Brown Chemical mixes chemicals of various shades. The family-owned company specializes in distributing chemicals such as amines, food grade chemicals, latex additives, organics, phosphates, and sodiums for applications in textile, industrial, institutional, and specialty markets. Brown Chemical sells more than 1,500 products from 35 chemical manufacturers, and it offers contract packaging, custom blending, and product research services.

Mexican conglomerate Alfa is a big player in four different industry segments. Alpek, a global petrochemical concern with an emphasis on synthetic fibers (Akra Polyester, DAK Americas, Nyltek, Indelpro, PTAL, Temex) accounts for about 40% of sales. Alfa's other operations consist primarily of refrigerated-foods manufacturer and distributor Sigma Alimentos (Yoplait yogurt, Oscar Mayer), aluminum auto part maker Nemak (engine heads and blocks), and telecom company Alestra. Alfa has alliances with more than 20 companies (such as AT&T, Ford, and Kraft) around the world. It operates more than 75 production facilities throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe, though Mexico provides almost half of its sales.

Brown bears, black bears, snow-white polar bears -- BEHR Process Corporation manufactures all the colors in the bear rainbow. The company produces coatings such as paint, stains, and varnishes that are sold primarily through The Home Depot; its best-selling line is exclusive to the home-improvement warehouse giant. The company was founded in 1947 out of Otho Behr's garage as a marketer of linseed oil. It grew into a stain and varnish manufacturer and, by the mid-80s, began to make architectural paints. BEHR also owns Masterchem Industries, which makes the primer KILZ. Home-improvement materials company Masco owns BEHR.

Novozymes A/S might have had a hand in brewing your beer, washing the mustard stain off your shirt, turning corn into ethanol for your car, or even treating your medical condition. The company produces more than 700 kinds of enzymes, microorganisms, biopolymers, and proteins used by more than 40 industries in 130 countries worldwide. Its enzymes are used in detergents, foods, animal feed, and other industrial and commercial products. The firm's microorganisms are used in wastewater treatment, and its proteins and biopolymers are used in pharmaceuticals. Novozymes is a sister company to Novo Nordisk, and the not-for-profit Novo Nordisk Foundation controls a majority of Novozymes' voting stock.

Left to its own devices, Tessenderlo Chemie tends to make a lot of chemicals for niche markets. The diversified producer operates through three units. It's Chemicals division offers a variety of inorganic chemicals including phosphates for animal feed and potassium sulphate; organic chlorine derivatives and caustic soda; and PVC. The company's Specialities unit supplies gelatin and organic intermediates for pharmaceuticals. Tessenderlo's Plastics Converting division takes PVC and converts it into finished goods such as plastic pipes and fittings. It operates in the US through Tessenderlo Kerley. The French chemicals group SNPE owns more than a quarter of the Belgian company.

La Seda de Barcelona has a PET project. Although long associated with manufacturing artificial silk, La Seda de Barcelona (Spanish for "the silk of Barcelona") has turned its attention toward the production of basic chemicals such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET, used to make plastic containers), PTA (purified terephthalic acid), polyester fibers, and polyamide yarns. The company also makes ingredients used in detergents (ethylene oxide) and antifreeze (glycols). Its PET unit makes up half of La Seda's business. Customers include members of the textile, food, paper, paint, and cosmetics industries. La Seda de Barcelona was founded in 1925.

It's not in Minnesota and it doesn't do any mining either, but at least 3M United Kingdom does accomplish some manufacturing. 3M UK is the British and Irish arm of diversified chemical and consumer products firm 3M Company. Among 3M's product lines are Scotch-brand tape and Post-it Notes. 3M Health Care Ltd., whose business makes up a large component of 3M UK, makes medical equipment and supplies like respirators and drug delivery systems. The company also manufactures abrasives and adhesives. 3M UK is among its parent company's largest international iterations with about 15 locations, including 11 manufacturing facilities.

Chevron and Phillips Petroleum (now ConocoPhillips) formed 50-50 joint venture Chevron Phillips Chemical Company in 2000. Among the largest US petrochemical firms, the company produces ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, and polypropylene -- sometimes used as building blocks for the company's other products such as pipe. Chevron Phillips Chemical also produces aromatics such as benzene and styrene, specialty chemicals such as acetylene black (a form of carbon black), and mining chemicals. The company has several petrochemicals joint ventures in the Middle East, including Saudi Chevron Phillips Company (50%) and Qatar Chemical Company (not quite 50%).

Dur-A-Flex makes and sells not-so-flexible flooring products. The company manufactures commercial and industrial flooring systems and polymer components (epoxies, urethanes, and methyl methacrylates), as well as colored quartz aggregates for use in food processing, laboratory, health care, grocery, correctional, automotive, and manufacturing settings. Its products include primers, sealers, crack fillers, resurfacers, performance topcoats, and protective coatings. Dur-A-Flex's colored quartz aggregate are sold primarily to the seamless flooring industry.

Thai KK Industry developed its business model and stuck with it. The company, jointly owned by Thai Eternal Group and Taiwan Eternal Group, manufactures adhesive tapes and labels for use in industrial and printing applications. Thai KK Industry also produces melamine resin, an ingredient in everyday household plastic consumer products like foodware, table coatings, as well as electrical components. The company markets its tape and label products internationally under the KK, Valu, and Scorpion brand names (all manufactured at its production facility in Thailand).

Inviting Real Estate Agents, Job Placements Agents, Educational Institutes, Software Service Providers, Real Estate Builders, Marriage Bureaus, Travel Agents, Restaurant Owners, Health & Fitness Centers and other Local Businesses to Post a FREE Classified Advertisement on Cootera.com Classifieds Website.