Company Origins
The “Calsom Finish,” a unique wall coating, was designed in 1883 by Benjamin Moore. He worked with his older brother, Robert Moore, to produce this product in Brooklyn, NY. Their operation took off fast and the brothers attained profits within their first year of development. In New York, 1889, a Corporation was born and the present New Jersey Corporation was created shortly after.
In the early stages, Benjamin Moore created a personal philosophy that soon became the initial credo of the organization. He expected the business to follow the following statement, “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 reflects these values known currently as Leadership, Innovation and Performance. It is this strong philosophy that creates such a solid founding principle for the company.
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 stands for how business thrives with its suppliers, customers and employees.
In 1892, Benjamin Moore tweaked his Calsom Finish formula and developed a new product called MURESCO. This all-in-one ceiling and wall finish was revolutionary for its time. This product was so popular, it earned a spot in Webster’s Standard Dictionary since it was a popular household name.
Benjamin Moore continued to develop innovative products over the years. 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. A subsidiary was formed in Chicago over the next decade and a new plant was built in New Jersey along with the purchase of a Cleveland factory.
On September 7, 1906, the Canadian company was born. On September 11, 1906, Benjamin Moore became the elected president during the company’s first shareholders’ meeting. Fred Moore, Benjamin’s half-brother, was elected as Treasurer in 1911. He was the managing director of the Canadian branch and in 1937, became the first Canadian residing president. His occupancy created the basis for the current 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. Originally, the Toronto to Vancouver shipments travelled over 8500 miles on an all-water route through the Panama Canal!
A complete factory was built in Montreal in 1953. A third plant was constructed in Burnaby, British Columbia in 1962. By 1991, this plant was relocated to Aldergrove. By 2000, the company updated its manufacturing processes.
The plant in Aldergrove transitioned to become the main office and Western distribution center and ceased manufacturing abilities. After operating for 94 years, the Toronto plant was closed. 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. The company acts as a holding company and owns subsidiaries with a variety of interests in many business dealings. The Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is Warren Buffet.
Over 275 employees are committed to delivering stellar service at Benjamin Moore & Co. They work at a variety of independent retailers all across Canada to deliver their best items to consumers and contractors.
Nowadays, the company focuses its vision and strategy on offering support to independent retailers while growing, leveraging and protecting the Benjamin Moore brand. This business had developed numerous programs including the Strategic Training Triad for the Retailer, the Signature Store Program and the Painting & Decorating Services Initiative.
The company has used the success of these programs to stay progressive and competitive in the paint market. 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. The recognition is from independent research, Reader’s Digest and Ipsos-Reid Canada, one of the most trusted independent research firms and public opinion polls in the country.
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. This crew also creates new items. Technical staff is responsible for ten team-based laboratories located at the 80,000 square-foot Technical & Administrative Centre.
Every lab features state-of-the-art technology. Each instrument focuses on certain expertise. Each lab works together to build the Benjamin Moore product formulas. 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 focuses on instruments using the highest levels of technology to determine paint formulas for Benjamin Moore product formulations.
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.
The Central Process Lab is responsible for auditing Benjamin Moore’s product quality. These tests are conducted on top of the daily product batch testing that occurs on the Benjamin Moore Plant production line.
The Solvent Coatings and the Latex Coatings Laboratory is the place where new latex and solvent-based items are created and developed to enhance their performance. These products are tested to ensure they meet or exceed tough company regulations, environmental standards and client expectations.
The Industrial Maintenance Finishes Lab is home to developing high-performance, anti-corrosion products for military tanks or industrial locations including factories.
The Polymer Laboratory is the place where most of Benjamin Moore’s research is conducted. Here is where the binders utilized in the products are created or improved. 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.
The Colour Assurance Laboratory creates the factory standards that maintain the consistency of ready-mixed Benjamin Moore colours. They have high standards at each and every one of their paint plants. The chip accuracy on each of the Benjamin Moore colour cards is monitored by this lab too. This tool helps contractors and homeowners find the perfect shade.
The Colour Technology Lab invented the initial computerized colour-matching system that became a standard in the industry. This machine is vital for enhancing Benjamin Moore’s colour-matching abilities. The lab is reviewed and evaluated by scientists for developing colour matching technologies.
The Colour Development Lab is where the prescriptions for each paint colour are stored. It ensures that formulas are consistent for current shades while developing new colour formulations.
The “Test Farm,” or Exterior Testing Facility, is where 25,000 coating samples are studied and evaluated after being exposed to extreme elements. This data is incorporated into daily research and development. 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. Chemists are invited to visit the facility throughout the day to visit their coatings and monitor how they perform under various conditions. Marketing and sales employees also rely on the farm as a vital resource for information on products.
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.
