Norcal Perlite Turns 40: Thank You for Growing With Us

We’re celebrating 40 years in business, and we have a lot to be thankful for. To everyone who has bought our products, worked alongside us, or helped our business grow, this anniversary is yours to share.

It Started with Growers

Our story began in 1986, when Dennis Clarke and Michael Vukelich founded Norcal Perlite with close ties to Color Spot Nurseries. The nursery industry gave us our start, and in 1990, we added a second perlite expansion machine, opening the door to customers beyond that original connection.

Those early years helped shape how we do business. Quality products matter, but so does being someone our customers can count on. Understanding what you need and working with you for the long run has always been important to us.

Growing Without Forgetting Our Beginnings

Norcal Perlite honors its growth from nursery roots to expanded perlite operations.

Over the years, we’ve had some big moments. We purchased 15 acres in Richmond in 2013, acquired the American Perlite mine in 2019, and opened our Bakersfield division in 2021. Each step gave us more room and more ways to serve our customers.

Horticultural perlite remains part of that story, alongside our industrial perlite, filter aids, silicone treated perlite, and absorbents. Our products now serve work ranging from growing plants to filtration, construction, and insulation. We’re proud of that range and the experience we’ve gained along the way.

Thank You for Being Part of Our First 40 Years

Norcal Perlite thanks its customers, partners, and team for 40 years of support.

We wouldn’t be here without our customers, distributors, employees, and business partners.

Thank you for trusting our products, sharing what you need from us, and giving us the opportunity to be part of your work. And to the people who have worked here over the years, thank you for helping build this company into what it is.

As we begin our fifth decade, we’ll keep focusing on the things that matter: taking care of our customers, standing behind our work, and finding ways to do it better.

We’re proud to turn 40. We’re even more grateful to celebrate it with you.