Hach Company
Encyclopedia
Hach Company manufactures and distributes analytical instruments and reagents used to test the quality of water
and other liquid solutions. Manufactured and distributed worldwide, Hach systems are designed to simplify analysis by offering sophisticated on-line instrumentation, accurate portable laboratory equipment, high-quality prepared reagents, complete easy-to-follow methods, and lifetime technical support.
Hach is a wholly owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation
(DHR), a fortune 500
leader.
Hach’s global headquarters in Loveland
, Colorado, employs over 500 employees and houses research and development laboratories, instrument manufacturing operations, and the Hach Technical Training Center.
Another 300 Hach employees work at Hach’s facility in Ames
, Iowa, manufacturing and packaging all of Hach’s chemical reagents and test kits, and filling customer orders from the main warehouse
. Advanced electronic information systems help Hach to pick, pack, and ship hundreds of orders throughout the world every day.
, Iowa, by an enterprising husband and wife team, Clifford and Kathryn Hach. Clifford Hach was a chemist and an inventor—those two passions can be seen today in Hach Company. The couple experienced their first business success through the development of a simplified titration method for measuring hardness in drinking water. As the product line expanded to include more parameters and instruments, the company continued to “bring analytical chemistry out of the laboratory and put it into the workplace and in the hands of the general public.” Initially Kathryn Hach began marketing to municipal drinking water plants through direct mail. She pioneered what evolved into a philosophy of providing exceptional customer service.
The company was originally a partnership. In 1968 it was reincorporated in Delaware
as Hach Chemical Co., with Clifford Hach president and treasurer and Kathryn Hach as vice-president. Later that year Hach went public, raising $1.7 million by the sale of a small minority of the shares. Most of the money was used to build and equip a new chemical-manufacturing plant in Ames.
and industrial wastes in lakes, rivers, and streams.
Hach was also manufacturing and selling more than 100 different portable water test kits for laboratory and field use. These kits were employed in water and sewage treatment, water conditioning, cooling towers, wildlife conservation, and boiling water. They usually included specially formulated chemical reagents in the form of small powder packets. Test results were achieved by visual comparison of samples against color standards after adding the prescribed reagents, and directions enabled persons without technical backgrounds to conduct tests. The first of Clifford Hach's 10-item criteria for company products was, "Can be used by anyone who can read”—a rule for product simplicity that has endured with the company.
of 1977, was introduced. Hach products became standard approved methods in the industry.
Hach also focused on converting complex analysis into simplified procedures that were reliable and verifiable. Today, these standard methods are compiled into Hach’s Water Analysis Handbook.
In 1977, Clifford Hach took the position of chairman and chief executive officer
, and Kathryn Hach became president
and chief operating officer
the following year. In 1978, Hach moved its instrument division and its corporate headquarters to a site next to the airport
in Loveland
, Colorado. Hach Chemical Co. became Hach Company in 1980.
In 1985, Clifford Hach was chairman; Kathryn Hach was vice-chairman; and Stelios Papadopoulos was president of the company, which had grown to 580 employees.
With Clifford Hach's death in 1990, Kathryn Hach became chairman and chief executive officer, while the Hachs' son, Bruce, became president.
Instruments continue to be manufactured in Loveland
, Colorado, where Hach also had its corporate headquarters, research, development, and engineering operations, employee-training center, and plastic-component manufacturing operation. The chemical manufacturing operations, a chemical research laboratory, and the company warehouse and shipping department were still in Ames
, Iowa.
, Indiana (USA). ETS develops, manufactures and markets diagnostic test strips for both consumer and industrial applications. ETS operations continue to be based in Elkhart.
In 1999, Hach became a wholly owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation
, which includes over 30 companies working in the process/environmental controls industries.
Also in 1999, the company acquired a German manufacturer, Lange
, and established additional product development and manufacturing in Düsseldorf
. Lange
, founded by Dr. Bruno Lange
, is the distribution and support center for Hach's customers in Europe
and Mediterranean Africa. Danaher acquired Lange
, Hach, and numerous other brands, and a period of dramatic change occurred for each brand as lean production was introduced.
After 9/11 Hach’s expertise in water quality technology allowed it to assume a leadership position in the critical, emerging field of water distribution system security. In 2002 Hach formed a separate research and development division, Hach Homeland Security Technologies. The elite group had one goal: To ensure the safety and quality of the nation’s drinking water.
Hach HST’s scientists and engineers set about developing innovative technology and breakthrough research for a comprehensive water distribution security system that could detect and alarm operators to contaminants and accidents in real time.
The result of their efforts is the GuardianBlue Early Warning System, the first early warning system for drinking water designated and certified by the Department of Homeland Security.
In 2007, Hach created TNTplus, which are Test ‘N Tube vials that contain premeasured reagent
, and allow sample reaction and reading in a closed container. The next year, ISO 21501 compliant particle counters were added to Hach’s long list of products.
In 2009, Hach broadened its Integrated Information Management product portfolio by purchasing OPS Systems and the assets of WaterEye Corporation.
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
and other liquid solutions. Manufactured and distributed worldwide, Hach systems are designed to simplify analysis by offering sophisticated on-line instrumentation, accurate portable laboratory equipment, high-quality prepared reagents, complete easy-to-follow methods, and lifetime technical support.
Hach is a wholly owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation
Danaher Corporation
The Danaher Corporation , is a large global company headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States. Its products are concentrated in the fields of design, manufacture, and marketing of industrial and consumer products....
(DHR), a fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
leader.
Hach’s global headquarters in Loveland
Loveland, Colorado
Loveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Loveland is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado. The United States Census Bureau that in 2010 the...
, Colorado, employs over 500 employees and houses research and development laboratories, instrument manufacturing operations, and the Hach Technical Training Center.
Another 300 Hach employees work at Hach’s facility in Ames
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
, Iowa, manufacturing and packaging all of Hach’s chemical reagents and test kits, and filling customer orders from the main warehouse
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
. Advanced electronic information systems help Hach to pick, pack, and ship hundreds of orders throughout the world every day.
1947–1968: founding
Hach Company was founded in 1947, in AmesAmes, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
, Iowa, by an enterprising husband and wife team, Clifford and Kathryn Hach. Clifford Hach was a chemist and an inventor—those two passions can be seen today in Hach Company. The couple experienced their first business success through the development of a simplified titration method for measuring hardness in drinking water. As the product line expanded to include more parameters and instruments, the company continued to “bring analytical chemistry out of the laboratory and put it into the workplace and in the hands of the general public.” Initially Kathryn Hach began marketing to municipal drinking water plants through direct mail. She pioneered what evolved into a philosophy of providing exceptional customer service.
The company was originally a partnership. In 1968 it was reincorporated in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
as Hach Chemical Co., with Clifford Hach president and treasurer and Kathryn Hach as vice-president. Later that year Hach went public, raising $1.7 million by the sale of a small minority of the shares. Most of the money was used to build and equip a new chemical-manufacturing plant in Ames.
1970–1975: expanding boundaries
Hach, in 1970, was manufacturing and selling a line of instruments designed to determine specific water impurities. It was also manufacturing a manometric apparatus that measured the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of sewageSewage
Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains...
and industrial wastes in lakes, rivers, and streams.
Hach was also manufacturing and selling more than 100 different portable water test kits for laboratory and field use. These kits were employed in water and sewage treatment, water conditioning, cooling towers, wildlife conservation, and boiling water. They usually included specially formulated chemical reagents in the form of small powder packets. Test results were achieved by visual comparison of samples against color standards after adding the prescribed reagents, and directions enabled persons without technical backgrounds to conduct tests. The first of Clifford Hach's 10-item criteria for company products was, "Can be used by anyone who can read”—a rule for product simplicity that has endured with the company.
1977–1995: restructuring
The demand for testing products grew as legislation mandating water quality standards, such as the Clean Water ActClean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
of 1977, was introduced. Hach products became standard approved methods in the industry.
Hach also focused on converting complex analysis into simplified procedures that were reliable and verifiable. Today, these standard methods are compiled into Hach’s Water Analysis Handbook.
In 1977, Clifford Hach took the position of chairman and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
, and Kathryn Hach became president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and chief operating officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
the following year. In 1978, Hach moved its instrument division and its corporate headquarters to a site next to the airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Loveland
Loveland, Colorado
Loveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Loveland is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado. The United States Census Bureau that in 2010 the...
, Colorado. Hach Chemical Co. became Hach Company in 1980.
In 1985, Clifford Hach was chairman; Kathryn Hach was vice-chairman; and Stelios Papadopoulos was president of the company, which had grown to 580 employees.
With Clifford Hach's death in 1990, Kathryn Hach became chairman and chief executive officer, while the Hachs' son, Bruce, became president.
Instruments continue to be manufactured in Loveland
Loveland, Colorado
Loveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Loveland is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado. The United States Census Bureau that in 2010 the...
, Colorado, where Hach also had its corporate headquarters, research, development, and engineering operations, employee-training center, and plastic-component manufacturing operation. The chemical manufacturing operations, a chemical research laboratory, and the company warehouse and shipping department were still in Ames
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
, Iowa.
1998–present: recent growth
In 1998, Hach greatly expanded its portable testing capabilities with the acquisition of Environmental Test Systems Inc., in ElkhartElkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
, Indiana (USA). ETS develops, manufactures and markets diagnostic test strips for both consumer and industrial applications. ETS operations continue to be based in Elkhart.
In 1999, Hach became a wholly owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation
Danaher Corporation
The Danaher Corporation , is a large global company headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States. Its products are concentrated in the fields of design, manufacture, and marketing of industrial and consumer products....
, which includes over 30 companies working in the process/environmental controls industries.
Also in 1999, the company acquired a German manufacturer, Lange
Lange
-People named Lange:* Algot Lange, Swedish explorer* André Lange , German bobsledder* Andrew E. Lange , U.S. astronomer* Antoni Lange, Polish poet* Artie Lange , U.S...
, and established additional product development and manufacturing in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
. Lange
Lange
-People named Lange:* Algot Lange, Swedish explorer* André Lange , German bobsledder* Andrew E. Lange , U.S. astronomer* Antoni Lange, Polish poet* Artie Lange , U.S...
, founded by Dr. Bruno Lange
Lange
-People named Lange:* Algot Lange, Swedish explorer* André Lange , German bobsledder* Andrew E. Lange , U.S. astronomer* Antoni Lange, Polish poet* Artie Lange , U.S...
, is the distribution and support center for Hach's customers in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Mediterranean Africa. Danaher acquired Lange
Lange
-People named Lange:* Algot Lange, Swedish explorer* André Lange , German bobsledder* Andrew E. Lange , U.S. astronomer* Antoni Lange, Polish poet* Artie Lange , U.S...
, Hach, and numerous other brands, and a period of dramatic change occurred for each brand as lean production was introduced.
After 9/11 Hach’s expertise in water quality technology allowed it to assume a leadership position in the critical, emerging field of water distribution system security. In 2002 Hach formed a separate research and development division, Hach Homeland Security Technologies. The elite group had one goal: To ensure the safety and quality of the nation’s drinking water.
Hach HST’s scientists and engineers set about developing innovative technology and breakthrough research for a comprehensive water distribution security system that could detect and alarm operators to contaminants and accidents in real time.
The result of their efforts is the GuardianBlue Early Warning System, the first early warning system for drinking water designated and certified by the Department of Homeland Security.
In 2007, Hach created TNTplus, which are Test ‘N Tube vials that contain premeasured reagent
Reagent
A reagent is a "substance or compound that is added to a system in order to bring about a chemical reaction, or added to see if a reaction occurs." Although the terms reactant and reagent are often used interchangeably, a reactant is less specifically a "substance that is consumed in the course of...
, and allow sample reaction and reading in a closed container. The next year, ISO 21501 compliant particle counters were added to Hach’s long list of products.
In 2009, Hach broadened its Integrated Information Management product portfolio by purchasing OPS Systems and the assets of WaterEye Corporation.
Family brands
- ANATEL http://www.hach.com/hc/static.template/templateName=HcBridgePage.HcHUA.html
- Dr. Lange http://shop.hach-lange.com/shop/TOKEN/H0Nq0lXMtpFn0JSehsmpEtd-_YM/M/ei-oNw
- Environmental Test Strips http://www.etsstrips.com/
- Evita
- GLI http://www.hach.com/hc/static.template/templateName=HcBridgePage.HcGLI.htm
- HIAC http://www.hach.com/hc/static.template/templateName=HcBridgePage.HcHUA.html
- Homeland Security Technologies http://www.hachhst.com/
- Hydrolab http://www.hydrolab.com/
- IQ Scientific Instruments http://www.phmeters.com/
- Lachat Instruments http://www.lachatinstruments.com/
- Marsh-McBirney http://www.hach.com/hc/static.template/templateName=HcBridgePage.HcMMI.htm
- MET ONE http://www.hach.com/hc/static.template/templateName=HcBridgePage.HcHUA.html
- OPS Systems http://www.hach.com/im
- ORBISPHERE http://www.hach.com/hc/static.template/templateName=HcBridgePage.HcHUA.html
- OTT Hydrometry http://www.ott-hydrometry.de/web/ott_de.nsf/id/pa_home_e.html
- POLYMETRON http://www.hach.com/hc/static.template/templateName=HcBridgePage.HcHUA.html
- Radiometer Analytical http://www.hach.com/hc/static.template/templateName=HcBridgePage.HcRadiometerAnalytical.htm
- Sigma http://www.hach.com/hc/static.template/templateName=HcBridgePage.HcSigma.htm