Catalytic Combustion Corporation Celebrates 75th Anniversary
2025 marks the 75th Anniversary of Catalytic Combustion Corporation! Founded in 1950, the company has gone through many changes over the years, but through it all our manufacturing operations have been located in Bloomer, Wisconsin, and our commitment to providing high quality emission control solutions for our clients has been a priority.
Click on the image below to watch our history video
Catalytic Combustion History Timeline
Catalytic Combustion Corporation was formed in February after several years of research and development by its founders: Harold “Russ” Suter, Richard J. Ruff, and Norbert C. Ruff. The company’s corporate headquarters, administration, sales and engineering was located in Detroit and the manufacturing operations were located in Bloomer, Wisconsin, the hometown of the Ruff Brothers. The first location for Catalytic in Bloomer was leased space in the Old Bloomer Brewery building.
Catalytic Combustion Corporation experienced growth and received recognition in the field of air correction. The company was featured in Popular Mechanics magazine in 1955 and several patents were filed during this amazing period of growth for the company.
After operating in leased space for the first few years, a new catalyst manufacturing facility was built in Bloomer. This facility is still in use by Catalytic Combustion and has gone through many additions and improvements since its original construction.
Catalytic Combustion Corporation merged with Universal Oil Products (UOP) and became a division of the larger corporation. A new fabrication manufacturing facility was constructed across from the catalyst shop in Bloomer. A large community celebration took place when it was completed. This facility still exists in Bloomer, but now is occupied by another company.
The company was known as UOP during this time period. Two of the founders, Dick and Russ, both passed away in 1963. Norb left UOP in the late 60s. Many large units were built in the early years of UOP in Bloomer and were shipped by rail. The fab shop was built along the rail line and here is a photo of one of many, many loads that was originated in Bloomer.
The parent company, a division of Allied Signal, decided to exit the industrial emission control market. The plant closure was announced, presenting an opportunity for nine original employees to purchase the catalyst operations. This group of local owners resumed using the company’s original name, Catalytic Combustion Corporation.
Catalytic Combustion Corporation re-establishes the core business of air correction and catalyst application, rebuilding the products, customers, and markets.
Mark Ruff returned to his hometown of Bloomer, WI, and joins the Catalytic Combustion Corporation organization after having worked in industrial engineering and operations for the past 12+ years.
Due to growth, Catalytic invested in a new 30,000 sq. ft. fabrication facility built at the Riggs Street Industrial Campus in the new Bloomer Industrial park. The facility is referred to internally as Phase I. Also in 2010, CCC acquired a Canadian-based customer, Silent Exhaust.
With continued growth, CCC added Phase II 45,000 sq. ft. of fabrication space to the Riggs Street facility. In addition, the company headquarters offices were built at the Riggs Street Facility Campus.
Catalytic Combustion continues to grow and the Phase III, 15,000 sq. ft. addition is constructed at Riggs Street bringing the total industrial manufacturing space on site to more than 90,000 sq. ft.
Further growth prompted the need for even more space and Phase IV 45,000 sq. ft. of fabrication space was constructed at the Riggs Street campus, bringing the total industrial manufacturing space on site to more than 135,000 sq. ft.