Ansul

Ansul, Inc.

Industry	Chemical
Founded	1915
Founder	Francis G. Hood
Headquarters	Operational/Corporate: Marinette, Wisconsin, U.S.
Key people	George R. Oliver,President Dave Eickman,VP Operations Bob Roche,CFO
Products	Fire Protection Services, Safety Products
Revenue	$480 million US$ (2007)
Number of employees	640 (2007)
Parent	Tyco International
Website	ANSUL

Ansul is a corporation headquartered in Marinette, Wisconsin that manufactures fire suppression systems, extinguishers, and offers fire training. Ansul’s initial activities included production of cattle feed, refrigerants and selected specialty chemicals. The name Ansul comes from ANhydrous SULfur dioxide (SO₂), which was sold to die works and fruit preservers, and later as a refrigerant. Production of fire suppression chemicals began in 1934. Virginia Chemicals, Inc. (now part of Celanese Corporation) acquired the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Products Division of The Ansul Company in 1967, and by 1983 Ansul had discontinued all other production at the facility in Marinette. The US government is a major customer for Ansul.

The ANSUL name is a premium brand of Tyco Fire Protection Products. The full line of ANSUL special hazard fire protection products includes fire extinguishers and hand line units; pre-engineered restaurant, vehicle, and industrial systems; sophisticated fire detection/suppression systems, and a complete line of dry chemical, foam, and gaseous extinguishing agents. A common hand-held fire extinguisher produced by Ansul that many consumers may recognize is the SENTRY brand stored-pressure fire extinguisher.

Ansul was created by Francis "Frank" G. Hood from the bankrupt Bastol Company, an enterprise started in Marinette in 1912. It remained independent until 1978, when it was acquired by Wormald International, an Australian corporation. Wormald was in turn acquired by Tyco International in 1990. Ansul now exists as a brand of the Tyco Fire Protection segment of Tyco International.

The company changed its name over the years, but always kept Ansul as part of its name. From 1915–1963 it was the Ansul Chemical Company, from 1963–1981: the Ansul Company and 1981–1995 Ansul Fire Protection. The current name has been used since 1995.

Early leadership was quite stable, primarily under the Hood family. Once the company was acquired, turnover has been much more rapid as evidenced by this chronology of the presidents of Ansul:

ANSUL is the registered trade name for Ansul's products and is often used in conjunction with the trade name for their specific products, such as ANSUL SENTRY fire extinguishers.