History
Providing Solutions for Over 80 Years
Reichhold is the world's largest manufacturer of unsaturated polyester resins for composites and a leading supplier of coating resins for the industrial, transportation, building and construction, marine, consumer and graphic arts markets.
Reichhold has 18 manufacturing locations throughout North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Europe.
First Innovations
Reichhold's history of innovation began when founder Henry Reichhold immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1924 and found employment in the paint department of the Ford Motor Company.
Ford's assembly line production of the Model-T was hampered by the prolonged drying requirements of paint, lacquers and varnishes, taking anywhere from days to weeks resulting in an inordinate amount of production delays. Following a personal request from Henry Ford, Henry Reichhold customized a solution in a friend's garage using resins imported from his family's business in Europe.
These synthetic resins radically decreased drying times (from weeks to hours) while imparting better color and greater durability. These innovative resins enabled Ford to increase the speed of its assembly lines dramatically and contributing directly to the mass production and introduction of automobiles in the United States, and around the world.
Thus marked the beginning of a long history of innovation and commitment from Henry Reichhold who, in 1927, formed the company which would become Reichhold Chemicals and later, Reichhold, Inc.
More than 80 years later, that same spirit of innovation is alive and well at Reichhold. For eight decades, Reichhold has worked with its customers to deliver the customized solutions their businesses require.
Today, no other supplier has the global reach of Reichhold. From North America to Brazil, Europe and the Middle East, global manufacturing and technical support capabilities allow us to support customers' production needs globally, yet with a local focus.
And, while our size is an asset for the customers and markets we serve, it is our unyielding desire to innovate that makes Reichhold the supplier of choice within both the Composites and Coatings industries.
Historical Focus & Ownership
Over the years, Reichhold developed a wide range of polymers for the coatings industry and expanded into other areas including latex emulsions and unsaturated polyesters for composites fabricators.
Reichhold went public on the NYSE in 1955. In 1985, Reichhold acquired Swift® Adhesives, marking the company's entry into the manufacturing of formulated adhesives.
In 1987, Reichhold was acquired by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals (DIC). Through DIC, Reichhold gained resources from one of the world's largest chemical companies. The purchase of Reichhold also moved DIC into new markets and expanded its presence in existing markets.
In 2000, Reichhold moved to a strategic business unit structure including Composites, Coatings, Emulsions and Adhesives. Even at the inception of this structure however, it was clear that the ultimate goal of globalization would soon be realized, transforming the company from an organization that operated on a regional basis to a company that services customers worldwide.
In September 2005, Reichhold's six-member Executive Team, led by President and CEO John S. Gaither, completed a management buyout of the company from DIC.
Today, as a privately held company, Reichhold focuses its resources and technologies on core markets: resins and other materials for the composites, coatings and graphic arts markets.
Company Timeline
1927 - Founded by Henry Reichhold
1955 - Initial public offering on NYSE
1981 - Named Fortune 500 Company
1982 - Henry Reichhold retires
1985 - Swift Adhesives acquired
1987 - Reichhold acquired by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals (DIC)
1987 - Koppers polyester resin business acquired
1989 - Spencer Kellog coating resin business acquired
1992 - New headquarters and research facility dedicated in Research Triangle Park, NC (RTP)
1995 - Ashland Canadian coatings business acquired
1995 - Celanese Mexican resin business acquired
1995 - Reichhold Europe organized
1996 - Resana S/A (Brazil) resins and polymer business acquired
1997 - Jotun Polymer (Europe & Middle East) acquired
1998 - Company name shortened to Reichhold, Inc.
1998 - Innovative Performance Systems (IPS) JV formed
1999 - Reichhold acquires 100% ownership in Czech Republic (JV) (Spolchemie)
2000 - Fibercenter Ltda. (Brazil) acquired
2001 - Dow-Reichhold Synthetic Latex JV formed
2002 - Dow-Reichhold Synthetic Latex JV begins operations
2002 - Sale of Formulated Adhesives Business (SWIFT) to FORBO Finalized
2003 - Gel Coat Plant Operational in Fredrikstad, Norway
2004 - Morris, IL plant capacity increased
2005 - Reichhold executive team completes management buyout from DIC
