Our Story

The story of Pioneer begins in a modest, one-room office in downtown Cleveland in 1905. On the backs of four businessmen, Pioneer began as a specialty products company that developed conditioning powders and ligament oils, along with an extensive line of greases, paints, linseed soaps, oils and oil-based products.

Within one year, Pioneer began what would be almost 20 years of explosive growth, thanks to the advent of two new products: Sweeprite (dust absorbent) and Shino Polishing Cloths. Because of such tremendous earnings, Pioneer had to move locations several times in order to keep up demand.

It would be during this time of growth that Pioneer would open the door to a promising new market: Industrial Sales. Although the company had been selling paints and varnishes to industrial plants, the 1919 acquisition of the William Bulger Varnish Company would provide the catalyst for major growth in this area. In direct contrast to most companies during this time, Pioneer continued to grow through the Depression years.

The 1940’s and 1950’s saw the further development of Pioneer as a sales-driven company, as numerous Pioneer products were sent overseas to help the Allied Offensive. With the American economy booming after the end of World War II and the industrial climate changing, Pioneer continued to expand its product line with new disinfectants and cleaners added to help meet the demands of the growing nursing home field. A developing aerosol line appealed to these and other customers who sought speed and convenience.

In the mid-1970’s, Pioneer began to solidify its position as a leading supplier to the health-care related field. During this period, a formal training program was established which would greatly increase the success of Pioneer’s sales force. A new major market would also open up at this time and it would eventually lead to Pioneer’s greatest success: Athletic Field Maintenance.

This market helped to catapult Pioneer’s Brite Stripe athletic field marking paint into the company’s best-selling product! The Pioneer Sales Force was encouraged to paint America’s athletic fields from one end of the country to the other. Over thirty years later, Pioneer is the #1 supplier for athletic field maintenance and Brite Stripe is still Pioneer’s highest selling product.

In the 1980’s Pioneer grew stronger than ever through several successful acquisitions. Reliance Chemical became the first to join Pioneer in 1984. Reliance had a long and distinguished history in the Cleveland area and was a major supplier of industrial and commercial accounts with such products as Cleaneze and Super Solv-O-Mist.

Just three years later in 1987, Pioneer acquired the assets of another Cleveland industrial maintenance supplier — Randustrial. With two new companies under their wing and facilities all over northeast Ohio, Pioneer had the opportunity to consolidate operations and bring warehouse facilities, paint production, operations and inside sales together under one roof. In 1990, Pioneer constructed a brand-new 68,000 sq. ft. building on Cleveland’s west side and finally had the entire company under one roof.

With the new building complete, Pioneer brought in Revere Products in 1992. Revere offered numerous industrial roofing and flooring repair materials and supplies, along with their best selling product - RIM®

The additions in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s carried on through the remainder of the decade and into the new millennium. Pioneer expanded and improved their athletic field maintenance product line, adding additional paint colors and accessories.

With newer and better field paint and stripers being created almost yearly, Pioneer catapulted itself to the top of the athletic field maintenance market, attracting collegiate and professional athletic teams and becoming their new supplier. In 2004 Pioneer acquired Suntec, a Florida company that specialized in paint that was particular to the environment in the southeastern United States.

With athletic field maintenance professionals seeing the amazing results of Pioneer’s super bright and long-lasting athletic field paint week after week, Pioneer has acquired over 18,000 accounts in the market, with many more being added everyday.

Pioneer’s future is bright and with a constant focus on providing our customers with the best products and the best service, Pioneer will continue to be #1 among athletic field professionals, grounds crews, athletic directors, coaches and maintenance supervisors.