Calgon Power Gel Washing Machine Water Softener

Brand History and Origins

Calgon was originally created in the 1930s by Calgon, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Its name is a portmanteau derived from its chemical function: "calcium gone." Initially formulated as a powdered water softening agent using sodium hexametaphosphate, Calgon quickly gained widespread recognition for preventing limescale and mineral deposits in pipes, appliances, and industrial applications.

Ownership and Corporate Division

Over the decades, the Calgon brand experienced corporate divisions across different product lines. In Europe and the UK, Calgon water softening and washing machine protection products became part of Benckiser, which later merged with Reckitt & Colman in 1999 to form Reckitt Benckiser (now Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, or Reckitt). Reckitt is a British multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Slough, Berkshire, United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the Calgon brand name for bath and personal care products in North America is owned separately by Ilex Consumer Products Group (PDC Brands).

Manufacturing and Supply Chain

For the United Kingdom and wider European consumer markets, Calgon washing machine gels, tablets, and powders are manufactured across Reckitt's European chemical and household cleaning production network, with major liquid and gel formulations produced in Italy (notably at Reckitt's Mira facility) as well as other European production sites.