The History of Benjamin Moore
In 1883, Benjamin Moore launched a wall coating referred to as “Calsom Finish.” Working in a modest building in Brooklyn, NY, Benjamin worked with Robert Moore, his elder brother to make this product. Their operation took off fast and the brothers reached profits within their first year of production. In New York, 1889, a Corporation was created and the existing New Jersey Corporation appeared shortly after.
During the company’s early years, Benjamin Moore crafted a personal philosophy that transitioned into the business’ primary credo. He felt the corporation should adhere to “The application of Intelligence to Industry based upon Integrity.” Over time, these three essential words, “Intelligence, Integrity and Industry,” moved on to be the company’s core values.
Benjamin Moore’s Internal Vision echos these values known presently as Leadership, Innovation and Performance. This is the philosophy that serves as the founding principle of the company policy.
Did you know that the current logo of the “Triangle M,” originated in 1925 and designed by L.P. Moore to showcase the “Integrity, Intelligence and Industry,” concept? This is the logo given today to staff to wear proudly when they receive their service pins. This principle flows into how the business deals with its customers, suppliers and employees.
In 1892, Benjamin Moore tweaked his Calsom Finish formula and developed a new product called MURESCO. MURESCO was an all-in-one wall and ceiling finish that revolutionized the painting industry. It became a standard household word and even earned a listing within Webster’s Standard Dictionary.
The business continued developing innovative paint products and finishes. Another excellent item was SANI-FLAT, which could handle frequent washing and was a decorative product that was lead-free with a flat finish. The UTILAC fast-drying enamel came out next as an excellent replacement to widely popular lacquers that were dangerous.
In 1897, thanks to the exponential demand and growth for their paint products, Benjamin Moore and Co. expanded. Their expansion program was created to bring stellar service to clients. Over the following decade, the business created a factory and a subsidiary in Chicago, bought a Cleveland factory and built a New Jersey plant.
On September 7, 1906, the Canadian company was born. During the first shareholders’ meeting on September 11, 1906, Benjamin Moore was elected president. Benjamin’s half-brother Fred Moore became Treasurer in 1911. Fred was the first residing Canadian company president in 1937 after being the managing director of the Canadian branch. This occupancy established the foundation for what is currently Benjamin Moore & Co., Limited.
Toronto, Ontario is where the first Canadian company was located. The plant situated on Lloyd Avenue was purchased on January 14, 1907. This became a thriving operation that encouraged the company to open a Montreal warehouse in 1923. The company established various warehouses across Canada in the 1920s, including Saskatoon, Halifax, Winnipeg, Regina and Vancouver. Shipments from Toronto to Vancouver were sent via an all-water route at times through the Panama Canal for a route approximately 8,500 miles!
By 1953, the company built its Montreal-based complete factory. A third plant was constructed in Burnaby, British Columbia in 1962. This plant relocated in 1991 to Aldergrove. By 2000, the company updated its manufacturing processes.
The Aldergrove plant stopped being a manufacturing facility and became the main office and distribution centre for the West. After ninety-four years of running, manufacturing in the Toronto plant was also finished. The Montreal plant underwent an expansion and transitioned into an all-latex facility.. The Technical Coatings Co. Ltd. plant in Burlington, Ont. grew to become the location for central solvent-based production..
In December 2000, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. purchased Benjamin Moore & Co. This business owns subsidiaries and acts as a holding company with a variety of interests in different businesses. The Chairman of Berkshire’s Board of Directors is Warren Buffet.
There are more than 275 committed employees at Benjamin Moore & Co. delivering their best services and items to contractors, consumers and independent retailers all over Canada.
During these changing economic days, the business remains focussed on its strategy and vision of strengthening and supporting the independent retain channel while protecting, leveraging and enhancing the Benjamin Moore Brand. The business has developed a variety of programs including the Signature Store Program, the Strategic Training Triad for the Retailer as well as the Painting & Decorating Services Initiative.
The business continues to be competitive and progressive in the market by relying on the success of these programs. Betty Moore created branding as “The Colour Experts,” in the 1950s, becoming the first spokesperson. In the 1960s, the Moor-O-Matic custom colour range was introduced and Moore’s Colour Matching System was born by 1970.
Canada has recognized Benjamin Moore as its most trusted paint brand. This recognition came via public opinion polls from Ipsos-Reid Canada (one of North America’s trusted public opinion and independent research firms), and Readers Digest and independent research.
Research and Development
The company’s commitment to continuous product testing and scientific development has allowed the admirable and consistent paint products to continually be enjoyed by customers.
There are over 100 chemists, technicians, chemical engineers and support staff working hard to maintain stringent product standards. New products are continuously being developed by these crews. There are 10 team-based laboratories operated by technical staff at the eighty-thousand square-foot Technical & Administrative Centre.
Every lab is outfitted with the latest technology. The instruments focus on a certain expertise level. All labs work together to create the Benjamin Moore formulations. The labs work beside the marketing department and manufacturing facilities to handle the various demands from different markets such as professional, commercial, industrial and DIY.
The Analytic Laboratory utilizes the latest technology and equipment to analyze the Benjamin Moore items.
There are two testing locations at the Competitive Evaluations Laboratory dedicated to testing the exterior products and their competitive brands. There are more than 20,000 stained or painted exposed test panels monitoring weather extremes for up to fifteen years. These panels are subjected to different analyzing techniques to create new formulas and make better products or update existing formulas. To ensure their competitors’ products hold up to their advertising claims, Benjamin Moore regularly tests them too.
Benjamin Moore’s product quality is tested by the Central Process Lab. This is on top of the daily batch testing for products on the production line of the Benjamin Moore Plant.
The Latex Coatings Lab and the Solvent Coatings Lab are where these new products are made and tested for enhanced performance. They need to meet or exceed the fierce regulations, client expectations and environmental standards that the company expects.
The Industrial Maintenance Finishes Lab is home to developing high-performance, anti-corrosion products for military tanks or industrial locations including factories.
The main location for most of Benjamin Moore’s research is done at the Polymer Laboratory. This is the location where the binders for products are improved or made. Many other paint companies buy their polymers from exterior locations instead of creating their own. In-house production is important to Benjamin Moore for maintaining quality assurance. Binder formulas can be tailored to meet certain requirements.
Ready-mixed Benjamin Moore colours are checked for consistency factory standards at the Colour Assurance Laboratory. Their exceptional standards are distributed in each one of Benjamin Moore’s paint plants. This lab is responsible for monitoring the chip accuracy on the Benjamin Moore colour cards as well. This tool helps contractors and homeowners find the perfect shade.
The Colour Technology Laboratory invented the first colour-matching computerized system and this has become the industry standard across the board. Benjamin Moore uses this intricate machine to enhance their colour-matching endeavors. The lab is reviewed and evaluated by scientists for developing colour matching technologies.
The place where all of the paint colour prescriptions live is at the Colour Development Laboratory. It is responsible for examining the colour formulations to check for consistency with the shades it has while creating new formulations for a variety of products.
25,000 paint coating samples are evaluated and studied at the Exterior Testing Facility aka “the Test Farm,” after being exposed to harsh elements for a certain time. This colour data is used by the daily research and development teams. This farm has been designed for accessibility and is located close to where the paint is created and tested in labs.
The staff chemists are able to use this lab for all of their research and development work. The chemists’ staff is encouraged to visit the lab frequently throughout the day to view their coatings and see how they are performing. The marketing and sales employees also utilize the farm to learn specific information on Benjamin Moore items.
The Technical & Administrative Centre is home to the company’s Corporate Engineering, Product Information Centre, Management Information Services, Regulatory Affairs Departments and Information Resource Centre.
