A history of innovative solutions

As our customers’ need to develop products that improve safety grows, so will Huber Engineered Materials. Our parent company, J.M. Huber Corporation traces its origins back to 1883. As the organization grew and diversified over time, foundations for the Huber Engineered Materials business began in 1946.

Timeline

1940s

J.M. Huber Corporation begins developing white pigments made from silica and sodium aluminosilicate, establishing the core of today’s Huber Engineered Materials.
1967

J.M. Huber Corporation establishes an internal Corporate Development department to support a strategic approach to acquisitive growth.
1973

J.M. Huber Corporation acquires the Calcium Carbonate Company. Before the end of the decade, additional sites are added to the calcium carbonate business, forming the basis of Huber Specialty Minerals.
1981

Solem Industries is acquired, signaling Huber’s entry into the fire-retardant additives industry, creating the early foundations of the Huber Advanced Materials strategic business unit.
1998

Huber Engineered Materials is officially formed to better serve global customers with calcium carbonate, chemicals, kaolin clay, fire retardants and silicates products and expertise.
2005

2008

Huber Engineered Materials makes the difficult decision to divest its kaolin clay business. Kaolin was one of J.M. Huber Corporation’s oldest operations, dating back to the Company’s initial partnership with the Southern Kaolin Company in 1926.
2010

2010

Huber Engineered Materials acquires the specialty hydrates business of Almatis, Inc. This activity bolsters the organization’s presence in the fire retardant additives space.
2015

2016

Huber Engineered Materials acquires Martinswerk GmbH, a German manufacturer of flame retardants, smoke suppressants, fillers, matting agents and oxidizers.
2016

The deal includes a 50% stake in Magnifin Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & go. KG, and established Huber as a global leader in flame-retardants.
2017

The Silica portion of Huber Engineered Materials is divested, following global commoditization of dental silica near the close of the Great Recession.
2017

J.M. Huber Corporation’s first comprehensive five-year sustainability strategy is launched.
2019

Huber Engineered Materials acquires Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, LLC, manufacturer of agricultural additives and adjuvants. Miller forms the basis of the Huber AgroSolutions business unit.
2019

Huber Engineered Materials launches its “Better Together” vision, focused on delivering benefits for the strategic business units by encouraging cross-business collaboration.
2020

2020

The Company implements a flexible response strategy that ensures employee safety while maintaining business continuity amid the evolving, long-term COVID-19 crisis.
2021

In April, California-based Nutri Granulations is acquired, increasing Huber Specialty Minerals’ capacity to service pharmaceutical applications.
2021

In December, Huber acquires the remaining 50% stake of the Magnifin joint venture, adding the manufacturing plant in Breitenau, Austria, to Huber Advanced Materials.
2021

Natural Soda is also acquired in December, adding sodium bicarbonate as a new mineral in the organization’s portfolio of offerings.
2022

Huber Engineered Materials acquires the Biolchim Group of companies to bolster the Huber AgroSolutions strategic business unit.
2023

J.M. Huber Corporation receives a Silver rating from EcoVadis, placing the organization in the top 18% of more than 100,000 companies evaluated annually.
2024

In April, Vision 150 is released to guide the company towards Huber’s 150th anniversary in 2033. It outlines Huber’s aspirations for its sustainability journey, with respect to climate and water, circularity, and products.
2024

In April, under Huber Specialty Minerals, Natrium Products Inc. is acquired as a complement to Natural Soda and sodium bicarbonate offerings.
2024

In June, active Minerals International is acquired by J.M. Huber Corporation, under Huber Specialty Minerals, introducing attapulgite clay and air-float kaolin (distinct from Huber’s previous kaolin business) as new mineral offerings.