About Us

Company Overview
Company History
Philosophy
Sustainability
Health and Safety
Policy Statements
Company Overview
Company Overview
Company History
Philosophy
Sustainability
Health and Safety
Policy Statements

Continental Carbonic Products specializes in the manufacture and distribution of dry ice. 

Continental Carbonic maintains a reliable network of 43 manufacturing, distribution and liquid depot facilities strategically located throughout its service area. This integrated distribution network ensures that Continental Carbonic can quickly react to customers’ needs.

During its many years in business, Continental Carbonic has seen the use of dry ice expand across industries because of its affordability and versatility. The demand for dry ice continues to grow with the introduction of a technology called dry ice blasting. 

Steady Expansion, Continual Growth 

Robert O. Wiesemann Sr. and his son Robert O. Wiesemann II founded Continental Carbonic in 1976. During its first 10 years, Continental Carbonic operated as a distributor of dry ice in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Oklahoma. 

In February 2014, MATHESON, a leading supplier of industrial gases and welding supplies, acquired Continental Carbonic. MATHESON is committed to supporting Continental Carbonic’s impressive growth in the markets it serves. 

In the mid-1980s, Continental Carbonic began manufacturing dry ice in Decatur, Illinois. Over the last 45 years, Continental Carbonic expanded through both acquisition of regional dry ice distributors and the construction of strategically located dry ice manufacturing facilities, providing a ready dry ice supply closer to its continually growing customer base. New branch warehouses have been opened to market the increased production capacity and quickly react to customer service needs. Continental Carbonic’s extensive manufacturing and distribution network enables it to provide a reliable source of dry ice and remain the low-cost supplier in the markets it serves. 

Continental Carbonic has enjoyed an unbroken record of profitability since its inception and currently employs over 1000 people. 

Continental Carbonic’s business model is simple: provide our customers with great service and quality products at a competitive price and create a safe workplace for our employees. To be able to provide a competitive price we know that we must be the low cost producer in the markets we serve. To keep our customers satisfied we know we have to deliver quality products and be on time, every time. To provide a safe workplace, we must create and maintain a culture in which employees think and act with safety as their number one priority.

Continental Carbonic has built its business on delivering a quality product at a fair and stable price. This focus has allowed us to meet our customers’ individual needs while implementing the strategies, business practices and policies that support a vibrant economy, healthy environment, and strong community. 

Commercial dry ice production uses carbon dioxide gas produced as a byproduct of other industries. If not used for dry ice production, the carbon dioxide gas would be vented into the atmosphere. The first recycling recovers the CO2 from its original industrial source. Commercial production of dry ice also recovers the CO2 gas produced during the production of dry ice “snow,” maximizing the yield from each pound of liquid CO2 input. Commercial dry ice production conserves energy and CO2 resources by recycling the original byproduct carbon dioxide gas into dry ice and recycling CO2 gas in the dry ice manufacturing process. 

Our highly efficient company-owned distribution fleet of over 200 vehicles meets or exceeds 2012 EPA emission guidelines. Our fleet is closely monitored for efficiency and equipment and is updated at a minimum of every three to five years. Additionally, we limit the speed at which our professional drivers are allowed to drive to reduce the consumption of fuel. To ensure this is enforced, electronic on-board recorders send alarms to management when drivers are not in compliance with company policy. 

Continental Carbonic is committed to the prevention of pollution and to continual improvement of our environmental performance. We will meet or exceed the requirements of all environmental regulations at the local, regional, and national levels and in the absence of regulations, we will implement environmentally sound practices.

The health and safety of our employees and our customers is an integral part of Continental Carbonic’s goal to be a world class company. At Continental Carbonic, safety comes first. We embrace safety with a focus on preventative safety practices to achieve an ultimate goal of zero injuries. Every employee is responsible for his or her safety and health as well as the safety and health of everyone else on the Continental Carbonic team. 

Since most industrial injuries are preventable, Continental Carbonic has established a comprehensive health and safety program. The purpose of this program is to provide for the safety of all personnel and to eliminate any known hazards that could lead to a potential injury. We will seek to continuously improve our practices. 

Everyone at Continental Carbonic must at all times: 

  • Take a pro-active stance to initiate and maintain a safe and healthful environment 
  • Follow established safety procedures 
  • Avoid unsafe acts 
  • Use and maintain equipment safety guards 
  • Wear personal protection equipment (PPE), where required, for their own safety 
  • Report immediately all accidents and hazards 
  • Be committed to continuous improvement of the safety process 

It is our policy to produce and market our products and operate our facilities while complying with all applicable environmental, health and safety rules and regulations. The health and safety of our customers and our employees is paramount in all we do. As a team, we can be safer together. 

Safety & Compliance
No task is so urgent or important that we do not take the time to perform that task safely and in compliance with company policy and government regulations.

Quality
The right product, the right quantity, the right time, safely delivering on commitments and sustained through continuous improvement.

Environmental
Committed to the prevention of pollution and to continual improvement of our environmental performance, we will meet or exceed the requirements of all environmental regulations at the local, regional, and national levels and in the absence of regulations, we will implement environmentally sound practices.