Overview
Hach Company is an American manufacturer of water analysis and water quality testing equipment. Founded in 1947 by Clifford C. Hach and Kathryn “Kitty” Hach in Ames, Iowa, the company developed simplified water testing methods that made analytical chemistry more accessible to water treatment operators, industrial users, and field technicians.
Over the decades, Hach became one of the leading suppliers of water quality instrumentation, analytical reagents, laboratory equipment, and monitoring systems. The company was acquired by Danaher Corporation in 1999 and became part of Veralto Corporation following Danaher’s 2023 environmental business spin-off.
Technical Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Hach Company |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Founders | Clifford C. Hach, Kathryn Hach |
| Industry | Water Quality Analysis and Instrumentation |
| Original Headquarters | Ames, Iowa, USA |
| Current Headquarters | Loveland, Colorado, USA |
| Parent Company | Veralto Corporation |
| Former Parent Company | Danaher Corporation |
| Primary Products | Water testing instruments, analytical reagents, laboratory equipment, monitoring systems |
| Markets Served | Municipal Water, Wastewater, Industrial, Environmental, Laboratory |
Description
Hach was founded with the goal of simplifying water analysis procedures. The company’s first successful products were easy-to-use water hardness testing kits that allowed operators to perform accurate measurements without extensive laboratory training.
As environmental regulations expanded during the second half of the twentieth century, Hach broadened its product offerings to include instruments for measuring water chemistry, wastewater quality, biological oxygen demand, turbidity, chlorine levels, dissolved oxygen, and numerous other parameters.
The company became a major supplier to municipal water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, industrial plants, power generation facilities, laboratories, and environmental monitoring organizations. Hach products are used worldwide for drinking water, wastewater, industrial process, and environmental analysis.
Historical Addresses
| Period | Address |
|---|---|
| 1947–1978 | Ames, Iowa, USA |
| 1978–Present | Loveland, Colorado, USA |
History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1947 | Clifford and Kathryn Hach founded Hach Company in Ames, Iowa. |
| 1968 | Reincorporated as Hach Chemical Co. and became a publicly traded company. |
| 1972 | Expanded international operations. |
| 1973 | Opened European operations in Belgium. |
| 1978 | Moved instrument division and corporate headquarters to Loveland, Colorado. |
| 1980 | Hach Chemical Co. renamed Hach Company. |
| 1998 | Acquired Environmental Test Systems (ETS). |
| 1999 | Acquired by Danaher Corporation. |
| 1999 | Acquired German water analysis company Lange. |
| 2002 | Formed Hach Homeland Security Technologies. |
| 2014 | Acquired Biotector Ltd. |
| 2023 | Became part of Veralto Corporation following Danaher’s environmental business spin-off. |
References
- https://my.hach.com/history-heritage — Official Hach company history and corporate timeline.
- https://amesalliance.com/traction-stories/hach-a-local-legacy-with-a-global-reach/ — Historical overview of Hach’s founding and growth in Ames, Iowa.
- https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp118551 — Historical company information from the Science Museum Group.
- https://www.acs.org/education/whatischemistry/women-scientists/kathryn-hach-darrow.html — American Chemical Society biography covering the founding and development of Hach Company.
- https://www.company-histories.com/Hach-Co-Company-History.html — Detailed corporate history of Hach Company.