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Our Beginnings

The Cleveland Plant is Born!

The year is 1836 and an Italian entrepreneur named Eugene Grasselli is eyeing America as the land of opportunity. Eugene had been working in his father’s growing chemical manufacturing business located in France. The industry was in its infancy and Eugene was anxious to strike out on his own. Eugene Grasselli had been educated in Strasburg and Heidelberg where he learned the art of Sulfuric Acid manufacture from his studies while under the tutelage of his father, Giavanni. So, Eugene left the comfort of his home in France, and set out for America. The journey took 5 ½ months, crossing the Atlantic in a small sailing vessel. The trip was perilous but in early 1837, Eugene landed in Philadelphia. He had 2 cents in his pocket.

In Philadelphia, Eugene found employment with Farr & Kunzie Chemical for $1 per day. While working for Farr & Kunzie in Philadelphia, Eugene struck up a friendship with another local chemical
manufacturer named DuPont. This friendship would come into play later. Eugene worked for Farr &
Kunzie for two years until in 1839 he decided to set out for Cincinnati, Ohio in order to start his own
Sulfuric Acid manufacturing plant under his own name, Grasselli Chemical. Grasselli’s first sulfuric acid plant started up in 1839 in Cincinnati. Cincinnati had a thriving soap industry (think P&G) and sulfuric acid was in high demand for soap processing. Grasselli’s Cincinnati plant thrived selling mainly to the soap industry. But while in Cincinnati, Eugene met a young merchant named John D. Rockefeller.

Rockefeller was developing another use for sulfuric acid – oil refining. And oil refining was centered in Cleveland Ohio, the location of Rockefeller’s #1 refinery. So, in 1865, Eugene set out for Cleveland to find a site for his second sulfuric acid manufacturing plant. He found the perfect site only ½ mile from Rockefeller’s #1 refinery located on flat land surrounded by hillsides for natural draft. The site was located in what later became known as Cleveland’s Industrial Flats. And thus, in 1866, Zaclon’s
Cleveland Plant was born producing sulfuric acid for John D. Rockefeller’s #1 refinery.

Most Recent

How Our Product Quilon Can Help Keep Your Application Water Resistant

Posted By Zaclon
November 04, 2022 Category: Zaclon, Products, Quilon, Chemicals, Northeast Ohio, Independence, Cleveland, Water Resistance, Grease Resistance

Our diverse product offering helps customers across various industries realize their goals of superior quality and efficiency. Our products range from chrome products, ammonium chloride, zinc chloride, potassium silicate, and specialty products. One of those products is Quilon. What Is Quilon? Quilon is sold in a 55-gallon drum containing 420 or 450-pounds depending on the industry and application of the product. We can also provide 40-pound pails and one metric ton totes (IBC.) What Is Quilon Used For? Quilon is an old chemical used for water resistance and grease resistance applications. We use Quilon for applications like food packaging and leather applications like work boots. Is Quilon Safe To Use For Your Application? Quilon is a safe product to use. We are the only company that can make safe-for-food packaging through the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation). Quilon is also biodegradable and safe for landfills. Quilon is also good for the planet and people. Learn More About Quilon And How We Can Help DuPont invented Quilon in the late 1940s; when DuPont became Zaclon, we took over many of their production systems and processes, including this one. Many customers choose Zaclon for this product because we have many years of experience manufacturing it and can provide what they need quickly. Call our team today for more information on Quilon at 440-832-1848 or email at

Our Product Quilon And How We Use It For Waterproofing

Posted By Zaclon
November 03, 2022 Category: Zaclon, Quilon, Products, Waterproofing, Leather Applications, Safe, Independence Ohio, Cleveland Ohio. Northeast Ohio

We've discussed our product Quilon before, but Quilon is primarily used for waterproofing solutions like waterproofing leather applications. Quilon: What Is It? Quilon is sold in a 55-gallon drum containing 420 or 450-pounds depending on the industry and application of the product. We can also provide 40-pound pails and one metric ton totes (IBC.) Quilon For Your Leather Applications Quilon is great for the use of giving leather an adhesive release and water repellency in hot or cold temperatures. Besides being able to revolutionize your leather application, Quilon is also safe for people and great for the environment. Why Use Quilon For Your Waterproofing Application? DuPont invented Quilon in the late 1940s; when DuPont became Zaclon, we took over many of their production systems and processes, including this one. Many customers choose Zaclon for this product because we have many years of experience manufacturing it and can provide what they need quickly. Learn More About Why Quilon Is Best For Your Waterproofing Application Quilon is a reactive solution where long-chain fatty acids are reactive and complexed with a chrome three molecule. The family of Quilon products is chemical treatments that impart release or water repellency to various surfaces. For information on Quilon, contact one of our team members by calling 440-832-1848 or email at

What Is Ammonium Chloride And How Is It Used In Galvanizing Steel?

Posted By Zaclon
October 26, 2022 Category: Zaclon, Galvanizing, Steel, Solutions, Ammonium Chloride, Independence, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio, Northeast, Ohio, Products

If you work in a steel plant or know someone who does, you might have heard of ammonium chloride. But what is ammonium chloride, and how is it used in galvanizing

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