The family-owned company, based in Elk Grove Village, IL, is celebrating 75 years of providing specialty chemical products for industrial applications.



In 1934, when Dr. Lester Aronberg first established Lake Chemical Co. in the heart of Chicago, he was driven to provide solutions for high-performance industrial marking. Overtime, Aronberg’s products found a niche in dozens of diverse industrial applications, and the company grew to develop three thriving brands - Markal, LA-CO, and All-Weather.

Now headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Ill., family-owned LA-CO Industries Inc. is celebrating 75 years of developing specialty chemical products designed to meet demanding industrial applications while serving customers with the highest level of quality and convenience:

  • The Markal brand offers the industrial professional both permanent and temporary marking products designed to meet the most difficult marking applications, including solid paint markers, liquid paint markers, felt-tip markers, metal markers and temperature indicators.

  • LA-CO provides plumbing professionals and HVAC contractors with a product offering that includes flux, sealants, and heat protection and marking products.

  • The All-Weather brand of products provides a full range of paint markers in stick and liquid form to meet the most demanding needs on the farm in addition to a complete assortment of the highest quality ear tag markers.


    • “Reaching our 75th anniversary is a true testament to this company’s dedication to actively listening to customers and exceeding their expectations with high-performance products,” said Dan Kleiman, CEO of LA-CO Industries. “The continued success and longevity of our company is a result of our extended family - the dedicated hard-working employees who have contributed so much and the quality relationships we have with our loyal customers, who’ve helped guide us on our journey.”

    Marking The Way

    LA-CO’s innovation has resulted in many accomplishments over the last 75 years. The company’s success began with Aronberg’s first product, Stick-O-Paint, which was marketed under Markal Co. and offered real paint in stick form for permanently marking hot and cold surfaces ranging from metal to wood, glass, stone, lumber, cellophane and more. Stick-O-Paint evolved into the Markal Paintstik and fueled the growth of the company.

    “The success of LA-CO has never hinged on a single product or business segment,” said Kleiman. “The lifeblood of LA-CO continues to be our constant search for ways we can improve and adapt what we do for customers in existing and emerging markets. As we celebrate our 75th year, we are proud of our tradition of constant innovation and are confident that this will continue to inspire and drive LA-CO in the 21st century.”

    Looking To The Future

    To ensure continued growth, LA-CO extensively invests in product research and development, personnel and sales training. At the beginning of 2009, LA-CO is also planning to unveil a new, state-of-the-art solid and liquid paint marker manufacturing facility. At approximately 10,000 square feet, including warehouse space, this facility will be located on the grounds of the existing Elk Grove headquarters.

    In order to commemorate this milestone throughout the year, LA-CO has several activities planned to show its gratitude to the 140 dedicated employees as well as loyal customers who have aided in the company’s overall success.

    For more information, contact LA-CO Industries Inc./Markal at 1201 Pratt Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007; 800/621.4025, customer_service@laco.com or visit online at www.laco.com.