Durcon

{{Infobox company | name = Durcon | logo = Durcon_logo.png | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | logo_padding = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | former_name = | type = | industry = Chemical resistant epoxy resin countertops and sinks | founded = {{start date|1963}} in Detroit, Michigan, United States | founder = Jan Mueller and Robert Hackman | hq_location = | hq_location_city = Taylor, Texas | hq_location_country = USA | area_served = Global | key_people = | products = | brands = | services = | owner =  | ratio =  | rating =  | website = {{url|durcon.com/}} }}

'''Durcon Incorporated''', a Wilsonart LLC company,<ref name=Wilsonart>{{cite news|title=Wilsonart LLC Completes Purchase of Durcon Incorporated|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wilsonart-llc-completes-purchase-of-durcon-incorporated-231173441.html|accessdate=January 30, 2014|newspaper=PR Newswire|date=8 Nov 2013}}</ref> is a global company headquartered in Taylor, Texas that manufactures and fabricates chemical resistant epoxy resin countertops and sinks for use in laboratories, classrooms and other research environments. and solid surface counter tops for the commercial construction market.<ref name="Durcon Products">{{cite news | title=Durcon, Inc.: Products Made in the USA | url=http://www.taylorpress.net/mobile/news/article_6f272c7c-cd91-11e2-a628-001a4bcf887a.html | newspaper=Taylor Daily Press | date=4 June 2013 | accessdate=2014-01-29}}</ref>

== Durcon facilities == Durcon's manufacturing facility occupies 120,000 square feet in Taylor, Texas. Durcon has sales and fabrication facilities in Canada, Poland, Malaysia and China to serve markets in Europe and Russia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.<ref name="New Jobs">{{cite news | last=Buchholz | first=Jan | title=Durcon ramping up staff at Taylor facility | url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2013/04/01/durcon-ramping-up-staff-at-taylor.html | newspaper=Austin Business Journal | date=1 April 2013 | accessdate=2014-01-29}}</ref>

== Manufacturing == Durcon Epoxy Resin worksurfaces are thermosets cured through three stages. By combining two reactive materials – monolithic epoxy resin and the curing agent – with a catalyst and heat, the resin and curing agent react to result in the branching of chains. As curing continues, molecular weight accelerates causing viscosity to increase. Eventually, the material changes from a viscous liquid to a solid gel. The material is then placed into a curing oven to increase durability and solidity. The final stage of curing results in completion of the cross-linking process at which the average molecule weight diverges to infinity. Thermosets like epoxy resin possess good dimensional stability, thermal stability and chemical resistance.<ref name=Thermosets>{{cite web | last=Prime | first=Bruce | title=An Introduction to Thermosets | url=http://www.primethermosets.com/introtothermosets.pdf | publisher=Prime Thermosets | accessdate=2014-01-29}}</ref>

== Growth == In 2011, Durcon moved all its U.S. operations to Taylor, resulting in an expansion of its facilities and 65 new jobs. "We went from learning there was a chance that we could lose 200 jobs to having a net gain of 65 jobs," Jason Ford, CEO of the Taylor Economic Development Corp. said. "We are incredibly excited to work with Durcon as it grows here."<ref name="Taylor Plant">{{cite news | last=Hawkins | first=Lori | title=Durcon consolidating U.S. operations in Taylor, adding 65 new jobs | url=http://www.statesman.com/news/business/durcon-consolidating-us-operations-in-taylor-addin/nRdPz/| newspaper=Statesman.com | date=2011-08-10 | accessdate=2014-01-29}}</ref>

In 2014, Durcon had invested more than $7.5 million in its Taylor facility. Durcon had increased its employees from 220 to 430, while still actively recruiting.<ref name="TWC Award">{{cite web|last=Givens|first=Lisa|title=TWC Names ExxonMobil Employer of the Year at Texas Workforce Conference|url=http://www.texasworkforce.org/news/press/2013/120613press.pdf|publisher=Texas Workforce | accessdate=2014-01-29}}</ref>

{{As of|2025|12}}, Durcon has expanded its operation by {{Convert|32000|sqft|m2|abbr=}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-24 |title=Durcon expansion to bring more space, jobs |url=https://www.taylorpress.net/article/11078,durcon-expansion-to-bring-more-space-jobs |access-date=2026-05-18 |website=Taylor News |language=en}}</ref>

== Ownership == *1963 - Laboratory Service, Inc. is founded by Jan Mueller and Robert Hackman in Detroit, Michigan.<ref name="E.E. Mueller">E.E. Mueller</ref> *1975 - Laboratory Service, Inc. acquires the epoxy resin division of the Duriron Corporation of Dayton, Ohio. Laboratory Service, Inc. is renamed The Durcon Company.<ref name="E.E. Mueller"/> * 2004 – Laboratory Tops acquires The Durcon Company and retains the Durcon name<ref name=Stonebridge>{{cite web|title=Stonebridge Partners Sells Alpha Packaging and Durcon Laboratory Tops, Inc.|url=http://www.stonebridgepartners.com/news_alpha_durcon_sale.html|publisher=Stonebridge Partners|accessdate=January 30, 2014}}</ref> * 2013 – Wilsonart LLC acquires Durcon Incorporated from Private Equity firm Quad-C Management<ref name=Wilsonart />

== Awards == * 2013 Economic Engine Award presented by Taylor Economic Development Corporation<ref name="Economic-Engine">{{cite news|last=Hennington|first=Jason|title=Economic Engine|url=http://www.taylorpress.net/mobile/news/article_5f591b46-654b-11e3-a591-001a4bcf887a.html|accessdate=2014-01-30|newspaper=Taylor Daily Press|date=15 Dec 2013}}</ref> * 2013 Employer Award of Excellence presented by the Texas Workforce Commission and Local Workforce Development Board<ref name=Economic-Engine /> * Durcon named finalist for the 2013 Texas Workforce Solutions Employer of the Year<ref name=Economic-Engine /> * 2013 Medium Business Export Award presented by The Austin Chamber of Commerce<ref name=Economic-Engine />

== Charity contributions == Durcon partners with Scott & White Healthcare Foundation to initiate Durcon Dolls for Children program at Scott & White Hospital in Taylor, Texas on September 13, 2013. Durcon presented Scott & White with a $750 check to initiate the program, which provides children with hand-sewn dolls and markers for comfort and therapeutic value. Nurses and physicians use the doll to communicate with the children by asking them to point to the area on their dolls where they feel pain.<ref name="Durcon-Dolls">{{cite web|title=Durcon Dolls for Children | url=http://foundation.sw.org/impact/stories/durcon-dolls | publisher=Scott & White Healthcare Foundation | accessdate=2014-01-30}}</ref>

In 2013, Durcon made a monetary donation to World War II Veterans Honor Flight. The donation enabled Honor Flight Austin’s mission to transport World War II or terminally ill veterans to Washington D.C., allowing them to visit the memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifices.<ref name=Durcon-Dolls />

Durcon provides volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, and to Shepherd’s Heart Pantry and holds annual food drives that collect over 2,000 lbs of canned and packaged goods.<ref name=Durcon-Dolls />

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *[http://www.durcon.com/ www.durcon.com] — Durcon Incorporated site

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Texas Category:Chemical companies of the United States