History
History of Afton Chemical
Beginning as a paper company during the height of the Industrial Revolution, our path to the 21st Century has been a fascinating one.
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BeginningsThe Early YearsThe Growth YearsToday
Beginnings (1887-1941)
1887 – Albemarle Paper Manufacturing Company founded
Five Richmond, Virginia businessmen begin a new venture to manufacture Kraft and blotting paper.
1921 – General Motors Chemical Corporation founded in Ohio
Charles Kettering forms a new company, which adds chemicals to gasoline to reduce engine "knock."
1924 – Ethyl Gasoline Corporation
As Kettering's company grows, its name is changed to Ethyl Gasoline Corporation.
1941 – Floyd D. Gottwald becomes Albemarle President
With the decline in paper industry profits, Gottwald sees a future in polyethylene film, and looks to acquire a chemical company.The Early Years (1962-1991)
1962 – A surprising acquisition, a change in direction
In the largest leveraged buy-out in U.S. History, Albemarle Paper Co. acquires Ethyl Gasoline Corporation and adopts the Ethyl Corporation name.
1975 – Edwin Cooper, Inc. is acquired
Ethyl Corporation expands further into chemicals by acquiring a global manufacturer of lubricant additives.
1984 – Companies and brands are consolidated
The Edwin Cooper, Inc. brand retires and becomes Ethyl Petroleum Additives, Inc.
1991 – Ethyl announces a new President
Thomas (Teddy) Gottwald, the grandson of founder Floyd D. Gottwald, Sr., becomes President of Ethyl Petroleum Additives, Inc.The Growth Years (1992-2008)
1992 – Major acquisitions bolster Ethyl's additives strengths
Ethyl acquires Amoco Petroleum Additives in the U.S. and Nippon Cooper in Japan, as global consolidation comes to the petroleum industry.
1996 – Further expansion strengthens Ethyl's global presence
With the acquisition of the Texaco Additives Company, Ethyl broadens product lines and enhances research capabilities.
2004 – The birth of Afton Chemical Corporation
Ethyl Petroleum Additives, Inc. changes its name to Afton Chemical Corporation. Afton begins operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NewMarket Corporation.
2004 – A new president assumes Afton Chemical Corporation leadership role
Warren Huang becomes President of Afton Chemical Corporation.
2008 – Another milestone acquisition
Afton Chemical acquires the North American fuel additives business of GE Water and Processing Technologies.Today (2009-Today)
2009 – Strategic investments in Asia-Pacific
Afton Chemical expands investment in the Asia-Pacific region with facilities in Shanghai, China, Tsukuba, Japan and Jurong Island, Singapore.
2010 – Polartech
Afton acquires Polartech, expanding their product offering for metalworking fluid additives and adding R&D and manufacturing facilities in the UK, and manufacturing sites in India, China and the U.S.
2012 – Afton Chemical announces a new president
Robert Shama becomes president of Afton Chemical Corporation.
2017 – Afton Chemical Acquires Aditivos Mexicanos, S.A. De C.V.
Afton Chemical acquires Aditivos Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (AMSA), a petroleum additives manufacturing, sales and distribution company based in Mexico City, Mexico.
2018 – Afton Chemical announces a new president
Gina Harm becomes president of Afton Chemical Corporation.
2023 – Afton Chemical announces a new president
Brian Paliotti becomes president of Afton Chemical Corporation.