The company is a joint venture formed by Hercules Chemical Co. and Oatey Co., two of the plumbing industry's venerable privately-held firms. Each has been around at least 85 years and they have established themselves as trusted brand names within the pipe trades. So, too, have other brands purchased over the years by the two firms, including Cloroben by Hercules and Cherne, United Elchem and the Arfco lines of Oatey.