Ecolab, Inc.

Black and white photograph of research and development division, Economics Laboratory, 1938.

Employees of the research and development division of the Economics Laboratory (later Ecolab) at work on the sixth floor of the Globe Building in St. Paul, 1938. Pictured are John Effinger, Roy Frommer, Clarence Olson, and John Lewis Wilson.

Ecolab, Inc., is a public company that provides hygiene, water, and energy products and services. It was founded in 1923 as Economics Laboratory in St. Paul. By 2017, it employed 38,000 workers in over 170 countries, served customers in more than 1.3 million locations, and reported annual sales of $13 billion. It counted among its employees 1,600 scientists and held 6,300 patents.

Ecolab’s founder, Merritt J. Osborn, began his career as a salesman. In 1923, a stain in a hotel carpet convinced him of the need for a rug-cleaner that would not require removing the carpet.

Osborn set up an office in the basement of the Endicott Building in St. Paul. He then hired one-time St. Paul Winter Carnival princess Ida Koran as a secretary and assistant. He called his new company Economics Laboratory (EL).

EL first developed, produced, and marketed Absorbit, a carpet cleaner. Soon after, Osborn recruited University of Minnesota graduate student Leonard Englund to develop the formula for Soilax, a dishwashing and all-purpose cleanser.

Managed by the Osborn family, EL expanded its customer base to include restaurants, food processors, and dairies. During World War II, it developed one of the first detergents that killed germs and distributed it to U.S. forces to sterilize mess kits.

In addition to chemicals, from its earliest days the company also produced dispensers and equipment. In 1946, for instance, EL developed the first electronic dispensers for commercial dishwashers. Its comprehensive customer service included training and product maintenance in addition to equipment and products.

EL became a publicly traded company in 1957. It acquired Klenzade in 1961 and the Magnus Company in 1964. It then added petrochemical processing, metalworking, transportation, and laundering to its services. It also developed a cleaning system for car and bus fleets, a dairy cow sanitizer, and a rinse aid for dishwashers.

When EL’s first employee, Ida Koran, died in 1967, her will established a trust fund for EL employees in need. It was one of the first such employee assistance programs in Minnesota. Beginning in 1984, the trust also sponsored scholarships for the children of employees.

In 1978, the Osborn family gave up management of the company. In 1986, EL changed its name to Ecolab, Inc., and launched the Ecolab Foundation to seek out and fund charitable initiatives. Related projects involved water, education, the arts, conservation, and civic development.

During the 1980s, Ecolab sold off its pulp-and-paper division and several plants. It acquired pest control and extermination businesses and broadened its laundry offerings. The 1987 acquisition of ChemLawn, a lawn care service provider, proved unprofitable. Ecolab sold it for a loss in 1992.

The late 1980s and the 1990s witnessed Ecolab’s expansion around the world. It increased its presence in Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Asian Pacific, and the Middle East. In 1991, it entered into a joint venture with German firm Henkel KGaA that combined their European businesses. Ecolab also purchased Henkel’s Latin American and Asian Pacific businesses. The joint venture lasted until 2001, when Ecolab bought out Henkel’s 50-percent stake.

Acquisitions continued to extend Ecolab’s reach. The 1994 purchase of Kay Chemicals, a company in North Carolina, expanded its restaurant services. The 1996 acquisition of Indiana-based Huntington Laboratories, a producer of infection-control chemicals, added to its hospital and medical offerings.

Nalco Holding Company, Inc., a water and energy services company based in Illinois, became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ecolab in 2011. Ecolab acquired Champion Technologies, a Texas-based company focusing on petroleum and energy chemicals, in 2013.

Ecolab’s focus on water safety and sanitation attracted the attention of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Through his investment vehicles, Gates was Ecolab’s largest shareholder in 2012, owning 10.8 percent of outstanding shares. That year, Ecolab amended its stockholder rights plan to allow Gates’ investment entities to acquire and own up to 25 percent of the company’s outstanding shares.

In 2015, Ecolab purchased the former Travelers Tower in downtown St. Paul for $47 million. The developer PAK Properties bought the former Ecolab headquarters, at 370 Wabasha Street, in 2017 for $3.6 million.

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Kirkland, Catherine. "Ecolab, Inc.." MNopedia, Minnesota Historical Society. https://www3.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/group/ecolab-inc
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First Published: October 19, 2017
Last Modified: April 10, 2025

Bibliography

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. What We Do.
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do

Bloomberg. Company Overview of Huntington Laboratories, Inc.
https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=29628

Davis, Riccardo. “Ecolab to Clean up in Fast-food Business.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 4, 1994.

“Ecolab, Henkel of Germany Form Joint Venture.” UPI, July 11, 1991.
http://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/07/11/Ecolab-Henkel-of-Germany-form-joint-venture/4776679204800/

Ecolab, Inc.
http://www.ecolab.com/about

Ecolab, Inc. History, Funding Universe.
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/ecolab-inc-history/

“Ecolab Speeds Up Acquisition of Joint Venture.” Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, September 28, 2001.
https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2001/09/24/daily42.html

Economics Laboratory, Inc. Fiftieth Year: EL Service is Golden. St. Paul: 1974.

Meland, Christa. “Bill Gates Gets OK to Up Stake in Ecolab to 25%.” Twin Cities Business, May 8, 2012.
http://tcbmag.blogs.com/daily_developments/2012/05/bill-gates-gets-ok-to-up-stake-in-ecolab-to-25.html

Melo, Frederick. “St. Paul’s Largest Development Projects of 2016.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 12, 2016.
http://www.twincities.com/2016/05/12/st-pauls-largest-development-projects-of-2016/

——— . “Downtown’s Ecolab Tower: Apartments, Offices, Hotel, or All of the Above?” St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 25, 2017.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/03/25/downtowns-ecolab-tower-apartments-offices-hotel-or-all-of-the-above/

Norfleet, Nicole, and Dee Depass. “Ecolab Reaches Agreement to Sell Former Headquarters in St. Paul.” Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 13, 2017.
http://m.startribune.com/ecolab-reaches-agreement-to-sell-former-headquarters-in-st-paul/419324304/

Pederson, J. P. International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 34. Chicago: St. James Press, 2000.

Reference USA database. Ecolab, Inc.
http://www.referenceusa.com/UsBusiness/Detail/Tagged/3050094373244586a1d2106f085bd7b0?recordId=441424033

“The Stories Behind Minnesota's Foundations.” Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 13, 2015.
http://m.startribune.com/the-stories-behind-minnesota-s-foundations/345771302/

Woltman, Nick. “Ecolab’s Former Downtown St. Paul Headquarters Sold for $3.6 Million.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, July 27, 2017.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/07/27/ecolabs-former-downtown-st-paul-headquarters-sold-for-3-6-million/

Related Resources

Related Images

Black and white photograph of research and development division, Economics Laboratory, 1938.

Employees of the research and development division of the Economics Laboratory (later Ecolab) at work on the sixth floor of the Globe Building in St. Paul, 1938. Pictured are John Effinger, Roy Frommer, Clarence Olson, and John Lewis Wilson.

Black and white photograph of Merritt J. Osborn, founder of Economics Laboratory, later Ecolab, ca. 1950s.

M. J. Osborn, ca. 1950s. Osborn never finished high school, but the salesman-turned-entrepreneur saw a need for institutional and consumer cleaning products, leading to the 1923 foundation of Economics Laboratory, later known as Ecolab. From Ecolab Company Records, Minnesota Historical Society.

Black and white photograph of the Endicott Building, ca. 1900.

The Endicott Building, ca. 1900. The first location of Economics Laboratory (later Ecolab) was in the basement of the Endicott Building on Fourth Street in downtown St. Paul.

Black and white photograph of economics Laboratory employees, 1935.

Economics Laboratory employees, 1935.

Color scan of a Soilax advertisement, 1953.

Advertisement for Soilax, a product of Economics Laboratory, printed in Woman's Day 16, no. 6 (March 1953). Photograph by Flickr user Classic Film on December 5, 2013.

Electrasol formula, 1948.

Early formula for dishwashing detergent Electrasol, 1948. Early product formulations were kept in a booklet by chemist John Lewis Wilson. From Ecolab Company Records, Minnesota Historical Society.

Black and white photograph of Soilax parade float, ca. 1955.

Parade float promoting Soilax, a dishwasher detergent, at the Economics Laboratory in St. Paul, ca. 1955.

Black and white photograph of Economics Laboratory, 144–146 South Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, ca. 1955.

Economics Laboratory, 144–146 South Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, ca. 1955.

Black and white photograph of an Economics Laboratory, 800 Eustis Street, St. Paul, ca. 1956.

Economics Laboratory, 800 Eustis Street, St. Paul, ca. 1956.

Black and white photograph of Economics Laboratory, 293 Como Avenue, St. Paul, October 8, 1962.

Economics Laboratory, 293 Como Avenue, St. Paul, October 8, 1962.

Color image of the Ecolab building, 2014. Photograph by Wikimedia Commons user McGhiever.

Ecolab building, 2014. Photograph by Wikimedia Commons user McGhiever.

Color image Ecolab buildings, St. Paul, July 2017.

Ecolab buildings, St. Paul, July 2017. In the foreground, the new Ecolab headquarters in downtown St. Paul. Behind can be seen the old tower on Wabasha, still bearing the Ecolab name.

Black and white photograph of research and development division, Economics Laboratory, 1938.

Research and development division, Economics Laboratory

Employees of the research and development division of the Economics Laboratory (later Ecolab) at work on the sixth floor of the Globe Building in St. Paul, 1938. Pictured are John Effinger, Roy Frommer, Clarence Olson, and John Lewis Wilson.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Black and white photograph of Merritt J. Osborn, founder of Economics Laboratory, later Ecolab, ca. 1950s.

Merritt J. Osborn

M. J. Osborn, ca. 1950s. Osborn never finished high school, but the salesman-turned-entrepreneur saw a need for institutional and consumer cleaning products, leading to the 1923 foundation of Economics Laboratory, later known as Ecolab. From Ecolab Company Records, Minnesota Historical Society.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Black and white photograph of the Endicott Building, ca. 1900.

Endicott Building, 143 East Fourth, St. Paul

The Endicott Building, ca. 1900. The first location of Economics Laboratory (later Ecolab) was in the basement of the Endicott Building on Fourth Street in downtown St. Paul.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Black and white photograph of economics Laboratory employees, 1935.

Economics Laboratory employees

Economics Laboratory employees, 1935.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Color scan of a Soilax advertisement, 1953.

Soilax advertisement

Advertisement for Soilax, a product of Economics Laboratory, printed in Woman's Day 16, no. 6 (March 1953). Photograph by Flickr user Classic Film on December 5, 2013.

© Flickr user Classic Film     80x15  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
Electrasol formula, 1948.

Electrasol formula

Early formula for dishwashing detergent Electrasol, 1948. Early product formulations were kept in a booklet by chemist John Lewis Wilson. From Ecolab Company Records, Minnesota Historical Society.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Black and white photograph of Soilax parade float, ca. 1955.

Soilax parade float

Parade float promoting Soilax, a dishwasher detergent, at the Economics Laboratory in St. Paul, ca. 1955.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Black and white photograph of Economics Laboratory, 144–146 South Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, ca. 1955.

Economics Laboratory

Economics Laboratory, 144–146 South Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, ca. 1955.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Black and white photograph of an Economics Laboratory, 800 Eustis Street, St. Paul, ca. 1956.

Economics Laboratory, St. Paul

Economics Laboratory, 800 Eustis Street, St. Paul, ca. 1956.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Black and white photograph of Economics Laboratory, 293 Como Avenue, St. Paul, October 8, 1962.

Economics Laboratory, 293 Como Avenue, St. Paul

Economics Laboratory, 293 Como Avenue, St. Paul, October 8, 1962.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Color image of the Ecolab building, 2014. Photograph by Wikimedia Commons user McGhiever.

Ecolab building

Ecolab building, 2014. Photograph by Wikimedia Commons user McGhiever.

© Wikimedia Commons user McGhiever     80x15  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
Color image Ecolab buildings, St. Paul, July 2017.

Ecolab buildings

Ecolab buildings, St. Paul, July 2017. In the foreground, the new Ecolab headquarters in downtown St. Paul. Behind can be seen the old tower on Wabasha, still bearing the Ecolab name.

© Catherine Harper Kirkland    

All rights reserved

Holding Location

Private Collection of Catherine Harper Kirkland

Turning Point

In 1978, the Osborns end fifty-five years of family management of Ecolab, Inc.—previously Economics Laboratory.

Chronology

1923
Merritt J. Osborn founds Economics Laboratory in St. Paul.
1953
Economics Laboratory starts its first international operations in Canada.
1957
Economics Laboratory becomes a publicly traded company.
1962
The company builds a new research and development center in Mendota Heights.
1967
The Ida C. Koran Fund is established by the estate of the forty-four-year employee to assist employees with unexpected financial hardships.
1968
The Osborn Building opens in St. Paul as the company’s new world headquarters.
1978
The Osborn family gives up management of the company.
1986
Economics Laboratory changes its name to Ecolab, Inc.
1986
The Ecolab Foundation is established as a philanthropic arm of the corporation to fund nonprofit projects in the community.
1991
Ecolab forms a European joint venture with the German firm Henkel KGaK.
1996
Ecolab acquires Huntington Laboratories.
2001
Ecolab’s joint venture with Henkel KGaA ends when Ecolab purchases Henkel’s interest.
2011
Nalco Holding Company, Inc., becomes a subsidiary of Ecolab.
2012
Ecolab amends its stockholder rights plan to allow Bill Gates’ investment entities to purchase up to 25 percent of the company’s outstanding shares.

Bibliography

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. What We Do.
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do

Bloomberg. Company Overview of Huntington Laboratories, Inc.
https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=29628

Davis, Riccardo. “Ecolab to Clean up in Fast-food Business.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 4, 1994.

“Ecolab, Henkel of Germany Form Joint Venture.” UPI, July 11, 1991.
http://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/07/11/Ecolab-Henkel-of-Germany-form-joint-venture/4776679204800/

Ecolab, Inc.
http://www.ecolab.com/about

Ecolab, Inc. History, Funding Universe.
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/ecolab-inc-history/

“Ecolab Speeds Up Acquisition of Joint Venture.” Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, September 28, 2001.
https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2001/09/24/daily42.html

Economics Laboratory, Inc. Fiftieth Year: EL Service is Golden. St. Paul: 1974.

Meland, Christa. “Bill Gates Gets OK to Up Stake in Ecolab to 25%.” Twin Cities Business, May 8, 2012.
http://tcbmag.blogs.com/daily_developments/2012/05/bill-gates-gets-ok-to-up-stake-in-ecolab-to-25.html

Melo, Frederick. “St. Paul’s Largest Development Projects of 2016.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 12, 2016.
http://www.twincities.com/2016/05/12/st-pauls-largest-development-projects-of-2016/

——— . “Downtown’s Ecolab Tower: Apartments, Offices, Hotel, or All of the Above?” St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 25, 2017.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/03/25/downtowns-ecolab-tower-apartments-offices-hotel-or-all-of-the-above/

Norfleet, Nicole, and Dee Depass. “Ecolab Reaches Agreement to Sell Former Headquarters in St. Paul.” Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 13, 2017.
http://m.startribune.com/ecolab-reaches-agreement-to-sell-former-headquarters-in-st-paul/419324304/

Pederson, J. P. International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 34. Chicago: St. James Press, 2000.

Reference USA database. Ecolab, Inc.
http://www.referenceusa.com/UsBusiness/Detail/Tagged/3050094373244586a1d2106f085bd7b0?recordId=441424033

“The Stories Behind Minnesota's Foundations.” Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 13, 2015.
http://m.startribune.com/the-stories-behind-minnesota-s-foundations/345771302/

Woltman, Nick. “Ecolab’s Former Downtown St. Paul Headquarters Sold for $3.6 Million.” St. Paul Pioneer Press, July 27, 2017.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/07/27/ecolabs-former-downtown-st-paul-headquarters-sold-for-3-6-million/

Related Resources