History
The Westerman family has owned and managed Carbit Paint Co. since 1925. The dominant theme that has been the subject of the Westerman family’s business for three generations has been to maintain the quality of its coatings and the technical expertise of its service. The company looks forward to the challenges ahead, confident that the principles that have guided three generations of owners will continue to foster close relationships with its customers.
Location
The company moved several times in its ninety-six year history in the Near North and near downtown Chicago neighborhoods. In 2021, Carbit moved its plant and offices to its new home at 1501 N. 31st Avenue, Melrose Park, IL 60160. This nearby western suburb is close to Chicagoland’s expressways and enables Carbit to ship its products quickly and efficiently from the Midwest’s largest transportation hub.
How Did Carbit Get Its Name?
Carbit’s name is derived from its first product, a Carbon Bitumastic coating to protect the structural steel and rolling stock of the Chicago Stockyards from the corrosion caused by rock ice and salt – the only method of refrigeration in the 1920’s.
In 1989, a water based strippable coating named Carbicote was introduced and was sold nationally through distributors. The next decade launched Carbithane, a two-component acrylic polyurethane that provided an in-house mixing capability for OEMs with broad color pallets.
Today, Carbit manufactures compliant and environment friendly green coatings that are designed to meet the specialized needs of its customers. High performance, one and two component waterbased coatings are in demand now, but our laboratory continues its research in other areas to discover new ways to serve our customers’ needs.