Good enough isn’t.
A look back at 80 years of PROSOCO’s ethos of always finding better ways.
PROSOCO has always pushed for better products and processes that can improve the appearance and performance of buildings we live and work in. Our tendency to push the industry toward a better way to build is often summed up by David Boyer, PROSOCO’s president and CEO, in a simple phrase, “Good enough isn’t.” Continue to the story >
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1939
The Process Solvent Company Inc. is founded
Albert J. Boyer founds the Process Solvent Company Inc., blender of chemical automotive specialties.
1944
1952
First proprietary cleaner developed
Process Solvent Company creates the first proprietary cleaner for new construction: Sure Klean 101 Lime Solvent.
1953
1956
Sure Klean 600 is born
Sure Klean 600 Detergent, No. 1-selling proprietary cleaner for new brick construction, hits the market.
1959
First proprietary chemical restoration cleaning happens in Denver
Denver Terra Cotta Company asks Jerry Boyer to figure out a way to safely clean the sensitive terra cotta of the Mountain States Telephone Building. He does. This cleaning marks the first proprietary, chemical restoration cleaning in the U.S.
1962
1964
Weather Seal water repellents launched
Sure Klean Weather Seal water repellents for masonry are introduced.
1974
1977
Jerry Boyer cleans King Kong’s “blood”
After production ends on the 1977 remake of the film “King Kong,” a substance used to create King Kong’s “blood” pooled on the World Trade Center at the base of the twin towers. Jerry Boyer found a way to clean it off.
1981
NYC’s Grand Central Station restored
PROSOCO products help restore the exterior of Grand Central Station in New York City. Subsequent cleanings included the station’s interior. This was the first of four times PROSOCO products cleaned the iconic building.
1982
Conservare products launched
PROSOCO introduces Conservare masonry preservation products.
1983
U.S. Capitol restoration
Several PROSOCO products, including paint strippers, coatings and consolidation treatments, are used on the U.S. Capitol. Work continued through late 1984.
1990
Ellis Island National Landmark restoration
Ellis Island national landmark in New York is restored inside and out with PROSOCO products.
1994
Restoration of the Library of Congress
An interior restoration cleaning of Washington, D.C.’s Library of Congress is completed with PROSOCO products.
1995
Empire State Building cleaned
PROSOCO products clean the limestone exterior of the first six stories of the Empire State Building in New York City.
1997
Kansas City’s Union Station restored
The second-biggest train station in the U.S., Kansas City’s Union Station, gets a restoration cleaning inside and out with PROSOCO products.
1998
1999
PROSOCO moves into new Lawrence facility
2001
Post-9/11 cleanup of Pentagon, lower Manhattan
PROSOCO developed a specialty cleaner and process to remove extensive smoke damage from the Pentagon after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. PROSOCO also donated products to assist with building clean-up in lower Manhattan.
2002
2004
Walt Disney Concert Hall cleaned
Travertine walls at Los Angeles’ brand-new Walt Disney Concert Hall receive water and graffiti repellency courtesy of Natural Stone Treatment and Defacer Eraser SC-1 Sacrificial Treatment.
2005
Basketball mecca restored
PROSOCO restoration products clean the exterior of historic Allen Fieldhouse, home of Jayhawk basketball, at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
Lithium-silicate Consolideck products are unveiled
Products to harden and densify finished concrete floors are launched under the sub-brand Consolideck. These hardener/densifiers feature a new, more effective chemistry called lithium-silicate.
2006
R-Guard transforms the air barrier industry
A new fluid-applied option for air barriers is born when PROSOCO introduces its R-Guard air & water-resistive barrier products.
2010
R-Guard products reformulated with improved technology
In partnership with BEI, PROSOCO introduces a new line of extreme-performance R-Guard air and water-resistive barrier products, tested and proven under Category 5 hurricane conditions.
2012
R-Guard products become Red List-compliant
PROSOCO alters its line of R-Guard air and water barriers to be Red List-compliant. R-Guard products are used on the Bullitt Center, the “world’s greenest commercial building.”
2013
Bullitt Center officially opens
The Bullitt Center, a certified Living Building in Seattle, opens on Earth Day, April 22, 2013.
2016
PROSOCO’s FastFlash becomes part of the DensElement Wall System
PROSOCO enters a collaboration with Georgia-Pacific to develop the DensElement Wall System.
FastFlash joins CavityComplete wall system
PROSOCO enters a collaboration with Owens Corning to include FastFlash in its CavityComplete wall system.
2019
PROSOCO acquires Construction Tie Products
The acquisition rounds out PROSOCO’s suite of products for building retrofits with the addition of masonry ties and anchors to stabilize existing masonry buildings.
PROSOCO celebrates 80 years
