Spur Ventures is involved in phosphate mining and phosphate fertilizer manufacturing in a joint venture with Hubei Yichang Phosphate Chemical in China. The Canadian company, which holds a majority interest in the venture, produces NPK fertilizer -- a compound containing nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium -- in China's central province of Hubei. Spur Ventures also operates a phosphoric acid plant in Yichang, which has the capacity to produce 60,000 tons of phosphoric acid per year and will be used to supply the joint venture's fertilizer plant.

Stripping is OK at Spraylat. Founded in 1936, Spraylat makes more than 100 strippable coatings used to protect a variety of surfaces from dust, heat, and even environmental hazards. The company makes liquid and powder coatings, as well as coatings for signs, wheels, and electronics. Its Hilemn business segment makes coatings for mirrors. Customers include the aerospace, automotive, electronics, and general manufacturing industries -- primarily in the US, but also in Asia and Europe. Chairman James Borner and his family control the company. Spraylat expanded its global reach in 2008 when it formed Automotive Coatings World Alliance with two paint companies, Japan's Ohashi Chemical and France's Mader Group.

Boero Bartolomeo has it covered. Through its subsidiaries, the holding company manufactures paints, varnishes, and resins for houses and yachts. Its Boero Colori France and Rover Colori E Vernici subsidiaries (both wholly owned) manufacture paints for the yachting, decorative, and do-it-yourself sectors. Other operations include Boero Colori (paints for the retail, building, and anticorrosion markets), Boher (coil coating), and Boat SpA (marine and protective coatings). Chairman Andreina Boero and her family control Boero Bartolomeo; Italian financial firm ADR has a 17% stake in the company.

Haviland Enterprises distributes chemicals such as acids, alcohols, amines, chelating agents, lubricants, solvents, and surfactants. The company also provides contract blending and packaging, research and development, technical service, compliance training, and supply chain management services. It primarily serves customers in the Midwestern US but provides services to all 50 states and overseas as well. Associated companies include Haviland Contoured Plastics, which makes spiral-wound plastic hose, and Haviland Consumer Products, which blends and packages swimming pool chemicals for private-label customers.

Polimeri Europa, the petrochemical arm of Italian energy behemoth Eni, produces and distributes a wide range of chemicals, operating through four main divisions: basic chemicals, elastomers, polyethylene, and styrenics. The company's products are used by the agricultural, coatings, construction products, packaging, and plastics industries. Polimeri Europa operates about a dozen manufacturing facilities in Italy and about half of that number elsewhere in Europe. Its home country also accounts for more than half of company sales, though it has a sales presence in more than 30 countries on the continent.

What's Brewer Science brewing up? The company produces chemicals used by makers of electronics and semiconductors. Its chemicals include anti-reflective coatings and specialty polymers and resins. Brewer Science also makes baking and curing equipment used to make wafers and photo masks. Its customers include companies in the aviation, automotive, diagnostic, communications, and computer manufacturing industries. The company operates from locations in nine countries and gets more than half of its sales from international customers. CEO Terry Brewer founded the company with his wife, Paula, in 1981.

Interplastic Corporation has been an industry leader in thermoset resin, gel coat and colorant research, design and development since 1959. Our chemists and engineers work closely with Interplastic’s customers and suppliers to develop innovative solutions for product, manufacturing, and marketplace challenges. Our goal is to help composites and cast polymer manufacturers build better, longer-lasting products.Interplastic has strategically placed itself to meet the diversified needs of its customers by expanding its manufacturing capabilities and by investing in product research. Our five full-service product development laboratories are located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota; Fort Wright, Kentucky; Hawthorne, California; and South Bend, Indiana. All manufacturing facilities and laboratories are ISO 9001:2000 certified. The Minneapolis, Ft. Wright, Pryor, Kent, and Hawthorne facilities are also ISO 14001:2004 certified.

Finally, a Method for the madness of keeping a clean home. Method Products makes and sells home-cleaning products, hand and body cleansers, and air fresheners and candles. It differentiates itself from larger, more established competitors through innovative design -- dish-washing liquid in sleek bowling-pin-shaped bottles, teardrop hand soap bottles, and futuristic-looking mops. It also carves its niche by offering nontoxic, environmentally friendly products in a price range that costs less green. Products are sold at Target, Office Depot, Costco, and other major retailers and grocery stores in the US, Canada, and the UK. Chemical engineer Adam Lowry and account planner Eric Ryan founded the firm in 2001.

Johnson Matthey Plc operates as a specialty chemicals company in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates in three divisions: Environmental Technologies, Precious Metal Products, and Fine Chemicals. The Environmental Technologies division supplies catalysts and related technologies for applications, which benefit the environment, such as pollution control, cleaner fuel, efficient use of hydrocarbons, and the hydrogen economy. It offers catalytic systems for emissions control from vehicles and industrial processes; and catalysts and specialist services, as well as designs and licenses chemical processes for chemical, oil, gas, and refining industries.

Though Incitec Pivot is Australia's largest producer of fertilizers, it plans to get even bigger by blowing things up. The company's main products are phosphate fertilizers (ammonium phosphates and superphosphates, primarily); it also produces urea and anhydrous ammonia. Incitec Pivot also manufactures industrial chemicals -- for water treatment and process manufacturing -- using by-products from the manufacturing process. The company was formed in 2003 through the merger of fertilizer makers Incitec and Pivot; Orica had owned 70% of Incitec Pivot until it sold that majority stake in 2006. Two years later Incitec Pivot bought explosives maker (and direct rival to Orica) Dyno Nobel for $3 billion.

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