Reichhold history

In order to simplify the importation of his main product from Germany, Reichhold set up his company as Beck, Koller, & Company, United States In 1928, the company took delivery of its second paint shipment from Europe.

In 1929, Reichhold made his first acquisition, buying the Synthe-Copal Company, of Buffalo, New York.

In 1930, Reichhold and O'Connor incorporated their venture in the state of Delaware, calling it Beck, Koller, & Company.

In 1931, he established research laboratories to develop synthetic resins, using phenols and other chemicals.

In 1934, for instance, he had the Synthe-Copal plant in Buffalo dismantled and moved to Michigan, where his automotive customers were.

In 1935, a plant was built in San Francisco, but it burned down the following year.

By 1937, operations had been established in Great Britain and Austria.

The company became Reichhold Chemicals, Inc. in 1938.

In 1942, a factory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama opened to make synthetic phenol.

In 1951, the company agreed with a Swiss company to manufacture resins, and more importantly, formed a joint venture with a Japanese firm, the Dainippon Printing Ink Manufacturing Company, Limited.

In 1954, the company revealed plans for further expansion, pledging to spend $10 million on improvements to its American factories.

His scientific work was recognized by the Intra-Research Foundation of Los Angeles when he was awarded its Louis Pasteur Humanitarian Award in 1976.

By 1981, RCI's sales had reached nearly $1 billion, and the company had joined the ranks of the Fortune 500.

By the time Reichhold retired in 1982, the company had factories in 23 states and 24 countries, producing resins, plastics, adhesives, paints, and other products.

In 1985, the company bought its Canadian subsidiary Reichhold Limited, and also acquired Swift Adhesives from the Eschem company, moving strongly into the adhesives production industry.