A Long History of Looking Ahead
From pioneering catalysts to advancing engineered materials, Grace’s legacy is built on scientific rigor, customer collaboration and a future-focus. Today, our global manufacturing network spans North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, with thousands of employees worldwide tackling our customers’ challenges as if they are our own. Our journey continues as we innovate for tomorrow, enabling industries to enhance modern life.
Founding & Early Trade (1832–1900)
In 1832, William Russell Grace left Ireland for Callao, Peru where, in 1854, he launched W. R. Grace & Co. a shipping business that would evolve into a global enterprise. In 1872, he formally chartered W. R. Grace & Co. in New York and less than 10 years later was elected mayor of New York City twice (in 1880 and 1884). In 1885, Grace, in his capacity as mayor, accepted the Statue of Liberty from the people of France – a treasured symbol of enduring legacy.
Commercial Breakthroughs & Industrial Expansion (1900–2000)
1909
Opened Davison’s Curtis Bay Works facility in Curtis Bay, Maryland.
1914
Established the Grace National Bank, forerunner of Marine Midland Bank. Sent the first commercial vessel through the newly constructed Panama Canal.
1917
Supported the U.S. war effort during World War I.
1923
Davison Chemical Company began selling silica gel, making Grace’s Curtis Bay site the oldest silica gel manufacturing facility in the world.
1926
Davison Chemical introduced the RANEY® brand of nickel catalysts for organic synthesis and chemical production.
1928
Grace and Pan American Airways jointly formed Panagra, establishing the first air link between the Americas.
1939
RANEY® catalysts used in Nobel Prize-winning hormone synthesis research.
1942
Davison’s Curtis Bay Works shipped the world’s first synthetic fluid cracking catalysts for petroleum refining to the world's first commercial fluid cracking catalyst unit in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
1947
Established the industry’s first technical services facility for fluid catalytic catalysts.
1948
Davison introduced the world’s first microspheroidal fluid catalytic cracking catalyst.
1949
Launched SYLOID® silica products, now industry standards for coatings and matting agents.
1953
Davison opened the Lake Charles, Louisiana plant for fluid cracking catalysts.
1954
Acquired Davison Chemical Company and Dewey & Almy Chemical Company, establishing the basis for catalysts, packaging, silicas, and construction product lines.
1957
Davison opened its first plant in Canada in Valleyfield, Quebec. Helped develop improved silica-based polyolefin catalyst—the first large commercial market was hula hoops!
1958
Established the Washington Research Center in Columbia, Maryland.
1963
Introduced pelletized silica gel for pharmaceutical desiccants.
1964
Invented the ultra-stable Y zeolite (USY) for use in fluid catalytic cracking.
1972
Opened a European manufacturing site in Worms, Germany—now a hub for catalysts and silica products.
1980
Developed MAGNAPORE® catalysts for the production of high-density polyethylene plastics.
1984
Built Sorocaba, Brazil plant, the company’s first silica production facility in Latin America.
1993
Introduced oxygen-scavenging seals for beer bottles, enhancing freshness without preservatives.
1996
Built the company’s first silica products plant in Kuantan, Malaysia.
1999
Established company headquarters in Columbia, Maryland.
Modernization & Global Reach (2000–Present)
The early 2000s marked a challenging period for the company, including a Chapter 11 reorganization related to legacy asbestos claims. Grace emerged from this process with a renewed focus on innovation, operational excellence and customer collaboration.
2001
Filed first patent on superparamagnetic silica; entered into a joint venture, Advanced Refining Technologies LLC, for hydroprocessing catalysts with Chevron Products Company.
2002
Donated more than 40,000 square feet of a watertight roof underlayment to help repair and replace a part of the Pentagon roof in Washington, D.C.
2010
Acquired Synthetech, expanding pharmaceutical fine chemicals capabilities.
2011
Acquired Columbia Chemical coatings additives assets; commercialized eight low or no rare earth FCC catalysts in response to the rare earth supply crisis.
2013
Acquired the license for UNIPOL® Polypropylene Process Technology and UNIPOL UNIPPAC® Process Control Software, a globally recognized process technology for polyolefin production, from The Dow Chemical Company.
2014
Opened a new LEED Silver Certified global headquarters building in Columbia, Maryland.
2016
Acquired Tricat catalyst assets.
2017
Acquired STC sealants and coatings business.
2020
Expanded Worms, Germany facility with opening of 8,200 square-meter colloidal silica plant.
2021
Acquired the Fine Chemistry Services business of Albemarle Corporation. Joined the Standard Industries family of companies as the flagship in its Performance Materials platform—a group of businesses focused on delivering advanced catalysts, engineered materials and sustainable innovation.
2023
Advanced digital manufacturing capabilities, leveraging automation, data analytics and process innovation to drive performance, reliability and quality.
From What If to What’s Next
With a track record of innovation, Grace’s proven ability to focus on “what’s next” inspires R&D breakthroughs, solves next-generation problems and keeps value chains flowing. It’s why many of the world’s most recognized brands choose Grace—and stay with us for decades. Today, Grace helps customers adapt to environmental, economic, and technological pressures, so you can navigate regulatory changes, resource fluctuations, and evolving markets with confidence.
We invite you to explore how Grace helps industries meet today’s demands and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges.