The Solomon Advantage

As a global leader in architectural concrete products, Solomon Colors has provided service and quality to our customers for 90 years while remaining family-owned and employee-owned. Innovation and solutions go hand in hand at Solomon Colors, with research and development as our core focus, beginning with our start grinding iron ore for the building industry in the early 20th century, to our latest innovations in decorative concrete and polishing. When our customers needed a better way to dispense pigments, we created our ColorSelect^® systems for dry, liquid and granular pigment. When they needed decorative products, we acquired Brickform. When the market began embracing polished concrete, we brought Lythic on board. From equipment, to color, to training – every improvement we make is about meeting our customers’ needs to help you do your business better.

YOU CAN DEPEND ON SOLOMON COLORS: OUR PRODUCTS, OUR QUALITY AND OUR SERVICE EVERY TIME.

Solomon Colors Manufacturing Plant, colored Concrete, color for concrete, colors of concrete

Solomon Colors Headquarters and Manufacturing Plant in Springfield, Illinois

Your Sales and Support Team

When you work with Solomon Colors, you have a devoted team of Account Managers and Sales Managers standing behind you. Every Solomon Colors customer has an assigned Account Manager and Sales Manager. Your Sales Manager is your locally-based partner for in-the-field help, demos, technical questions, and growth assistance. Your Account Manger is your friendly, dedicated point of contact for ordering, shipping, and support. Rest easy knowing your Solomon Colors team has your back.

The Product

Solomon Colors has a long history of innovative, high quality pigments, dispensers, and decorative products. Each and every tote of color, dispensing system, stamp, bag, or bucket is designed and produced for the most effective and consistent performance. From the highest-solids liquid pigment on the market to the first purpose-made colloidal silica finishing aid, Solomon Colors has the products you need to make concrete beautiful.

The Service

When working with Solomon Colors, you can count on complete support. Solomon Technical Representatives and Equipment Techs are readily available to assist you. Our nationwide warehousing and massive distribution means that you won’t have to wait for Solomon products.

The Color Lab

Our color lab provides custom blending and color matching. Color lab technicians utilize state of the art technology to achieve accurate matches. The lab uses advanced color matching techniques and equipment for the closest matches possible. Every match and blend is backed up by decades of human experience and the latest technology.

The Partnership

Working with industry associations, building specification rates, and providing technical training, Solomon Colors is working to grow the industry. Solomon Colors isn’t just a supplier – we are a partner to the Ready Mix Producer, Distributor, Contractor, and Architect.

The Culture

Providing exceptional service to customers since 1927, Solomon Colors is a family-owned and employee-owned company. The average employee has been with Solomon Colors for a decade. This means the company is owned and operated by people who really care, and people who are devoted to providing the best products and service possible. At Solomon Colors, the people make the difference.

Solomon Colors Rialto California, colored Concrete, color for concrete, colors of concrete

Solomon Colors West Coast Manufacturing Plant in Rialto, California

An Account of the History of Solomon Colors by Adam Solomon

Robert C. Solomon was born in 1882. His father, also named Robert, was orphaned during the Civil War. Robert C. Solomon went to work as a coal miner at the age of thirteen. As an adult he owned and operated mines with his sons in Springfield, Illinois.

Robert C. Solomon founded Solomon Grinding Service in 1927. He had the idea to pulverize a mining byproduct called black carbonaceous to slate create pigments for mortar and cement. In the beginning, Solomon Grinding Service also mined coal underground, giving them access to this material. The company also crushed, ground, and blended various natural minerals, including red iron ore from Michigan and yellow ochre from Georgia.

Panther Creek Mine No. 5 closed in 1952. Since this was the last mine owned by the Solomons, the company shifted its focus to providing ground iron ore to foundries and trace mineral industries. Upon Robert C. Solomon’s death in 1959, his wife and business partner Florence Larson Solomon took over the company. Their son Robert “Bob” Larson Solomon joined the company full time after graduating from the University of Illinois in 1956, having spent most of his life in the family business.

For 45 years, Solomon Grinding Service sold minerals to various industries and packaged them under private label contracts. This all changed when Bob Solomon decided to market under his own label. This was a big decision, as Bob was forced to sell his home to make the initial investment in new equipment, raw materials, branding and packaging. On October 14, 1971, the first SGS branded mortar color was introduced and sold to the market.

Robert C. Solomon

1952 Panther Creek Mine No.5 11th and Ridgely

Panther Creek Mine No.5 - 1952

Bob Solomon and John Keller promoting SGS Mortar Color - 1980

Bob's son Rich, who had also grown up in the business, joined the company full time in 1979. He focused on marketing and sales. Mortar color grew to become the main source of revenue with the introduction of A, H, and X Series Mortar Colors in the 1980s. Innovation and the expansion of our product offering continued with the development of the highest percent solids liquid color for concrete in the industry in 1986. In the 1990’s, Solomon Colors entered the decorative concrete industry with the introduction of color hardener, powder release and stamps.

In 1996, Bob learned about the concept of ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) and loved the idea. An ESOP rewarded dedicated employees by allowing them to benefit from the success of the company in the form of shares of stock. This created a positive culture that we are proud of, and which continues to this day.

One milestone that impacted Solomon Colors in a large way was the introduction of the automated color dispenser department. In 1998, The company introduced the liquid ColorSelect System, and the ready mix and concrete products industry took notice. It became clear that the original custom grinding operation was not the future of the company, so the decision was made to sell off the mineral grinding division and use the money to build a new liquid color manufacturing facility in Rialto, California.

Solomon Grinding Service changed its name to Solomon Colors in 2002 because the sole focus of the company was now providing innovative coloring solutions. This continued growth meant additional investment. This included new production facilities for dispensers and dry bagged pigment in 2005, as well as a new liquid color facility and shipping warehouse in 2007.

Super Sack of Solomon Colors Granular Pigment

In 2008 Solomon Colors purchased Brickform Products and became the largest independently owned decorative products manufacturer in the world. The Brickform brand expanded our product offerings with additional stamp designs, stains, concrete sealers, and overlays. In 2010 Solomon Colors began having granular pigment toll blended in Georgia. This led to the Introduction of the very first granular dispensing system designed for distributors and ready-mix suppliers. With the growing granular division, research began on how Solomon Colors could produce granular pigment in a cost-effective manner. When financing became available, a new advanced process for granulating pigment was developed and a plant was built in Springfield in 2017. Three years later, capacity in Springfield was achieved and work has now begun on a second facility being built in California, providing increased product availability and easier access for our West coast customers.

My name is Adam Solomon. In 2006 I became the fourth generation to work in the family business. I am extremely proud of our history. I look forward to continuing to invest in and grow this company so that we can be around for another one hundred years or more. My commitment to all of you is that we will continue to be a family managed, employee-owned company adhering to our shared core values that follow Bob Solomon’s rules.

Bob Solomon's Rules

Take care of the customer with great service.
All of the packaging must be clean.
The color product must be consistent from lot to lot.
If there are ever problems with the product, make it right to the customer’s satisfaction.
Treat everyone with kindness and respect.

Adam Solomon, President of Solomon Colors

What do we do?

Solomon Colors, Inc. Core Value: Superior Product Support, Centric Customer Service, Innovative Technology, Quality Products, Honesty, Integrity.

How will we succeed?

Implement our Core Value to our customers and stand behind our products with our customers.

What is important right now?

The Solomon Team: You and I must Build Customer Loyalty by implementing our Core Value. If we focus every day on our Core Values, the rest will come.

Solomon Colors Vision Statement

We are an employee-owned company that manufactures an innovative line of products providing solutions to enhance the value of architectural concrete.

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Industry Affiliations:

Solomon Colors, Inc. is a proud an active member with several industry associations and professional groups. Each of these memberships is focused around further developing best practices, industry standards, and supporting the market for architectural concrete and masonry.

The manufactured concrete products industry includes a wide range of products such as concrete blocks and pavers. A long-time supplier of pigment to these producers, Solomon Colors is dedicated member of the Brick Industry Association and the Concrete Masonry Hardscapes Association.

As a leader in pigment for cast concrete applications, secondary reinforcing fiber, and other products for architectural concrete, Solomon Colors is a proud member of the National Ready Mix Association, National Precast Concrete Association, and Fiber Reinforced Concrete Association.

Recognizing that best practices and professional standards are key to the growth of the industry, Solomon Colors supports several professional groups. Including the American Concrete Institute, American Society of Concrete Contractors, and Decorative Concrete Council.

Architects and specifiers are key to the growth of these industries. Solomon Colors works to educate these design professionals through affiliation with the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the US Green Building Council.

Finally, as an active and conscientious member of the community, Solomon Colors is dedicated to charity. Solomon Colors proudly sponsors Concrete Cares in the industry’s fight against cancer.