic acid (PAA) for microbiological control in industrial water systems.

Compared to some conventional treatment approaches, PAA-based programs can help facilities:

  • Improve control of biological growth
  • Reduce system fouling and performance losses
  • Support water reuse and conservation initiatives
  • Minimize residual environmental impact
  • Simplify handling and operational requirements
  • Lower total treatment costs in certain applications

For operators focused on uptime, sustainability, and operational efficiency, the right water treatment strategy can create benefits that extend far beyond water quality alone.

The conversation around data center cooling is increasingly becoming a conversation about water efficiency and sustainability. Operators are looking for solutions that help protect critical assets while reducing complexity, lowering environmental impact, and making better use of water resources. That’s where innovative chemistries like peracetic acid can play an important role.

Why This Matters

The future of AI depends on data centers. The future of data centers depends on cooling. And cooling depends on water.

As operators face growing pressure to improve reliability, reduce environmental impact, and optimize operating costs, water treatment is becoming a strategic advantage rather than simply a maintenance function.

One solution receiving increased attention is peracetic acid (PAA). Data centers depend on efficient cooling systems to maintain uptime and protect critical computing infrastructure. PAA can help control microbiological growth in cooling water systems, reducing the potential for biofouling that may impair heat transfer and system performance. As operators pursue reliability, sustainability, and water stewardship goals, PAA is increasingly being evaluated as part of modern industrial water treatment programs.

“Reliable cooling doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with water. As data centers grow larger and more powerful, operators are looking for ways to improve efficiency, reduce water consumption, and protect critical infrastructure. That’s creating new opportunities for smarter water treatment.”

Derk Pinkerton, Market Manager – Water Treatment, Brainerd Chemical Company

At Brainerd Chemical, we help industrial and water treatment customers evaluate solutions that support cooling system performance, improve operational efficiency, and align with evolving sustainability objectives.

Because when it comes to supporting the infrastructure behind AI, every gallon—and every decision—matters.

About Brainerd Chemical Company

Brainerd Chemical Company is a leading U.S. manufacturer and distributor of specialty and commodity chemicals, committed to safely delivering the solutions customers need, the expertise they value, and the reliability they depend on — every day.

Media Inquiries

Brainerd Chemical Company

📞 +1 (918) 622-1214

🌐 www.BrainerdChemical.com

PFAS Reporting Was Just the Beginning

Across the industrial sector, companies are spending significant time and resources preparing PFAS disclosures under TSCA Section 8(a)(7). For many organizations—and the suppliers that support them—the question is no longer ‘how do we file?’ It’s ‘what does the government do with what we just told them, and what does that mean for us next?

For facilities that submitted on time, the work ahead is about understanding what their submission revealed and what obligations may follow. For facilities still finalizing submissions — or those who missed the window and are weighing their options — the calculus is more urgent.

Either way, the comfortable idea that PFAS compliance is a one-time reporting event has quietly expired.

What the EPA does with your data — and when

The CDX submissions flowing in this spring will be aggregated, reviewed for completeness, and eventually made available in searchable public databases — with confidential business information redacted but most structural and volume data visible. That public record will be accessible to environmental advocates, litigants, municipal water utilities, and downstream customers asking pointed questions about what their suppliers manufacture and release.

EPA has been clear that TSCA 8(a)(7) data will directly inform future regulatory action. The agency has signaled interest in several areas: additional use restrictions for specific PFAS subclasses, expanded reporting requirements as the science around shorter-chain compounds matures, and potential enforcement actions where submissions reveal patterns inconsistent with prior environmental disclosures.

The timeline below reflects where most industrial facilities sit today and what’s coming down the regulatory pipeline.

Right now – Reporting window open; submissions being received

Most facilities are in active submission or finalizing data packages. CDX electronic reporting is live. Small manufacturers have an extended deadline of October 13, 2026.

Late 2026 – EPA begins data aggregation and quality review

EPA staff will cross-reference submissions against prior TRI reports, CERCLA disclosures, and state environmental databases. Facilities with significant discrepancies may receive follow-up data quality requests.

2027 – Public database release and stakeholder scrutiny

Aggregated PFAS data will become publicly searchable. Downstream customers, investors, municipal utilities, and NGOs will use this to evaluate supplier and facility profiles. Expect procurement questions that reference your submission data.

2027-2029 – Next-generation rulemaking informed by this data

EPA has stated that TSCA 8(a)(7) data will drive future regulatory priorities — including potential restrictions on PFAS classes not yet specifically regulated, and expanded reporting thresholds for emerging compounds like TFA.

Ongoing – Litigation and liability exposure tied to disclosed data

Historical PFAS volumes documented in TSCA submissions may be introduced in environmental tort cases. Facilities that disclosed large historical volumes without corresponding remediation programs should consult legal counsel proactively.

Still finalizing your submission?

The October 13, 2026 extended deadline applies to small manufacturers. All other facilities are in the active reporting window now. If your organization missed the April 13 start or is still assembling data, documented good-faith effort — and prompt action — matters significantly in how EPA handles follow-up. Consult your environmental counsel and do not wait.

PFAS is no longer a back-office compliance item

Here’s what’s changed quietly in the past eighteen months: PFAS disclosure has migrated from the environmental compliance department into boardroom risk conversations, customer procurement decisions, and ESG reporting frameworks. The TSCA filing is a formal government disclosure — but it’s also, effectively, a public statement about your facility’s chemical footprint that will persist in searchable databases indefinitely.

Water utilities serving communities near manufacturing facilities are already querying PFAS datasets to build their own risk profiles. Institutional investors are referencing chemical disclosure records in ESG screenings. Industrial customers in food, beverage, and consumer goods — sectors particularly sensitive to PFAS reputational exposure — are asking their chemical suppliers for transparency that goes well beyond an SDS sheet.

This isn’t hypothetical future pressure. These conversations are happening in procurement meetings right now, often with reference to data that didn’t exist publicly six months ago.

The facilities that will navigate this era most confidently aren’t the ones who filed and moved on. They’re the ones who treated the filing as the foundation of an ongoing story they’re prepared to tell clearly.

TFA: The next PFAS conversation taking shape

Trifluoroacetic acid — TFA — doesn’t appear in most U.S. facility compliance programs today. It’s not currently regulated domestically. But TFA is increasingly present in global water monitoring data, European regulatory discussions are intensifying, and it’s beginning to appear in the scientific literature as a persistent degradation product of multiple PFAS classes and fluorinated refrigerants.

The regulatory arc for TFA looks familiar to anyone who watched PFOA and PFOS move from industrial workhorse to restricted substance over the past two decades: detection data accumulates, health and environmental research follows, and regulatory attention converts to action — usually faster than industry models predict.

Facilities with fluorine-intensive manufacturing processes, or those using PFAS-containing products in high-volume water-contact applications, should be having internal conversations about TFA now — not because it’s regulated, but because the cost of being caught unprepared is orders of magnitude higher than the cost of awareness.

Science in motion

TFA has been detected at elevated concentrations in European rainwater, surface water, and drinking water sources. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has flagged it for priority review. U.S. regulatory action has not followed — yet. Facilities that monitor emerging science independently rather than waiting for domestic rulemaking maintain a meaningful preparation advantage.

What active PFAS risk management looks like in 2026

Chemical suppliers play a meaningful role in all three tracks. Brainerd Chemical has long emphasized product traceability, documentation, and customer support because regulatory environments rarely become simpler over time. When suppliers provide clean, structured product data and responsive technical support, customers spend less time chasing information and more time managing risk. In an environment where transparency increasingly influences procurement decisions, regulatory reviews, and public perception, that support becomes a measurable business advantage.

The facilities handling PFAS most capably right now aren’t treating it as a single compliance obligation. They’ve organized their exposure across three distinct tracks that require different teams, different timelines, and different kinds of expertise.

Regulatory compliance track

TSCA 8(a)(7) submissions, documentation retention, CDX account maintenance, and readiness for data quality follow-up from EPA. This track belongs to EHS and legal.

Supply chain transparency track

Responding to downstream customer inquiries, aligning PFAS data with procurement questionnaires, and ensuring supplier data flows upstream accurately. This track involves procurement and product stewardship.

Forward risk track

Monitoring emerging science (TFA, ultra-short-chain PFAS), tracking state-level regulatory action, and evaluating formulation alternatives where PFAS exposure carries long-term liability. This track needs executive attention.

Most facilities manage the first track reasonably well. The second is where gaps appear — because customer-facing transparency requires coordination across teams that rarely sit in the same room. The third track is where strategic differentiation happens, and where most organizations have the most ground to gain.

Chemical suppliers play a meaningful role in all three. When a supplier provides clean, structured product data — chemical identities, formulation detail, traceability documentation — they compress the time their customers spend on all three tracks simultaneously. In a regulatory environment where speed and accuracy of disclosure increasingly matters, that is a concrete, quantifiable business value.

About Brainerd Chemical Company

Brainerd Chemical Company supplies specialty chemicals to industrial, municipal, and commercial customers across water treatment, sanitation, food processing, and manufacturing. Our approach to formulation and documentation is built around the transparency that modern compliance environments demand — giving customers clear product data, traceability support, and the supplier relationship that makes ongoing PFAS obligations more manageable, not more complicated.

 

Media Inquiries

Brainerd Chemical Company

📞 +1 (918) 622-1214

🌐 www.BrainerdChemical.com

HF Supply At Scale

Choosing a Hydrofluoric Acid Supplier? Ask This Question: Does your supplier control the entire chain—or are they coordinating pieces of it?

For organizations that depend on hydrofluoric acid, that question may be more important than product specifications, concentration, or even price.
Reliable hydrofluoric acid supply depends on far more than chemistry. It requires specialized infrastructure, disciplined safety practices, packaging expertise, transportation resources, and accountability from origin to delivery.
Every transfer point introduces risk. Every third-party handoff creates another opportunity for delays, communication breakdowns, compliance challenges, or supply disruptions. When operations depend on uninterrupted HF supply, those risks matter.
The most reliable suppliers don’t simply move product. They manage the entire process.
Brainerd Chemical has spent decades building the systems, infrastructure, and operational expertise required to support refineries, alkylation units, semiconductor manufacturers, water treatment facilities, and industrial operations that cannot afford uncertainty in their chemical supply chain. The benefit to you is fewer handoffs, greater accountability and dependably responsible supply.

HF does not tolerate weak links

The conversation around hydrofluoric acid often focuses on concentration, specifications, and commercial terms. Those factors matter. But experienced operators know the bigger concern is much more practical:
Will the acid arrive on specification, on schedule, and without creating unnecessary risk?
When production depends on hydrofluoric acid, reliability becomes every bit as important as chemistry.
Responsibly reliable supply comes down to the infrastructure, people, packaging, transportation systems, and operational discipline supporting every shipment.
That’s where experience separates suppliers from strategic partners.

Why Chain of Custody Matters

Hydrofluoric acid is one of the most demanding products in industrial chemical distribution. Success depends on maintaining control of the process from beginning to end.

Reliable hydrofluoric acid supply requires three elements working together:
• Purpose-built infrastructure for storage and transfer
• Trained personnel operating under disciplined safety protocols
• Integrated logistics capable of maintaining continuity throughout the supply chain

When one of those elements fails, the others cannot compensate. Organizations that rely on fragmented supply networks often discover this reality during periods of market disruption, transportation constraints, severe weather events, or unexpected operational challenges.
Integrated supply models provide a different outcome with fewer handoffs, fewer variables and greater accountability.

What Large Industrial Buyers Should Look for in an HF Supplier

Industrial executives evaluating hydrofluoric acid suppliers should look beyond pricing and product specifications. The strongest suppliers demonstrate capabilities in four critical areas:

Infrastructure

Hydrofluoric acid requires specialized storage, handling systems, and transportation assets designed specifically for the product.
A supplier’s infrastructure directly impacts reliability, flexibility, and response capabilities.

Packaging Expertise

Hydrofluoric acid packaging is far more than a regulatory requirement. Proper packaging helps protect product integrity, reduce handling risks, improve transportation efficiency, and support safe operations at the customer site. The most capable suppliers offer packaging solutions tailored to customer requirements rather than forcing operations into a one-size-fits-all model.

Logistics Capabilities

Transportation is often where supply chain weaknesses become visible.Dedicated resources, experienced personnel, route planning, compliance expertise, and contingency planning all contribute to delivery reliability. Without those systems, even a quality product can become a supply challenge.

Accountability

Perhaps most importantly, customers should understand who actually owns responsibility for the process. When multiple organizations manage manufacturing, storage, transportation, and compliance independently, accountability becomes fragmented. When a single organization manages the chain, customers gain a single point of responsibility and a partner invested in long-term success.

Why Scale Matters

The cost of a hydrofluoric acid supply disruption extends well beyond replacement product.
Production interruptions can impact throughput, contractual obligations, maintenance schedules, customer commitments, and regulatory performance.
Large-scale industrial operations understand that resilience requires continuous investment in people, process and infrastructure that fosters:
• Redundant infrastructure
• Emergency response readiness
• Transportation flexibility
• Trained driver networks
• Inventory management programs
• Business continuity planning

These capabilities often go unnoticed when everything is operating normally. Their value becomes immediately apparent when market conditions become challenging. A resilient supply chain is rarely built during a crisis. It is built years before one occurs.

Why Are Packaging and Logistics Critical for Hydrofluoric Acid?

Hydrofluoric acid packaging and logistics play a critical role in safety, regulatory compliance, and supply reliability. Proper packaging protects product integrity during transportation and storage while reducing handling risks for personnel. Integrated logistics systems help ensure on-time delivery, maintain chain-of-custody accountability, and support business continuity for refineries, manufacturers, and industrial facilities that depend on uninterrupted hydrofluoric acid supply.

The Brainerd Difference

Brainerd Chemical has spent decades building the infrastructure, expertise, and operational discipline required to support hydrofluoric acid customers across the United States.
As one of the largest hydrofluoric acid suppliers on the East Coast, Brainerd provides customers with more than product availability.
The company delivers integrated capabilities that include specialized storage, packaging expertise, transportation resources, compliance support, and experienced personnel who understand the demands of HF distribution.
This approach helps reduce risk, strengthen reliability, and provide customers with confidence that their supply chain is backed by an organization that understands every aspect of the product lifecycle.

“HF is one of the most demanding products we handle, and customers don’t call us because we’re the cheapest. They call us because when their unit is running, they don’t want to think about where the next delivery is coming from. Our job is to make that decision boring.”

Neil Morgan, Chief Operating Officer of Brainerd Chemical

For industrial operations, that’s exactly the point. Reliable hydrofluoric acid supply should not be a daily concern. It should be a solved problem.

The Bottom Line

When evaluating a hydrofluoric acid supplier, the most important question may not be about the chemistry at all. Do you know if your supplier controls the infrastructure, packaging, logistics, and compliance systems necessary to deliver hydrofluoric acid safely and reliably—or are they simply coordinating pieces of the process?
The difference can determine whether operations run smoothly or face unnecessary risk.
For organizations that depend on hydrofluoric acid, reliability is not a premium feature. It is the baseline. And achieving that reliability requires the infrastructure, accountability, and operational discipline that Brainerd Chemical has spent decades building.

About Brainerd Chemical Company

Brainerd Chemical Company is a leading U.S. manufacturer and distributor of specialty and commodity chemicals, committed to safely delivering the solutions customers need, the expertise they value, and the reliability they depend on — every day.

Media Inquiries

Brainerd Chemical Company
📞 +1 (918) 622-1214
🌐 www.BrainerdChemical.com

2025 ACD Expert of the Year

TULSA, Okla. — Brainerd Chemical Company announced that its Chief Commercial Officer, Jason Jacobus, has been named a 2025 Expert of the Year by the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD), a national organization representing the chemical distribution industry.

The ACD Recognition Highlights Industry Leadership, Stewardship, and Service in Chemical Distribution

 What does the ACD Expert of the Year award represent? The recognition highlights leaders who strengthen the chemical distribution industry through advocacy, mentorship, collaboration, and service to the broader industry community.

 “ACD and the people within this industry have added tremendous value to my life, career, and business,” said Jacobus. “I am a product of the time, knowledge, and expertise others have invested in me throughout my career. Because of that, I feel a deep responsibility to give back and invest in others, especially the next generation entering this industry. The willingness of people within this industry to support and invest in one another is part of what makes it so special.”

 Jacobus brings leadership experience across hazardous and specialty chemical markets. Throughout his career, he has remained actively involved in supporting industry advancement through advocacy, mentoring, collaboration, and relationship-building.

 That mindset continues to shape the Brainerd’s broader approach to leadership and service. The company emphasizes long-term relationships, responsible growth, investment in people, and active participation in supporting the future of the chemical distribution industry.

 “Jason’s leadership reflects the type of stewardship and industry engagement that has long been important to our organization,” said Matt Brainerd. “We believe strong industries are built by people who are willing to invest in others, share their experience, and intentionally help develop the next generation of leaders.”

At Brainerd Chemical, that philosophy extends beyond day-to-day operations and into the company’s broader view of leadership within the chemical distribution industry. The company emphasizes long-term thinking, operational responsibility, investment in people, and active participation in supporting the future of the industry.

For more information about the ACD Expert of the Year program, visit acd-chem.com.

ABOUT BRAINERD CHEMICAL COMPANY

Brainerd Chemical Company is a U.S.-based manufacturer and distributor of specialty and commodity chemicals serving the energy, water treatment, agriculture, and industrial markets. Integrated packaging, multimodal logistics, and a compliance-driven operating framework support reliable supply across the customers and regions we serve.

📞 +1 (918) 622-1214   ·   🌐 www.BrainerdChemical.com