Over its history, Hentzen Coatings has grown from a simple paint manufacturing company into a recognized leader of liquid and powder coatings. Still a family business, Hentzen Coatings’ department roots in chemical engineering have led to more than a century of innovative, high-quality, customized coatings for the aerospace, defense and general industrial markets. With operations in Wisconsin, Illinois, South Carolina, Florida and Queretaro, Hentzen continues to demonstrate its commitment to employees, the community and the environment.
1919–1922
Brothers Herbert D. Hentzen, Sr. and Erwin A. Hentzen graduated from UWMadison with degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering; then began their lifetime careers in the paint industry. Herbert at DuPont Paint; Erwin for O’Neill Oil & Paint Company.
1923
Erwin left O’Neill Paint. With the help of his father, Albert L. Hentzen, Sr. as financial advisor and investor, Erwin began his own paint business as a proprietorship in rented space in a toy factory on N. 40th Street—next door to the family home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1924
Herbert joined Erwin to form Wisconsin Paint Manufacturing with the trade name of WISCO-Hentzen.
1926
A new, larger facility was built at 3710 N. Richards Street in Milwaukee. The location included offices, R&D and production facilities to meet increasing customer demand.
1929
The first customers for industrial coatings were the Milwaukee Trunk Works and a major diesel engine manufacturer.
1933
At times, Milwaukee Scrip was used as currency to pay employees during the Depression.
1935
Additional factory and manufacturing space were built at the Richards Street site.
1937
The company sold the WISCO portion of the trade name and Hentzen became the sole trade name on products sold by Wisconsin Paint Manufacturing Co.
1942–1945
During WWII, the U.S. Army used the Hentzen facility as a test center for paints and development of camouflage paints. The company was presented the U.S. Army Ordinance Award for Outstanding Contribution— one of only two presented to members of the coating industry after the war.
1946
Offices and manufacturing facilities were expanded at the Richards Street site. A hand-operated rope elevator was replaced with hydraulics, and shipping/receiving docks were added.
1950s
Herbert’s sons—Herbert D., Jr., William R. and Albert L. (all UW-Madison graduates)—begin their careers at the company.
1952
Albert L. Hentzen, Sr., who served as a Vice President of the company, passed. He was acknowledged for his financial guidance from the beginning. Hentzen never took out a commercial loan until 1957.
1957
Erwin A. Hentzen retired and sold his interest to Herbert D., Jr. as sole owner.
1960
The company purchased five vacant acres on West Mill Road in Milwaukee—current headquarters.
1963
Manufacturing facilities were constructed on the Mill Road property.
1965
Offices, an R&D laboratory and additional manufacturing capacity were consolidated at the Mill Road headquarters.
1967
The name of the company changed to Hentzen Chemical Coatings, Inc. to better position the company’s name recognition on a national basis.
1982
Corporate name changes to the current Hentzen Coatings Inc.
1988
By 1988, six additions had been added to the Mill Road facility to bring overall square footage to approximately 125,000 square feet.
1991
U.S. Army Material Command recognizes Hentzen Coatings for outstanding service during Operation Desert Storm and the first Gulf War.
1994
Hentzen began manufacturing powder coatings.
1995
Hentzen received the “Sub Supplier of the Year Award” from the Small Business Administration for Region V from among 20,000 candidates.
1997
Herbert D. and William R. sold their interest in Hentzen Coatings to Albert L., grandson of Albert L. Hentzen, Sr., who would carry on the family company and heritage.
1999
A new powder manufacturing building was constructed on Mill Road to meet capacity demands of the growing powder coating market.
2000
Albert’s sons, Steven and Michael—both Marquette lawyers and UW-Madison undergraduates—joined the company. This was the start of the fourth generation of Hentzen family members joining the company. By 2005, Albert’s son, Timothy, a graduate of UW-Milwaukee, also joined the company.
2003
Acquired Aerospace Products Division of Adheron Coatings Corp., Oak Forest, Illinois. Manufacturing and R&D were transitioned to the Hentzen Milwaukee production facilities and laboratory.
2004
Acquired BASF’s coatings manufacturing and R&D facilities in Batavia, Illinois. The 80,000 sq. ft. facility included offices, laboratories, a warehouse and production facilities. Hentzen also acquired BASF’s container and pipe coatings business, including the SteriKote™ trademark.
2008
Major improvements were made to Milwaukee offices, laboratories and production facilities. An additional 80,000 sq. ft. centralized distribution center is renovated and modernized.
2010
Acquired Axon Products in Greenville, South Carolina to broaden product lines in aerospace and specialty wood finishes.
Hentzen formed a joint venture, Star Hentzen, in Fort Mumbai, India, to further its position in aerospace and defense markets.
2011
Hentzen Liquid Research, Development and Innovation Laboratories in Milwaukee, underwent major remodeling and expansion.
2013
Mexico operations begin under wholly owned subsidiary Hentzen De Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V. Distribution and support service center opened in Queretaro, Mexico.
Acquired CrossLink Powder Coatings, including its laboratory and production facilities, in Clearwater, Florida.
2015
Awarded first U.S. Patent for CARC powder coating.
2017
Purchased 120,000 square foot facility in Milwaukee, WI and developed into state-of-the-art powder coatings research, development and manufacturing facility.
2019
The Hentzen New Materials Co. Ltd. manufacturing, research and distribution center opened in Nanjing, China.
Hentzen awarded U.S. Patent for CARC water-reducible coating.