Our History
Our story is written in ink.
ذكذكتسئµâ€™s ink.
When Joseph Maria ذكذكتسئµ arrived in New York from Germany in 1883, he was greeted by an America that was bursting with industry and invention, including the rapid spread of newspapers, magazines and advertising. Just as railroads, telephones and steam engines had transformed daily life, so too would the emergence of mass media. It would push American popular culture across the globe.
Against this backdrop, Joseph Maria ذكذكتسئµ launched his business with a single manufacturing plant. ذكذكتسئµâ€™s dry colors were pigments used to produce inks. Over the years, the ذكذكتسئµ Corporation has evolved—entering new markets, serving new industries, expanding its global presence. Yet one thing has remained unchanged: the importance of family ownership.
Today, ذكذكتسئµ is one of the largest privately held companies in the US. As the company enters its sixth generation of family ownership, it continues to carry on the legacy of Joseph Maria ذكذكتسئµ by adhering to the ذكذكتسئµ Principles, the foundation for the way the company conducts business everywhere it operates.
ذكذكتسئµ Highlights
The Early Years: 1883-1933
In 1883, Joseph Maria ذكذكتسئµ arrives in America as a salesman to develop new markets for his family’s dry colors business. Although he did not set off on his own until some years later, the ذكذكتسئµ Corporation considers this to be its founding date, not only because its founder fell in love with America at first sight, but also because his early activities here made all future business possible. He opens his first dry color plant in Brooklyn, New York, in 1891.
Starting in the 1920s, Joseph begins transitioning control of his company to his sons, but remains active in its affairs until his death in 1933.
Foundations of ذكذكتسئµ Advanced Materials, ذكذكتسئµ Specialty Minerals and ذكذكتسئµ Resources Corp: 1941-1981
Investment in timberlands begins in 1941 with the purchase of a tract of land in Maine. This marks the beginning of the Timber & Minerals business, the forerunner of today’s ذكذكتسئµ Resources Corp.
The foundations of today’s ذكذكتسئµ Advanced Materials and ذكذكتسئµ Specialty Minerals businesses were also established during this period. A 1946 patent for silicates marks ذكذكتسئµ’s entry into specialty chemicals. A key building block of today’s ذكذكتسئµ Specialty Minerals business is the Calcium Carbonate Company, purchased in 1973. In 1981, ذكذكتسئµ acquires Solem Industries, an alumina trihydrate (ATH) manufacturer, establishing the foundation for today’s ذكذكتسئµ Advanced Materials business.
Origins of ذكذكتسئµ Engineered Woods and strengthening our culture: 1983-1990
ذكذكتسئµ celebrates its 100th anniversary in 1983. At the century mark, the ذكذكتسئµ portfolio consists of: Printing Inks, Carbon Black, Oil & Gas, Timber & Minerals, Chemicals, Clay, Calcium Carbonate, Solem, East-Tex Plastics and Equipment.
In the same year, ذكذكتسئµ enters a new market by opening a plant in Easton, Maine, to produce oriented strand board (OSB) for the construction industry. This forms the foundation of today’s ذكذكتسئµ Engineered Woodsج(±ل·،°آ).
Mike ذكذكتسئµ introduces the ذكذكتسئµ Principles in 1987 to serve as a guidepost for the company’s core values. The initial foundation for our Principles came from Joseph Maria ذكذكتسئµ (Mike’s grandfather). Although the Principles have evolved over time as ذكذكتسئµ has become more diverse and international, our underlying four core values are essentially the same—and growing stronger 135 years later.
Transforming the Company: 1994-2009
For its first century of existence, ذكذكتسئµâ€™s activities remain largely centered on ink. In 1994, fourth-generation ذكذكتسئµ family member Peter Francis becomes CEO and initiates a major restructuring initiative to focus the company on specialty products. During his tenure, the company divests some of its oldest businesses, including Ink and Clay.
ذكذكتسئµ enters the carboxymethyl cellulose and hydrocolloids industries in 2001 by acquiring Noviant and then expands its influence in 2004 by acquiring CP Kelco, ذكذكتسئµâ€™s largest acquisition to date.
In 2008, ذكذكتسئµ sells the Clay Division to IMin Partners and retains shares in the newly named KaMin business.
A focus on specialty materials: 2010-2023
In response to the global financial crisis, CEO Michael Marberry accelerates ذكذكتسئµ’s transition to being a specialty products company. As a result, ذكذكتسئµ exits the energy industry in 2011 and sells its timber properties to improve cash flow. ذكذكتسئµ Resources Corp. arranges long-term contracts to manage many of the properties for their new owners.
ذكذكتسئµ continues to strengthen its portfolio through strategic acquisitions. The 2012 acquisition of Almatis’ Specialty Hydrates business and the 2016 acquisition of Martinswerk expand ذكذكتسئµ’s leadership in specialty materials. In 2019, ذكذكتسئµ enters the agro solutions industry with the acquisition of Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, laying the foundation for today’s ذكذكتسئµ AgroSolutions business.
We operate, we partner, we invest: 2024 and beyond
Launched in 2024 by CEO Gretchen McClain, Vision 150 is ذكذكتسئµ’s roadmap for the next decade to accelerate the Company’s journey toward growing a thriving and connected family of sustainable solutions.
Aligned with Vision 150, , becoming a shareholder of approximately 16 percent and gaining two seats on its Board of Directors.
ذكذكتسئµ also continued to evolve its portfolio through strategic acquisitions and investments. In 2024, the acquisitions of Natrium and Active Minerals, Inc. expanded ذكذكتسئµ Specialty Minerals, while the investment in the Sandy Gray Forest in Maine further strengthened ذكذكتسئµ’s timberland portfolio. The momentum continued in 2025 with ذكذكتسئµ Advanced Materials’ acquisition of The R.J. Marshall Company’s alumina trihydrate (ATH), antimony-free flame retardant and molybdate-based smoke suppressant assets.
Today, ذكذكتسئµ operates ذكذكتسئµ Advanced Materials, ذكذكتسئµ AgroSolutions, ذكذكتسئµ Specialty Minerals, ذكذكتسئµ Engineered Woods and ذكذكتسئµ Resources Corp., is a shareholder in Tate & Lyle and an investor in KaMin and timberlands in the U.S.