How to Avoid Costly Chemical Mistakes – Knack 4 Business with Joel T. Shertok
Chemical scale‑up can destroy profits if done wrong. Joel T. Shertok explains how manufacturers avoid million‑dollar mistakes, navigate PFAS risks, and scale safely on Knack 4 Business.
Hosts: Bernie Franzgrote + Wayne Pratt
When your product turns green overnight or your plant shuts down after 24 hours, it’s usually not bad luck—it’s a bad scale-up process.
Chemical mistakes aren’t just expensive—they’re avoidable.
In this episode of the Knack 4 Business podcast, we sit down with Joel T. Shertok, founder of Process Industries Consultants, who’s helped companies—from startups to global manufacturers—avoid million-dollar errors by thinking smarter, not faster.
He shares the kind of stories and truths you wish someone had told you earlier.
Watch the full conversation here:
WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR
- SMB owners 3–10 years into growth
- Solopreneurs exploring product innovation
- Corporate escapees building scalable businesses
- Leaders managing manufacturing or physical goods
- Startups in biotech, clean tech, or advanced materials
KEY LESSONS
Takeaway 1 – Scaling chemistry isn’t simple
When you're scaling a chemical process, it’s not just bigger tanks and more pressure. Chemistry changes under different conditions. Joel shares how even good lab results can fail in production—and why most startups underestimate timelines by years.
Takeaway 2 – The tiniest impurity can wreck everything
A story that stuck: a 1 part-per-million impurity turned a clear auto coating green. The client nearly walked away. That’s how sensitive chemical processes are—and why testing time matters more than test equipment.
Takeaway 3 – Don't invent unless you have to
Many founders want to build everything from scratch. Joel’s advice? Don’t. If a safe, approved chemical exists, use it. Buying smarter is often cheaper, faster, and less risky than inventing a new compound—especially when regulations are involved.
PRACTICAL STEPS
Here’s what you can do this week:
- Review your current process documentation. Are safety data sheets in order? Do you know all your ingredients?
- Check your timeline assumptions. Add 6–12 months to whatever you think your product-to-market timeline is.
- Talk to your suppliers. Are you building something that already exists off the shelf?
ABOUT THE GUEST
Joel T. Shertok is the founder of Process Industries Consultants. He works with manufacturers and startups to scale chemical processes, improve filtration and material technologies, and navigate regulatory compliance with EPA, OSHA, and beyond.
Joel’s spent decades leading teams, launching products, and helping clean tech founders get to market without getting shut down.
LISTEN ON AUDIO
Listen to the Knack 4 Business podcast:
More episodes:
https://tinyurl.com/3rhcpmyd
• Leave a comment or question on LinkedIn – Bernie Franzgrote or Wayne Pratt
• Explore more at Knack 4 Business
• Curious about growth tools? Join Canada Growth Network
• Sponsor thanks: Gentry Learning, Property Wizard
FAQ
What is the biggest mistake in chemical manufacturing?
Poor scale-up. Many manufacturers skip testing or documentation and find out too late when products fail or regulators knock.
Why do small chemical changes matter?
A single impurity—1 part per million—can change a product’s color, stability, or safety. Even small tweaks need testing.
Can startups build their own chemical compounds?
They can—but they shouldn’t unless it’s a true competitive advantage. Buying known, safe chemicals is faster and cheaper in most cases.
