Our History

In the early 1970's, many large companies drew the conclusion that selling, supplying, and servicing "small" customers was not worth the time or effort.  Due to an entrepreneurial spirit to counter the "Bigger is Better" mindset, David G. Keske left Olin Chemical, ventured out on his own and founded Foam Supplies, Inc. (FSI) in October of 1972.  The grounding philosophy was to provide high quality polyurethane systems and technical services to every customer, small or large.  FSI has transformed from a small "Mom & Pop" operation to a first class manufacturer and supplier of specialty polyurethane systems, with multiple manufacturing sites supplying both domestic and international customers.  FSI is now the largest independent OEM polyurethane systems supplier in the United States.

In the beginning, Foam Supplies, Inc. occupied a 1000 square foot warehouse rented from St. Louis Industrial Solvents.  FSI transferred chemical system into pressurized cylinders and sold to a wide customer base including small building, boat, truck body, and door manufacturers.  At this time, FSI was merely repackaging the systems and distributing them to customers who needed more personal attention or who were deemed "too small" by larger system suppliers.  Our application assistance and technical service was, and still is, key to our customers.

As FSI increased its sales, market share, and chemical & equipment expertise, it was necessary to move to much larger facilities in both 1974 (~14,000 square feet) and 1978 (~25,000 square feet).  FSI began developing and producing its own chemical systems and added a second facility in Dallas, Texas in 1978.  Currently, FSI headquarters resides in an 80,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Earth City (Saint Louis), Missouri, with a similar sized establishment in Lewisville (Dallas), Texas, and has eight nationwide sales offices, and a manufacturing capacity of 100 million pounds a year.

Throughout the 1980's FSI experienced business growth and supplied the rigid polyurethane industry with innovative technologies.  In 1986, FSI engineered the industry's first computer-controlled "in-line" blender for manufacturing chemical systems.  During the 80's, David Keske was also instrumental in the development of several patents, including both chemical systems and dispensing equipment.  An initial patent for urethane dispensing equipment (SLUG- Solvent-Less Urethane Gun) was issued in 1986, followed in

1992 and 1993 by the first non-CFC, HCFC-22 blown chemical systems to replace Freon 11 and 12.  FSI recently filed for new patents for a new generation of blowing agents named ecomate®-- a revolutionary family of polyurethane and chemical systems.

At each new challenge, FSI has delivered answers to the urethane industry, to technological issues, as well as governmental mandated regulations, and market-driven influences.  When the Montreal police dictated to the polyurethane industry to seek alternatives for Freon 11 and 12, FSI patented the first non-CFC rigid polyurethane chemical system.  This helped secure FSI as the main supplier of urethane chemical foam systems used in the United States aircraft carriers USS Roosevelt, USS Abraham Lincoln, and USS George Washington.  As additional governmental regulation required new types of chemistry to further address issues of global warming, greenhouse gases, and ozone depletion, Foam Supplies, Inc. was and continues to be ready with new and innovative chemical systems like ecomate®.

FSI has continually grown each year since its founding and we take pride in the fact to have never experience a lay-off.  NOT ONE!  Much of our company growth and success is credited to our hard-working employees, and fundamental beliefs-- such as "A first class approach in everything we do" and "We service everything we sell" and "Success through innovation"-- and remembering that all customers, even the small ones, are important.  These approaches combined with a little bit of "good clean living" have turned FSI into the leader it is today.

The 21st century will continue to witness technology, service, training, testing and consulting from FSI.  Many industries, including marine, food-service, transportation, construction, manufactured housing, packaging, refrigeration, rotational-molding, furniture, and track binder industries, will benefit from our individualized expertise.

Foam Supplies, Inc. is a major player with a different perspective.  We strive to meet every market need with unparalleled, all-encompassing support.  No other company can match our ability to meet the specific needs of the markets we serve.  Our approach is service intensive and flexible.  We are distinguished by our technical superiority and organizational strengths.  We are a company in continuous and direct contact with all of our customers, providing aid, answers, stewardship, and critical resources, when it matters most!