History
Brenntag Canada – over 100 years in Canadian chemical distribution
Early Years
It all began in 1897, with the discovery of a method of extracting valuable chemicals from scrap hardwood by Arthur Godfrey Peuchen. Peuchen went on to establish the company “Standard Chemicals” in order to exploit his discovery.
In 1912, Peuchen traveled to Europe to promote his company’s product. This proved to be an eventful trip and, on his return trip to North America, he survived the tragic sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic and saved the lives of more than 30 people. Arthur Peuchen’s company went on to become one of the most important chemical distributors in Canada and has remained in the business for 107 years.
The company, originally known as Standard Chemicals, has experienced many significant events in its history, beginning in 1940 when Dominion Tar and Chemical Co. Ltd. (later known as Domtar) purchased Standard Chemicals and operated it as their chemical distribution business. In 1955, a short 15 years later, PPG Industries acquired Standard Chemicals and its operations in the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba. The company, by then known as Stanchem, continued to flourish under the direction of PPG Industries for the next 30 years.
1980 - 1989
The Canadian chemical industry began to change rapidly in the 1980’s. In 1985, CIL acquired Stanchem and merged it with its General Chemicals distribution business. In 1988, CIL became ICI Canada, who began to divest non-core Canadian businesses, including Stanchem.
The timing could not have been better. In another part of the world, Holland Chemical International (HCI), was looking for an opportunity to extend and strengthen its presence in North America beyond its original South American roots.
1990 - 1999
Impressed by Stanchem’s successful position in the market, HCI acquired the company in 1990. At this time, the HCI Group was the fifth largest chemical distributor in the world with impressive market share in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and North America and holding the number one position in Latin America.
In 1996, HCI Canada began a series of acquisitions. The company acquired a colour concentrates production facility to complement the resin and plastics distribution business. The following year, HCI Canada purchased Travis Chemicals an oil & gas supply business based in Alberta, which significantly increased its share of this important market. More recently in 1998, HCI Canada purchased a chlorine packaging facility located in Cornwall, Ontario from Pioneer Chemicals.
2000 - Present Day
In 2000, Brenntag acquired HCI and became the world market leader in chemical distribution over night. This purchase resulted in one more name change for the resilient Canadian operation originally known as Standard Chemicals and Brenntag Canada Inc. came into being.
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