W.R. Grace & Company is marking a century of manufacturing at the company’s Grace Davison operations in Baltimore (Curtis Bay), Md.
Manufacturing at this location began in 1910 with the production of sulfuric acid, a basic building block of the early chemical industry. In later years, sulfuric acid was produced onsite for use in fabricating munitions during World War I, and as the basis for silica gel that was manufactured throughout World War II as a dehydrating agent to protect shipments from the damaging effects of air and moisture, and as a catalyst to “crack” the hydrocarbon chain during the process of converting oil into high-octane aviation fuel.
Today, this site employs around 500 employees with an average tenure of 18 years and has 10 production facilities that manufacture hundreds of products from four general product lines: fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts, hydroprocessing catalysts, polyolefin catalysts and silicas. These products are used by customers to produce items found in everyday life, ranging from toothpaste to gasoline to bottles and cans.
To celebrate the centennial anniversary, Grace is unveiling a new display today at the Baltimore Museum of Industry to help visitors learn about the company’s history of manufacturing in the state. In conjunction, Grace is recognizing college scholarship recipients that have received funds from the Grace Foundation, the company’s philanthropic affiliate.
Baltimore operations director Jon Kimmel commented, “This site has an important impact on our local economy. In 2009, we exported around $125 million of products and had a payroll in excess of $35 million. More recently, we were ranked as the tenth largest manufacturer in the region by the Baltimore Business Journal.”
Kimmel continued, “Our success is only possible due to the dedication and innovation of the thousands of employees that have worked at this site over the years. It is a tremendous privilege to be part of such an impressive legacy.”
David James, K-1 maintenance shop leader and a member of International Chemical Workers Union Council, Local 976C, said, “I have worked at this facility for more than four decades and have seen it expand in ways that I could not have imagined when I joined the company. I knew from my first day on February 24, 1965 that I wanted to work at this site for a long time. It is the place where I have developed new skills for a long-term career, earned a living for my family and met many friends. It’s been a great run, which is why I have probably stayed so long.”
Employees at the site have earned several special distinctions due to their focus on safety and sustainability, including the Responsible Care Facility Safety Award (2010) for having zero lost time occupational injuries in 2009 and the Responsible Care Energy Efficiency Award for water, energy and natural gas usage reductions (2009 and 2010) from the American Chemistry Council. The usage reductions were achieved through the development, installation and optimization of proprietary technology and equipment.
Employees are also active in the community. For more than a decade, employees have organized a holiday outreach for low-income families and seniors. The outreach has collectively helped more than 2,000 people with donations of food, clothing and gifts. More recently, employees made financial contributions to earthquake relief in Haiti. As a result of this outreach and others, Grace was presented with the Corporate Citizen Award from the American Red Cross of Central Maryland (2010) and the Business Philanthropy Award in the Large company category (2009) from the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.
A fact sheet prepared for the centennial with more information on the site is available online at http://www.grace.com/Media/GraceInYourArea/Default.aspx.
Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, and specialty chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. Founded in 1854, Grace has operations in more than 40 countries.
W. R. Grace & Co. celebrated the 100th anniversary of its manufacturing site in Baltimore (Curtis Bay), Maryland on September 14, 2010. Pictured here is an aerial shot of the site's ten production facilities located on 88 acres. (Photo: W. R. Grace & Co.)
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The W. R. Grace & Co. manufacturing site in Baltimore, Maryland produces products found in a variety of everyday items, ranging from toothpaste to gasoline to bottles and cans. Pictured here is a nighttime shot of the plant. (Photo: W. R. Grace & Co.)
