Meet the Leadership Team
At PICO Chemical, our team is the foundation of everything we do. From technical support and formulation to blending and fulfillment, each member brings deep industry knowledge and a commitment to serving our customers with speed, precision, and care. We’re a tight-knit group — responsive, experienced, and always ready to solve the next challenge.
Workhorse Products Since 1976
At PICO Chemical, we don’t just make specialty chemicals and lubricants — we deliver workhorse solutions that perform under pressure and tackle the toughest jobs.
In 1978, a longtime customer called one of our industrial cleaners “the workhorse of paint removers.” We ran with it — creating a secondary logo that still stands today as a symbol of the rugged, no-nonsense performance our products deliver.
Behind those products is a company built the same way — not by being the biggest, but by being the grittiest, most dependable, and easiest to work with. So whether you’re machining parts, formulating adhesives, or maintaining equipment, PICO is ready for the job.
Made in the USA. ISO-certified. Trusted for 50+ years.
PICO Through the Years
Since 1976, PICO Chemical has grown from a small specialty formulator to a trusted partner for industrial manufacturers across the country. With a legacy rooted in innovation, customer dedication, and American-made quality, our timeline highlights key milestones in our evolution — from our founding years to our continued leadership in high-performance chemical solutions.
Founded in Chicago Heights, IL
PICO Chemical is established by Rich Pisarski, Sr. as a specialty chemical manufacturer focused on cleaning and lubrication for industrial applications.
Product Innovation Takes Off
Introduced flagship lines like Quench Guard and PICOCLEAN, positioning PICO as a problem-solver in mission-critical production environments.
Growth in Key Industries
Expanded into metalworking, coatings, and adhesives — earning trust as a go-to supplier for high-performance cleaners, lubricants, and specialty additives.
Certified Quality, Worldwide
Achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification and scaled laboratory, blending, and packaging operations to support customers worldwide.
50 Years of Excellence
Celebrating five decades of American-made specialty chemical solutions — with second-generation leadership and a renewed focus on sustainability, support, and service.
50+
Years of experience
100K+
Completed orders
10K+
customers served
Product Categories
Browse categories of PICO industrial chemical solutions. Not sure where to start? Need a custom formulation?
Machining Fluids
High-performance coolants, grinding fluids, cutting oils, sawing fluids, and system treatments designed to extend tool life, reduce heat, and improve part quality across machining operations.
Metal Forming Lubricants
Specialized lubricants for drawing, stamping, bending, extrusion, and cold heading. Engineered to reduce friction, prevent wear, and deliver clean, precise forming on ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Industrial Cleaners & Degreasers
Specialized cleaners and degreasers for industrial applications. Explore water-based and solvent-based solutions for equipment, tanks and reactors, fasteners, floors, and more.
Paint, Ink & Coating Removers
Removers and strippers for paints, inks, adhesives, and resins. Includes paint and coating removers, solvent-based removers, and cleaning accelerators for industrial applications.
Rust & Surface Protection
Specialty solutions to prevent corrosion, remove rust, and protecting metal surfaces. Includes rust inhibitors and scale removers to protect ferrous and non-ferrous materials.
Cutting Table Fluids
Specialized coolants, coatings, and cleaners for plasma, laser, and waterjet cutting operations. Explore plasma and waterjet fluids, table coatings and cleaners, and anti-spatter coatings.
Steel Mill Fluids
Specialized fluids and lubricants for critical steelmaking operations. Find casting lubricants, equipment lubricants, hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, and mold cleaners.
Adhesion Promoters
Adhesion promoters for PVC plastisols and organosols in coatings, sealers, and molded parts. Explore polyamide and blocked isocyanate types for bonding to metal, plastic, and e-coat.
Trusted Customers
PICO Chemical serves a wide range of industries with application-specific solutions that clean, protect, lubricate, and enhance performance. Our workhorse products are trusted for their reliability, custom formulation, and expert support. If they trust PICO, so can you.
What Customers Are Saying…
From plant managers to production leads, our customers trust PICO Chemical for products that perform and support that delivers. Here’s what real users have to say about working with our team and solutions.
PICO not only solved our reactor cleaning challenge, but we also saw unexpected benefits like reduced chemical use and disposal costs. Their product reliability and responsive support have earned our full confidence.
Mark R.
Operations Manager
We’ve used PICO Quench Guard G for over a year, cutting a lot of aluminum — and hydrogen gas bubbles are now a thing of the past. The safety and performance improvements have been outstanding.
Doug M.
Production Manager
PICO’s fastener cleaner kept our production running when we unexpectedly ran out late on a Friday. Our rep personally delivered product to get us through the weekend. That kind of service is rare.
Carlos R.
Plant Manager
PICOCOOL 5255 has eliminated coolant waste, improved tool life, and reduced our chemical costs by nearly 50%. No staining, no irritation, and great support — it’s outperformed every coolant we’ve tried.
Erin C.
Process Engineer
