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Company history

Hydrite's rich history has set the foundation for the company's past, present, and future success as we approach a century of service.

Make History With Us Today

 

The start of our future

Hydrite was started on February 5, 1929 by a group of five men. Milwaukee was a hotspot for tanning at that time and all of the leather used for harnesses by the U.S. Armed Services came from a Milwaukee tannery. At the time, the industry appeared to be a profitable one, but as the Depression stymied business, the company’s founders wanted to sell. The name Hydrite is a creatively spelled expression that came from the idea that using our chemicals would tan “hyde right”.

Richard C. Honkamp and Wayne W. Thompson quit their jobs in 1935 at Cities Services in Milwaukee after Wayne convinced his friend Richard that there was potential in a suffering company and thought they could make it successful. They purchased a major share in Hydrite and really went to work, selling more chemicals as they found new customers like commercial laundries in addition to the tanning industry.

In the beginning, one would tend to the office and warehouse and the other would go out looking for business. Arthur Graff, a part time truck driver for Hydrite, knew the tanning industry and was the best sales person, as he frequently made deliveries to the local tanners.

After the war, Honkamp and Thompson pursued other opportunities, seeking a depression proof product. They chose chlorine because of its wide use in sanitizing. As business grew, the company built its own chlorine plant. The pattern was set: Find a niche. Do it better than the competition. Always look for ways to improve. It’s still our mantra today. We are extremely proud of our reputation, the people we work with each day, and the adventurous path we’ve taken to get here.

 

Rich past, bright future

Values that were important when we started in 1929 still influence our behaviors today. Our rich history has helped us become one of North America's largest independent manufacturers and distributors of specialty and industrial chemicals. Driven by our 1,000+ employees, diverse suppliers and partners, and growing customer base, we look forward to a bright future ahead.

  • 1929 - Hydrite Chemical Co. founded in Milwaukee, WI

Pictured: Hydrite’s first warehouse and office located in the Menomonee Industry Valley in the heart of Milwaukee’s tanning industry.

12th Street Warehouse

  • 1935 - Hydrite Chemical Co. purchased by Wayne Thompson and Richard Honkamp
  • 1938 - First tank car of sulfuric acid received

Pictured: Wayne Thompson & Richard Honkamp with the first full tanker of sulfuric acid

Wayne Thompson and Richard Honkamp with tanker

1941-1945

  • Raw materials were allocated due to World War II
  • Post World War II chemical distributors like Hydrite became channel partners for the producers

Pictured: Hydrite's Second logo, an early indicator of dry chemicals being converted into liquid products.

Wayne Thompson and Richard Honkamp with tanker

  • 1953 - Profit sharing plan established
  • 1955 - Milwaukee chlorine packaging plant starts up and first Hydrite chlorine cylinder is filled
  • 1958 - Hydrite reaches $1,000,000 in annual sales

Pictured: Wayne Thompson and Richard Honkamp at Hydrite’s first chlorine plant.

 

Wayne Thompson and Richard Honkamp at Hydrite’s first chlorine plant.

  • 1961 - Construction of a phosphoric acid plant begins in Milwaukee, WI
  • 1963 - Phosphoric acid plant is completed and manufacturing starts up

Pictured: Wayne Thompson cutting the tape at Hydrite’s phosphoric acid plant dedication. The plant, in partnership with Monsanto, operated for 23 years.

 

Wayne Thompson cutting the tape at Hydrite’s phosphoric acid plant dedication. The plant, in partnership with Monsanto, operated for 23 years.

  • 1970 - Aquired North Central Chemicals
  • 1973 - Purchased majority interest in U.S. Chemical Corp. 
  • 1973 - Aquired SanDet Corporation
  • 1973 - Aquired Wink Corporation
  • 1973 - Aquired U.S. Chemcial
  • 1974 - La Crosse, WI warehouse constructed
  • 1976 - Aquired Overton Chemical Sales
  • 1977 - Built organic solvent reclamation plant 
  • 1977 - Aquired Chem-Sol, Inc. 

Pictured: Overton Chemical was Hydrite’s first acquisition in Iowa, expanding our geographical reach in the Midwest.

 

Overton Chemical was Hydrite’s first acquisition in Iowa

 

  • 1981 - Purchased remaining stock in Overton Chemical
  • 1981 - Oshkosh, WI plant opened
  • 1981 - Organic solvent reclamation plant expansion added
  • 1982 - Added 1.6 million gallons of bulk liquid caustic soda storage at La Crosse, WI warehouse to receive barge shipments
  • 1984-1985 - Iowa consolidation (Waterloo, IA)
  • 1985 - Aquired Beaver Chemical Company Inc.
  • 1985 - Established a food processing business unit
  • 1987 - Avganic

Pictured: A new facility with room to grow opened in Waterloo, IA

A new facility with room to grow opened in Waterloo, IA

  • 1990 - Moved to offices in Brookfield, WI
  • 1990 - Aquired Benlo Chemicals Inc.
  • 1991 - Aquired Chemicals Plus, Inc.
  • 1993 - University Park, IL facility constructed
  • 1994 - Our first sulfur burner started up in Waterloo, IA
  • 1995 - Sulfur burner installed in Terre Haute, IN 
  • 1995 - Aquired Jayar - Hoag Chemical Co.
  • 1997 - Aquired Phillips & Martin Co.
  • 1998 - Sold U.S. Chemical Corp. to S.C. Johnson
  • 1999 - Aquired Costec Inc.

Pictured: Hydrite’s former corporate office in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

 

Hydrite’s former corporate office in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

  • 2000 - Aquired Solvox
  • 2004 - ISO 9001:2000 registration received in Cottage Grove, WI
  • 2005 - Aquired Patco
  • 2005 - Solvox relocates to Bradley Road and new Technical Center opens in Milwaukee, WI
  • 2006 - Aquired Murnco
  • 2009 - Epoxy plant joint venture with Advanced Polymer Corporation starts up
  • 2009 - Aquired Hydrite Advanced Resins

Pictured: Hydrite’s investment into more complex manufacturing continues, pictured is a reactor train in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.

 

Hydrite’s investment into more complex manufacturing continues, pictured is a reactor train in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.

  • 2011 - Aquired Choice Chemical Inc.
  • 2012 - Ammonium Thiosulfate production starts in Waterloo, IA
  • 2012 - Sold our paper non-defoamer Solvox line to ChemTreat
  • 2012 - Milwaukee-West building is purchased
  • 2015 - Exclusive production for Dow starts in Cottage Grove, WI and Lucidene/Morcryl product line is purchased from Dow
  • 2017 - Aquired Servco
  • 2018 - Aquired Organic Defoamer Group
  • 2019 - Hydrite celebrates 90 years in business

Pictured: Servco® in Lubbock, Texas was acquired to bring us closer to our growing food customers. The acquisition of Servco also brought Hydrite into the energy industry.

Servco® in Lubbock, Texas was acquired to bring us closer to our growing food customers. The acquisition of Servco also brought Hydrite into the energy industry.

  • 2020 - Aquired Sacramento Agriculture (Sac Ag)
  • 2020 - Broke ground on the new company headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin, merging customer service, engineering, and corporate groups
  • 2021 - New company headquarters construction is completed
  • 2023 - Hydrite won Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year
  • 2024 - Hydrite celebrates 95 years in business
  • 2024 - Aquired Fife Water Services Inc. & Precision Polymer Corporation

Pictured: The new Hydrite headquarters is a two-story, 45,000-square-foot space with floor-to-ceiling windows, energy-saving features, and recycled building materials.

 

The new Hydrite headquarters is a two-story, 45,000-square-foot space with floor-to-ceiling windows, energy-saving features, and recycled building materials.

 

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95 YEARS AND COUNTING

Hydrite has been supplying customers with quality chemicals for 95 years, and we have no plan on stopping anytime soon! Join our growing team and make history.

 

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