Chemical Toll Processing
Your Material. Our Equipment.
SantoTolling® runs specific processing steps on materials you send us: reacting, distilling, drying, grinding, blending and packaging. Use one operation or a full sequence, all on one 66-acre campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina, without buying equipment or adding staff.
Up to 1.2 Billion Pounds Annually
Produced & Supplied worldwide1
66-Acre Facility
Over a Dozen Specialized Buildings
19 Reactors 33 Vessels
67 Tanks & More
Certified Quality
ISO 9001:2015 · ChemSteward
EPA Registered · FIFRA
Kosher · Halal
What Is Chemical Toll Processing?
Rent the Process, Not the Plant
Chemical toll processing is an arrangement in which a company sends its own raw materials or intermediates to an outside processor, which runs one or more specific operations on them, such as reacting, distilling, drying, grinding or blending, for a fee and returns or ships the processed material. Companies use toll processing when they need a step they don't have the equipment for, more capacity than their plant can give, or a new product form for a new market. You keep your materials, formula and IP. We provide the equipment, utilities, operators and testing.
Need a complete product made from your formula instead of individual steps? See toll manufacturing or contract chemical manufacturing.
Processing Capabilities
Operations We Run on Your Material
Pick one step or combine several. Every operation runs on the same campus, under the same quality system, with the same lab behind it.
Reaction Processing
- Esterification, alkoxylation, amidation
- Hydrogenation, reductive amination
- Quaternization, polymerization
- Glass-lined and stainless reactors, 300–12,000 gal
Distillation & Purification
- Distillation columns, 12, 15 and 30 trays
- Wiped film evaporator
- Anhydrous HCl column
- Vacuum down to 10 mm Hg
For: solvent removal, purification, concentration
Drying
- Aqueous spray drying to powders
- Rotary vacuum drying for solvent-based products
- Moisture verified by Karl Fischer
Grinding & Dispersion
- Grinders for size reduction
- Dispersion mixers
- Homogenizers
- Particle size verified by laser diffraction
For: pigment concentrates, dispersions, emulsions
Blending & Mixing
- Liquid and powder blending
- Venturi mixers for gas/liquid
- Heating and cooling, -15°C to 300°C
Packaging & Storage
- Drums, totes and bulk
- Repackaging of bulk material
- Bulk storage and warehousing
Why Toll Process
When Toll Processing Makes Sense
Most partners come to us for one of these reasons. If one sounds familiar, toll processing is worth a conversation.
You're Missing a Step
Your plant makes the material but can’t distill, dry, grind or react it the way the finished product needs.
Demand Outran Capacity
Orders are up and one operation has become the bottleneck. We add capacity without you adding equipment.
A New Market Needs a New Form
Customers want a powder instead of a liquid, a finer particle size or a purer grade of something you already make.
The Product Is Still in Development
Demand isn’t proven yet, so buying equipment doesn’t make sense. Toll processing lets you test the market first.
You Want to Avoid Capital Spend
No equipment purchase, installation, floor space, permits, maintenance or extra operators to hire.
The Conditions Are Demanding
Pressure up to 500 psig, wide temperature ranges or vacuum that your own equipment isn’t rated for.
Two Programs. One Campus.
Single-Step or Multi-Step Toll Processing
The difference is how many operations your material needs. In both programs you supply the material and specification, and you keep ownership of your IP.
Option 1
Single-Step Processing
One Operation. Done Right. Sent Back to Spec.
You need one thing done to your material, such as distilling it, drying it or reducing its particle size. We run that step to your specification and test the result.
- One defined operation on your material
- Feasibility trial to set operating parameters
- Testing against your specification
- Batch records and test results for every run
- Packaged and returned or shipped to your customer
Best for: companies missing one step in their process, or short on capacity for a single operation.
Option 2
Multi-Step Processing
Several Operations. One Program. No Transfers.
Your material needs a sequence, such as react, distill, dry and package. We run every step on the same campus, so it never ships between facilities along the way.
- A defined sequence of operations, planned up front
- No shipping or handling between steps
- In-process testing between operations
- One point of contact and one set of batch records
- Storage and packaging at the end of the line
Best for: companies whose material needs more than one operation, or who want fewer vendors in the chain.
Want a complete product made from your formula? See toll manufacturing
Why SantoTolling®
What You Gain When We Process for You
A toll processor becomes part of your quality chain. Here’s what comes with a SantoTolling program.
No Capital Outlay
Use reactors, columns, dryers and mixers that are already installed, permitted and staffed instead of buying your own.
Many Operations, One Campus
Reaction, purification, drying, blending and packaging sit side by side, so multi-step work never leaves the site.
Results You Can Verify
A 24/7 lab tests incoming material, in-process samples and finished product against your spec, with batch records for every run.
Trial Before You Commit
A feasibility trial confirms your material processes to spec and sets the parameters before production runs.
Your IP Stays Yours
You supply the material and the spec. Every project starts under a confidentiality agreement.
Quality & Compliance
ISO 9001:2015, ChemStewards, EPA and FIFRA registration, and Kosher and Halal certified products.
Side by Side
Toll Processing vs. Toll Manufacturing vs. Contract Manufacturing
Three ways to work with SantoTolling, depending on what you bring and what you need back.
| This pageToll Processing | ServiceToll Manufacturing | ServiceContract Manufacturing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you send | Your raw materials or intermediates | Your formula and specifications | Your product specification |
| What we do | Specific operations on your material | Produce your complete product | Source, produce, test and package |
| Raw materials | Supplied by you | Usually supplied by you | Sourced by SantoTolling |
| IP | Stays yours | Stays yours | Set in your agreement |
| Best fit | Missing a step or short on capacity | Proven formula, no plant | Want finished goods, hands off |
How It Works
From Incoming Material to Processed Product
Every toll processing program follows the same five steps, so you know what happens next and who owns it.
Consultation & NDA
We sign a confidentiality agreement, then review your material and the operations you need.
Material & Spec Review
Engineers check composition, purity, particle size, moisture and temperature limits against our equipment.
Feasibility Trial
A trial run confirms the material processes to spec and sets parameters for production.
Production Processing
Runs to the approved settings, with in-process testing and batch records.
Test, Pack & Ship
Release testing, then packaging in drums, totes or bulk, returned to you or shipped to your customer.
Capabilities Behind Every Run
Equipment and Conditions You Can Plan Around
Toll processing runs on the same infrastructure that supports SantoLubes® Manufacturing’s own product lines.
- Stainless steel reactors, 300–12,000 gal; glass-lined, 300–4,000 gal
- Distillation columns (12, 15, 30 trays) and wiped film evaporator
- Aqueous spray dryers and rotary vacuum dryer
- Grinders, dispersion mixers, homogenizers and venturi mixers
- 33 vessels and 67 tanks for blending, holding and storage
- Packaging and repackaging in drums, totes and bulk
500 psig
Max pressure
-15° to 300°C
Temperature range
10 mm Hg
Vacuum
Reactor Fleet
19 glass-lined and stainless reactors.
Purification & Drying
Distillation, evaporation and drying on site.
24/7 Analytical Lab
Testing on every run.
Industries We Serve
Toll Processing for Demanding Markets
Agriculture
Pesticide actives, adjuvants and crop protection blends made under EPA and FIFRA registration.
Aviation
Aerospace-grade fluids and specialty intermediates produced under strict quality control.
Automotive
Specialty fluids, additives and coatings for OEM and aftermarket supply chains.
Oil & Gas
Corrosion inhibitors, surfactants and specialty additives for upstream and midstream.
FAQ
Straight answers to what buyers ask us most before a toll processing project.
What is chemical toll processing?
Chemical toll processing is an arrangement in which a company sends its own raw materials or intermediates to an outside processor, which runs one or more specific operations on them, such as reacting, distilling, drying, grinding or blending, for a fee and returns or ships the processed material. SantoTolling provides toll processing on its campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
What is the difference between toll processing and toll manufacturing?
Toll processing focuses on specific operations performed on a client's material, such as distillation, drying or size reduction, while toll manufacturing usually means producing a complete product to the client's formula and process. In both cases the client typically supplies the formula or materials and keeps ownership of its IP. SantoTolling offers both.
What operations can SantoTolling perform under a toll processing agreement?
SantoTolling can run chemical reactions in 19 reactors, distillation in columns with 12, 15 and 30 trays, wiped film evaporation, aqueous spray drying, rotary vacuum drying for solvent-based products, grinding, dispersion mixing and homogenizing, liquid and powder blending, and packaging or repackaging in drums, totes or bulk.
Who supplies the raw materials in toll processing?
In toll processing the client usually supplies the raw materials or intermediates and the specification, and SantoTolling supplies the equipment, utilities, operators and testing. SantoTolling can source supplementary materials on request when a process needs them.
Can SantoTolling run several processing steps as one program?
Yes. Because reaction, purification, drying, blending and packaging equipment sit on the same campus, SantoTolling can run a multi-step sequence on your material as one program, without shipping it between facilities between steps.
Can I run a trial before committing to production volumes?
Yes. Most toll processing programs start with a feasibility trial, which confirms the material processes to specification and sets the operating parameters used for production runs. Pilot work runs in reactors starting at 300 gallons.
How is processed material tested?
SantoTolling's 24/7 analytical lab tests incoming material, in-process samples and finished product using GC, GC-MS, LC-MS, NMR, FTIR and UV-Vis, along with particle size analysis, Karl Fischer water analysis, titration, viscosity and surface tension measurement, under ISO 9001:2015 quality systems.
How do I start a toll processing project with SantoTolling?
Start with a free consultation by calling (864) 585-3661, emailing sales@santolubes.com or booking a call with an engineer through our contact page. Share the material, the operations you need, your specifications, volumes and safety data sheets, and an engineer will follow up to scope the project.
