From Barns to Backyards: The Uses of Industrial Salt in Bulk

Salt is so much more than a seasoning. Salt in bulk is essential to modern infrastructure, as it’s used in everything from manufacturing to water treatment. Yet, its diverse applications are rarely recognized. In a bid to bring the versatility of industrial salt to light, the Gunther Salt team is taking a closer look at its many uses.

Industrial Salt, Defined

Salt is generally divided into three main categories: food-grade salt, commercial salt, and industrial salt.

Food-grade salts are the most familiar to the general public. Over 99.5% pure, they comply with strict safety requirements set by the FDA and the Food Chemicals Codex. This category includes products safe for consumption, such as table salt, pretzel salt, and other culinary varieties. 

Commercial salts are familiar to homeowners and business owners alike. These products are non-food-grade and sold in bags by salt distributors, including water-softener dealers, hardware stores, and big-box stores. 

Finally, industrial salt may be what business owners picture first. These products undergo minimal processing, resulting in purity levels of 95-99%. Salt for industrial purposes may contain small amounts of insolubles, making it non-food-grade but ideal for industrial applications. 

Common Uses of Salt in Bulk 

Though many people associate salt with food, its industrial applications are far more extensive. Businesses across multiple sectors rely on salt in bulk to improve efficiency, maintain quality, and support large-scale operations. 

There are over 14,000 uses for salt — but the primary uses are:

1.Water treatment 

Countless industries — from hospitality and healthcare to manufacturing and power generation — utilize industrial salt to “soften” water. This means removing pre-existing hard minerals, specifically magnesium and calcium.

Water-softening systems use salt to remove these minerals from water, creating a smoother water supply. Regular use of salt protects plumbing from scale buildup, increases cleaning efficiency, and helps lower energy bills over time.

Salt for industrial water treatment comes in three forms: solar salt, rock salt, and evaporated salt.

For more product information, visit Gunther Salt’s “Water Softening” page.

2. Feed mixing

The agricultural industry uses fine rock salt or solar salt (in bulk or in bags) as a dietary supplement for beef, dairy, and other livestock, including horses, pigs, sheep, goats, and poultry. 

Feed-mixing salt is formulated to blend with livestock animals' daily feed. These products help cattle meet sodium requirements and balance electrolytes. Additionally, they encourage increased intake of food and water — supporting weight gain and healthy production. 

For more product information, visit Gunther Salt’s "Agricultural" page.

3. Public safety 

Industrial salt in bulk is used by businesses and governmental entities to de-ice roads, sidewalks, and other surfaces. 

Ice-melt products dissolve when they come into contact with water, creating a brine solution on surfaces. In this brine, sodium and chloride ions move quickly to disrupt the bonding of water molecules — lowering the freezing point of water to keep surfaces free of ice. Pre-treating surfaces with salt brine is a common practice before winter storms.

For more product information, visit Gunther Salt’s “Ice Melt” page. 

4. Manufacturing 

Organizations may also use salt for industrial manufacturing. Industrial salt is commonly used in the chlor-alkali process to produce chlorine, caustic soda, and hydrogen. These chemicals act as building blocks for popular products, including disinfectants, paper, glass, detergents, and plastics. 

Beyond chemical production, the manufacturing industry may use salt in bulk to produce: 

• Dyed fabrics 

• Tanned leather 

• Pharmaceuticals

• Treated metal 

• Glazed ceramics 

Contact Gunther Salt Company

Organizations across sectors rely on industrial salt to keep their organization safe and efficient — and we’re committed to keeping their supply consistent. 

For over a century, Gunther Salt Company has supplied Midwestern businesses with premium salt products. Whether you’re searching for water-softening salt, feed-mixing salt, ice melt products, or specialty salt products, our team is ready and willing to help. 

For more information on salt for industrial applications, contact Gunther Salt Company at 314-241-7075 or sales@gunthersalt.com.