Features
Buckman celebrates 70th anniversary

Buckman’s global headquarters is in Memphis, Tenn., situated on the same spot as the original building, which opened in 1945.

As World War II was coming to a close, and industry began addressing problems closer to home, Dr. Stanley J. Buckman, a biochemist who had been working to develop a decay-resistant wood for military use, was aware of microbiological problems that existed in the manufacture of pulp and paper. He had an idea for a product that would mitigate the problems for the papermaker, and his confidence in the idea led to the establishment of Buckman Laboratories.

As the company began in 1945, offices and laboratories were located side-by-side on the first floor of a tiny building. Manufacturing facilities were modest – a 55-gallon process vessel strategically placed in the basement of the building would manufacture the company’s only product.

The company began expanding internationally before the decade was over, and today, boasts a presence in more than 90 countries. Of course, the product catalog changed and grew over time – but the focus on the pulp and paper industry remains. In addition, Buckman has built a strong presence in several other industries, including leather, power, ethanol, oil and gas, and steel, among others.

Buckman’s 1,700 global associates operate under the leadership of Steven B. Buckman, CEO, who celebrated his personal 40-year anniversary with Buckman in 2014, and Kathy Buckman Gibson, president and COO for Buckman International, who is the third generation of Buckman family leadership.

“When I look back over our history, I am sure that Dr. Stanley Buckman would be proud of how Buckman has continued to grow and thrive,” said Steve Buckman. “We have thrived because we have been willing to adapt and change yet remain Buckman at our core – a company focused on our customers.”

Buckman, which reports to the Global Reporting Initiative on a biannual basis, prides itself on being an environmentally conscious manufacturer, with an ongoing commitment to transparency in reporting and continuous improvement in sustainability.

Furthermore, environmental outreach is one of the three prongs of the company’s philanthropic initiative, BuckmanCares – the other two being education and health and human services. Each year, the BuckmanCares efforts of associates all over the globe positively impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of Buckman’s partners, friends and neighbors.