Semco Creates Environmentally Friendly Products

Sam had a background in chemistry prior to starting his business.   He was interested in the science of designing and creating complex products formed by the structure, composition, properties, and interactions of substances.   He had worked on biodegradable products which were less harmful to the environment because they decomposed back into natural elements. His interest in environmentally friendly products would continue throughout his career.  The development of green products and processes would be a key component of the SEMCO business model.  In fact, SEMCO was offering environmentally safe products well before the “green” product movement went mainstream.

It is hard to believe that not so long ago climate change and sustainability were not significant concerns of consumers or producers.  People were, for the most part, unaware of environmental hazards in their homes and communities.

A few forward-looking entrepreneurs like Sam began to create green products because it was the right thing to do.  By the time consumers became aware of the environmental and health dangers posed by many common products on the market and current industry production processes, SEMCO and other visionary companies were well prepared to meet the demand for healthier and more environmentally sustainable products and services. 

When Sam launched SEMCO, the United States was experiencing strong economic growth with ever increasing consumption.  Waste was becoming a serious problem.  In the 1990s, the population of the United States grew by 10% while municipal waste grew by 40%.  Towards the end of the decade, the consumer mindset was changing.  Consumers were demanding sustainable products and more and more companies were realizing the value of positioning their organizations as green.  Companies were retooling their operations to give consumers more green choices.  By the 2000s, sustainability had become mainstream, even trendy, and businesses were falling over themselves to portray themselves as greener than their competitors.

Today, sustainability is a core value of many small and large businesses.  Consumers consider a product’s sustainable features when making a purchasing decision.

SEMCO’s environmentally friendly products and “remodel without removal” system enables consumers and contractors to implement renovation projects in a manner that creates less waste for landfills and less degradation to the environment.

Next:    After Sam introduces cleaning products, customers ask for a sealer.

SEMCO Formulates Concrete Cleaning Products

Having settled into Las Vegas, Samel (Sam) Sem turned his attention to earning a living and starting a business.  With a background in chemistry, he had an interest in one particular material that was extremely important to many industries:  concrete.  It was the most widely used construction material in the world; its use went back over 2000 years, possibly beginning with the Romans who used concrete to build roads, bridges, and aqueducts.  More than one cubic meter of concrete for every person on earth is made each year.  In the United States, concrete is a $35 billion dollar industry.

Sam saw that companies and individuals had a difficult time keeping concrete surfaces clean.   Concrete was a porous substance and thus needed frequent cleaning.  The customary way to clean concrete was to sandblast it and / or scrub it with bleach or muriatic acid.  These methods, besides being hazardous, would deteriorate concrete over time.  Acids in particular would eat into concrete.  Sam saw that there was a need for a cleaner that would be safe to use and not damage concrete.  This led to the formulation of SEMCO’s first products:  Power Cleaner and Nu Lift Cleaner. 

Power Cleaner was a remarkably versatile commercial strength cleaner, degreaser, and wax remover.  It was comprised of a blend of softening agents and nonionic surfactants.  It worked by penetrating, suspending, emulsifying, and dissolving surface contaminants.  It was successful at degreasing the dirtiest substrates and removing the toughest grease, oil, and wax stains from industrial and commercial surfaces. 

Nu Lift Cleaner was named for its ability to lift out and remove alkalinity, efflorescence, hard water deposits, magnesium, dirt, and stains from surfaces like grout and natural stone.  It contained a mineral acid that was environmentally friendly; thus Nu Lift would not cause harm or discoloring to the substrate.  It was also a very safe product to use.

Both cleaning products are very popular today with SEMCO customers who use them for maintaining and cleaning floors, decks, walls, and other surfaces.  They are also used during the preparation stage of the SEMCO modern seamless surface application system.

SEMCO’s very first customer to purchase and use Power Cleaner and Nu Lift Cleaner was Bally’s Hotel on the famed Las Vegas Strip.

Next:  Ahead of the “green” movement, Sam creates environmentally friendly products.

Sam Arrives in Las Vegas

Continuation from previous post…

In 1979, Cambodia was invaded by its neighbor, Vietnam, and the Khmer Rouge government soon collapsed.  Pol Pot fled into the jungle and the prisoners were released.

Sam and his family left Cambodia, ending up in a Thai refugee camp.  His older brother, Seila, had emigrated to the United States four years earlier.  He sponsored Sam, his mother, and 3 siblings and in 1980, they headed for the city of Las Vegas, Nevada.

At that time, the population of Las Vegas was only 165,000; in all of Clark County, it was 463,000. Howard Hughes was one of the most powerful men in the city with a financial empire that included significant holdings of Las Vegas real estate.    Later that year, a devastating fire at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino killed 85 and injured 785.  It was the worst disaster in Nevada history.    The construction of the Mirage, which was to kick off the era of the megaresorts, was still nine years away.

Sam wanted to arrive at his new home in proper style.   He wore what he had seen so many actors in American movies wear.   As he stepped off the plane in a 3 piece suit and top hat, he was hit with the searing heat of a 120 degree August day in the desert.   His brother Seila, greeted him, laughing at the sight of Sam in his fancy suit making his way into the hot dust bowl known as Las Vegas.

But laughter was a welcome sound after the years of anguish, misery, and tears.  It was a great way to start a new life.  Sam came into his new surroundings with determination, faith, persistence and strength of mind gained from living through events that most of us could never imagine.

Determination, faith, and persistence would be the core strengths that he would call upon to start and build his company, SEMCO.

Next:  SEMCO formulates and produces its first products for cleaning concrete.