American Colloid

Company History: American Colloid Co. is a leading U.S. manufacturer of materials, such as absorbent polymers and bonding agents, consumed in mineral, environmental, and consumer products industries. Its offerings range from cat litter and absorbent polymers used in diapers to bentonite clay used in metal casting and for other industrial applications. The company operated 37 production/research facilities throughout the world in 1995 and was posting record profits, largely as a result of innovative new products.

American Colloid Co. was built on a single product; bentonite clay. Although various types and grades of Bentonite clay were in existence, the material that American Colloid began selling in the early 1900s was located in deposits as deep as 100 feet in the northern plains of the United States. That clay was formed from volcanic ash that, over millions of years, was transformed into a highly-absorbent, paste-like substance. Native Americans used the clay in several applications, including as a soap for buffalo hide, an ingredient in soils for decorative plants, and possibly even as a dietary supplement during pregnancy. Later, settlers began using the clay to seal log homes, pack inflamed horses hooves, and grease wheel axles.

Brief History: The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major Atlantic Coast cities are New York, a global finance and culture center, and capital Washington, DC. Midwestern metropolis Chicago is known for influential architecture and on the west coast, Los Angeles' Hollywood is famed for filmmaking.