A History
of Innovation

A Heritage of Technology & Market Leadership

NuCera Solutions traces its origins to the oil business of Oklahoma at the beginning of the 20th Century. In 1934, our predecessor, Bareco Oil Company, became the first manufacturer of refined microcrystalline wax, a promising new technology with applications in the oilfield.

In 1955, Bareco was acquired by Petrolite Corporation – another oilfield business – and began the development of unique polymerization technologies, shifting its focus toward high performance synthetic waxes and polymers.

In 1970, the company began production of its POLYWAX™ line of polyethylene waxes, and became a technology leader around the world. Over the next 50 years, the NuCera Solutions business operated as part of multi-billion-dollar companies, all the while developing new chemical technology as it moved into new markets.

Today, as a standalone organization, NuCera Solutions has the focus and the resources to continue its ongoing mission to deliver high levels of performance and value through uncommon chemistry.

Our Heritage

1910
1910

The Barnsdall manufacturing plant is built by Southwest Refining Company

1934
1934

Microcrystalline wax production begins

1955
1955

Petrolite acquires Bareco Oil Company, creates Bareco Wax Division, and produces in the Barnsdall and Kilgore Refineries. The company subsequently developed unique polymerization technologies and shifted focus towards synthetic products.

1970
1970

POLYWAX™ polyethylene product line is started

1975
1975

VYBAR™ polymer production begins

1983
1983

UNILIN™ alcohol product begins production

1995
1995

Petrolite and Pennzoil Corporation create a Joint Venture named Bareco Products

1997
1997

The Personal Care brand New Phase Technologies™ launches

1997
1997

Baker Hughes acquires Petrolite and establishes Baker Petrolite group

2005
2005

Addition of Dispersion capabilities

2006
2006

UNICID™ acid production begins

2011
2011

Polypropylene small-scale plant built
in Sand Springs, OK
2020
2020

Specialty Polymer business of Baker Hughes becomes NuCera Solutions

Organization

1930s

Transition from oil refinery to microcrystalline waxes

1950 - 1970s

Formation of a leading specialty polymers manufacturer

2018

Leading global functional polymers and POLYWAX™ producer

2020+

Global supplier of high performance functional polymers

Pioneer in microcrystalline waxes
Shift to specialty polymers - first to market
Established best-in-class specialty low molecular weight olefin polymers production
Application development and global market penetration
  • Discovery of microcrystalline waxes by the Barnsdall Refining Company ("BARECO")
  • Marathon Paper Mills was the first major customer, using BE SQUARE™ 175 Amber Wax in an early wax paper product named "Parafilm".
  • Acquisition by Petrolite in 1955 becoming a leader in the field
  • Petrolite and Pennzoil create a JV in 1995 into which Petrolite merged microcrystalline waxes - JV dissolved in 2003
  • Baker Hughes acquired Petrolite in 1997
  • Grow domestic and international sales force
  • Expand in regulated markets
  • Technical manufacturing
  • Focus on functional polymers while continuing to benefit from expertiese in POLYWAX™
  • Microcrystalline wax production is shut down
  • Unique functionalized derivatives
  • Small scale production capabilities
  • Ability to model processes in Pilot Plant

Operations

1930s

Transition from oil refinery to microcrystalline waxes

1950 - 1970s

Formation of a leading specialty polymers manufacturer

2018

Leading global functional polymers and POLYWAX™ producer

2020+

Global supplier of high performance functional polymers

Markets created for paper lamination, hot melt adhesives and chewing gum base
New product introductions targeting diverse applications providing microcrystalline waxes and wax blends
Highly differentiated products using established and proprietary manufacturing process
Leveraging unique catalyst technology
  • In an ongoing attempt to increase the yield of lubricating oil, it was discovered that solvent separation resulted in a wax fraction which was more ductile and plastic than waxes then on the market
  • Shifted the business with the development of a number of unique polymerization technologies
  • POLYWAX™ product line started in 1970
  • New Phase Technologies™ started in 1997
  • Narrow MW polyethylene
  • Primary long chain alcohols, ethoxylates and acids
  • Polyalphaolefins and functionalized polyalphaolefins
  • Water based dispersions
  • Focus on high-margin applications such as personal care and specialty coatings