Oklahoma Facts

Based in Wichita, Kan., Koch Industries, Inc. is one of the largest private companies in America according to Forbes magazine. It owns a diverse group of companies involved in refining and chemicals; process and pollution control equipment and technologies; minerals; fertilizers; polymers and fibers; commodity trading and services; and forest and consumer products, Koch companies have a presence in nearly 60 countries and employ about 70,000 people.

Koch companies began operating in Oklahoma more than 50 years ago, following the purchase of Rock Island Oil & Refining Company in Duncan.
Former Koch Industries presidents Sterling Varner and Joe Moeller are both from Oklahoma.

Companies in Oklahoma

John Zink Company, LLC’s world headquarters is located in Tulsa. John Zink, a historic name in Tulsa and the combustion and environmental solutions business, became a Koch company in 1989. Today, John Zink Company and its affiliates are global leaders in ultra-low emission process burners, boiler burners, duct burners, flares and thermal oxidizers. The companies are also global suppliers of flare gas/vapor recovery and vapor combustor systems. The John Zink Research and Development Test Center™ in Tulsa is the world’s largest and most comprehensive of its kind; here engineers test equipment and develop innovative, leading-edge technologies. In addition, John Zink Institute™, the company’s educational organization, has earned certification of its process flares, advanced process burners and process burners fundamentals courses from the American Petroleum Institute. John Zink Company is a Koch Chemical Technology Group, LLC company.

Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP has a manufacturing facility in Muskogee that produces consumer products, including a variety of well-known brands such as Angel Soft®, Mardi Gras® and Sparkle®, as well as many of the company’s away-from-home tissue and towel products. Georgia-Pacific LLC, based in Atlanta, and its subsidiaries have approximately 300 manufacturing facilities across North America, South America and Europe, ranging from large pulp, paper and tissue operations to gypsum plants, box plants and building products operations.

Koch Nitrogen Company, LLC owns and operates facilities in Enid that produce ammonia, UAN and urea. These plants provide fertilizer to customers in Oklahoma and the Midwest. The company and its affiliates have the capability to manufacture, market and distribute more than 10 million metric tons of fertilizer products annually.

Safety and Environmental Commitment

Koch companies are committed to operating their businesses in a manner that protects the health and safety of its employees, the public and the environment. Koch companies’ safety performance is among the best in the industry, and the companies strive to protect the environment by reducing waste and increasing efficiency.

John Zink Company has earned the Award of Excellence in Safety and Health from the Oklahoma Safety Council and the 2009 Award of Excellence from the Oklahoma Department of Labor and the Worker Safety Policy Council for its employee-centered programs and outstanding safety performance during 2008. It has also earned the Award of Excellence in Safety Culture from the Oklahoma Department of Labor and the Governor’s Pinnacle Award for excellence in safety and health presented by the Oklahoma Safety Council.
Koch Nitrogen Company has earned the Stewardship Award for safe shipping from Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company for three consecutive years.
John Zink Company’s Tulsa and Georgia-Pacific’s Muskogee facilities have each received STAR certification in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Voluntary Protection Programs for their workplace safety performance. The John Zink facility has also received Super Star and Star of Excellence certifications from OSHA.
John Zink Company’s Tulsa site was part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Performance Track program from 2003 until 2009 when the program was suspended. The company exceeded the program’s criteria for recognition that includes continuous environmental performance improvements, an internal environmental management system and a record of sustained compliance with environmental requirements. In addition, the company was recommended for ISO18001:2007 Health and Safety Management System certification from International Occupation Health and Safety Assessment Series.

Community Commitment

Koch companies are committed to understanding the needs of the community, and participate in projects and activities that add value to their neighbors and improve the quality of life. Here are a few examples:

Koch Nitrogen Company donated $25,000 to the Denny Price Family YMCA in Enid to help build a new fitness center to benefit community youth.
John Zink Company donates funds for projects and scholarships that support education in Oklahoma, including Oklahoma State University, Oral Roberts University and the University of Oklahoma Foundation.
Koch Pipeline Company, L.P. donated 1.7 acres near Hugo to the Speer Volunteer Fire Department, giving the fire department a location on which to build a new fire station.
A Koch Nitrogen Company challenge grant will help purchase new rescue equipment for the Enid Fire Department. The company contributed $4,500 that will enable the EFD to provide enhanced emergency rescue services to the community.
Koch Industries helped renovate the Child Study Center at the Children’s Medical Research Institute that provides services to special needs children and their families. Outdoor and indoor play areas accessible for children with disabilities were added to the Center, which is located within the Oklahoma Health Center in Oklahoma City.
Koch Pipeline Company donated a water tower located on land it owns in Jenks, along with $12,000 to refurbish the symbol of Oklahoma oilfield history, to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. The tower was relocated to the OMHOF’s museum in Muskogee where it will ultimately serve as a highly visible symbol for the Hall of Fame.
Through the Georgia-Pacific Foundation, the company partners with many local and statewide organizations to improve the quality of life in communities where GP employees live and work. The GP Foundation focuses support in four key areas: education, enrichment of community, environment and entrepreneurship.
Koch companies’ national involvement with the Salvation Army extends into Oklahoma. Koch companies have partnered with the Tulsa Salvation Army in a variety of ways, including support of the annual benefit dinner.

Other Community Involvement

Philbrook Museum of Art

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma

Leadership Tulsa

The Foundation for Tulsa Schools

Tulsa Community College Foundation

The Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Oklahoma Conference for Community Justice

Tulsa Area United Way

Tulsa Zoo