Spotlight: cancarb
CANCARB - COMPANY PROFILE
Located in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Cancarb manufactures thermal carbon black through a process of decomposing natural gas into elemental carbon and hydrogen. Since its inception in 1973, the company has grown organically from a capacity of 18,000 metric tonnes to 54,000 metric tons of carbon production capacity. Cancarb has slowly but steadily increased its personnel base to 87 employees as of 2023, which marks the 50th anniversary of the company. Thermal carbon black is used in numerous industrial applications such as a reinforcing agent in rubber components, plastics, refractories and many specialty markets. However, because of the specialty nature of these applications, only about 6% of sales are in Canada, meaning that 94% of its production is exported and the company now sells to over 40 countries. Adding value to Alberta’s natural gas, manufacturing and exporting – the story of this small company from Medicine Hat!