The Beginning |
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Since 1958, CRC INDUSTRIES, INC. (CRC) has aspired
to become the leading manufacturer of specialty
chemicals used in general maintenance and repair
products. CRC's broad range of products are
known for their quality worldwide and serve the
many segments of the international automotive and
industrial markets. Driven by an
entrepreneurial spirit, CRC stands for innovation,
quality and a commitment to serving the needs of
the end-user. The company's growth and
international scope are a tribute to the men and
women whose vision and hard work have made CRC a
success. This is the story of the company
that CRC is today, as well as the past that has
guided its development and its outlook for the
future. From the company's beginning in a
Pennsylvania garage to its current presence in
120 countries, the CRC story is one that reaches
around the world and into the future. |
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Recognizing Opportunity |
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The history of CRC began in the spring of 1958. Charles
J. Webb II, a successful entrepreneur in the wool industry,
was interested in diversifying his business. He became
aware of a new chemical anti-corrosion product being
marketed by a West Coast company and was intrigued by its
sales potential. He traveled to California and made a
verbal agreement to distribute the product east of the
Mississippi and in Europe in exchange for equity in the
company. He wrote a check for $54,000, and a freight
car of the product was sent rattling over the rails toward
Philadelphia.
The West Coast company later decided to dissolve the agreement,
and their president, who was the product's inventor, Norman
Larson, left the company because of this conflict.
Webb offered Larson the opportunity to improve the product
and, if successful, join forces with him in establishing
a competing organization.
Webb moved him to Philadelphia, set up a temporary laboratory,
and gave Larson until September to perfect his improved
product. If tests in September indicated that the product
was improved and ready to manufacture, they would discuss a
more permanent arrangement. Larson agreed.
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A Company Is Born |
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By Labor Day Larson had perfected the product by making
it less flammable and more corrosion resistant. On
October 6, 1958, the company was formalized as a
Pennsylvania corporation called Corrosion Reaction
Consultants, Inc. Larson received equity in the new
company and was elected president. Webb capitalized
the business, and CRC was born.
For the first few years the company sold one product - CRC
Corrosion Inhibitor. As its name suggests, the product
was a multi-purpose lubricant used to suppress corrosion in
mechanical and electrical machinery. The company's
manufacturing plant was a garage, and the product's key
ingredients were put together in 55-gallon drums.
A 6,000-gallon tank truck was rented and sent around to
various chemical suppliers to add the proper amounts of
each chemical solvent. The truck driver would then
drive around for a few hours to shake and blend the
product.
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Corporate Headquarters |
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By 1963 this process was necessary about every two
weeks. It was time for a change. The company
moved to a leased building at Dresher,
Pennsylvania. The facility originally had 20,000
square feet of space, which was then doubled through
various expansions to accommodate the growth of the
company.
In April 1974, CRC purchased and moved into a larger building
in Warminster, Pennsylvania, which would ultimately become the
corporate headquarters, as well as the company's largest
manufacturing plant.
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The Development of Complete Product Lines |
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Shortly after the move to Dresher in 1963, CRC decided to
specialize by developing products that target specific
markets. The original product, 5-56®, was
reformulated, and alternatives were developed that satisfied
specific needs for the automotive, industrial, electrical,
marine and aviation markets. This approach was very
successful and was followed by the development of a wide
range of complementary products.
Over the years, many products have been developed. CRC
offers a complete range of cleaners, lubricants, corrosion
inhibitors, protective coatings, degreasers, greases, additives
and specialty products which have been tailored for specific
customer maintenance and repair needs.
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The Growth of The CRC International Network
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As early as 1961, CRC began working with distributors in
Europe, and in 1967 CRC Chemicals Europe was incorporated in
Brussels, Belgium. Originally, product concentrate was
imported from America. It was mixed and filled locally
at a custom filler.
The first CRC facility, established in early 1968 in Brussels,
was actually a rented house in a residential neighborhood. The
house was used as offices, and the warehouse was in the garage.
By 1969 business had grown, and the operation moved to a modern,
leased facility. A few more employees were added, and mixing
tanks were installed. In 1971 product concentrates were mixed
on site. In 1974 aerosol filling began on a small scale with
the installation of a semi-automated production line.
In 1975 a manufacturing plant was built in Zele, Belgium. This
facility was designed to manufacture nearly all of the same products
that are manufactured in the U.S., with the range defined by local
customer requirements. By 1977 volume had increased
significantly, and it became practical to install the equipment
needed to do all aerosol filling automatically on site.
Throughout the late seventies and eighties, CRC Chemicals Europe
expanded its operations throughout Europe by establishing a mix of
subsidiaries and distributors. In 1994 the Zele facility was
expanded and its capacity increased to meet demand well into the
next century.
Paralleling the growth in Belgium, CRC Australia was established
in 1969 at Sydney, Australia. By 1974 installation of aerosol
and bulk filling lines was completed, and product was being sold
throughout Australia and the rest of the Pacific Basin.
In 1980 a larger facility was opened at Castle Hill, Australia. Today
a full range of CRC products are produced and packaged at the
Australian plant. Through subsidiaries, acquisitions, and
market penetration, CRC Australia established export agreements with
more than 15 countries in the Asian Region.
By the 1990s, CRC was sold in more than 120 countries. In 1994
CRC further extended its international presence by establishing a
fourth operating unit in Asia.
The company today maintains four independent operating groups
headquartered in the United States, Australia, Europe and
Asia. Each operating group provides manufacturing and
distribution centers to serve local markets.
CRC has been a member of the Berwind Group since
1981. http://www.berwind.com
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External Growth
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The acquisition of Siloo® in 1983 enabled CRC to offer
its customers a significant number of new products. Founded in
1935, Siloo® was responsible for producing the first commercially
available packaged oil additive. Over the years the company
introduced such products as Siloo® Diesel Fuel Conditioner,
Siloo® Transmission Kleen and Siloo® Gas Line Anti-Freeze.
In 1984 CRC acquired Kontakt Chemie®, a German electronics specialty
chemical supplier. As they would do with all acquisitions, CRC
retained the company's well-established trade name.
In 1993 CRC acquired Sta-Lube® and once again expanded its product
range of specialty chemicals.
Sta-Lube® is a manufacturer of specialty lubricants, greases and
hand soaps. Founded in 1933, Sta-Lube has long been a dominant
force in the specialty lubricant market.
Also in 1993, CRC acquired Siceront KF®. As the French market
leader of specialty chemicals for the electrical, industrial and
electronic markets, KF® has proven to be another winning addition
to the CRC family.
In 1994 CRC acquired Seaclear, a New Zealand company with the Mendent
brand name. Through this acquisition, CRC began to offer a
range of polyester fillers for the automotive body repair market.
As the result of an acquisition in 1995, CRC Australia now offers a
range of automotive car care products with the Repo® brand name.
In 1999 CRC acquired K&W Products, Inc. This highly
successful acquisition gave CRC some leading automotive brand names,
such as Block Seal, Trans-X®, Aviex® and Copper Coat®.
In 2001, CRC acquired Marikate Ship Shape, Inc. Its Marykate®
brand cleaners, waxes, and specialty appearance and maintenance
products helped to expand CRC's existing marine product offering of
professional grade lubricants, corrosion protectants and engine
maintenance chemicals.
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