Our Company History

Incorporated in 1950, Werner G. Smith, Inc. is a small industrial additives firm located in Cleveland, Ohio.  Our company is capable of producing over a million pounds of product a month in combined oxidized and polymerized products.

We take pride in our products and maintain rigorous quality controls during production and processing. This attention to detail results in consistent uniform products that meet or exceed our customers’ expectations.

We offer responsiveness to the needs of our customers and work closely with them to develop the product that best suits their needs. We offer 80 proprietary products and tolling services for oxidized or polymerized oils.

1912

Werner G. Smith starts the Werner G. Smith Company and begins selling sand for foundry molds.

In 1929, Smith travels to China with his young family, establishes contacts and begins importing Chinese “Tree Oil” otherwise known as Tung Oil.

1929

Archer Daniels (now ADM) purchases the Werner G. Smith Company, by that time the nation’s largest manufacturer of core oils. Mr. Smith becomes Vice President 

1950s

At the age of 63, Mr. Smith breaks away from Archer Daniels to form Werner G. Smith, Inc. and moves operations to its current 10 acre site on Train Ave. in Cleveland, Ohio. His son-in-law Wally Meckes joins the company as Sales Director.

During the early 1950s, Mr. Smith expands production capacity and develops the Smithol trade name which becomes synonymous with metal working and other industrial lubricants. 

1960

Waldemar Meckes, Jr. takes over the company after the passing of his father-in-law and adds three more reactors over the course of the next 10 years, while expanding sales to Canada and South America.

1970s

Werner G. Smith, Inc. develops Smithol 20, Smithol 50, Smithol 50 Stripped, and Smithol 50 Super Stripped, and Smithol 10-150-250 for use in aluminum can rolling. Smithol 22LD, a novel tall oil based ester, is granted a patent. 

New Synthetic esters such as Smithol 50B3, Smithol 76, Smithol 76-1000, Smithol 774 and Smithol 774M are developed to replace spermaceti.

1980s

Werner G. Smith, Inc. adds Cetyl Esters waxes to its product offering. These waxes are made from palm and coconut oil based ingredients produced by growers who adhere to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) guidelines. Other waxes, such as Hydrogenated Fish Glycerides, made from fish oils are added to the product offerings.

2011

Sales increase due to new contracts and more efficient material handling.

2020

•Werner G. Smith, Inc. ships to every corner of the globe.

•Our products are the building blocks of the industrial lubricants, coatings, and personal care industries.