Depending on plastic for a living can be a bad thing if you're talking about credit cards. For Arkema UK, though, plastic brings it a nice living. The British operations of diversified chemicals maler Arkema, it manufactures all manner of raw materials for plastics (polypropylene, polystyrene, and so on), fertilizers (additives under the brand name Fluidiram), water treatment chemicals (bleach, bactericides, chlorinated chemicals), among others. In addition to marketing and distributing its parent's products, Arkema UK maintains its own manufacturing facility, which produces perlite; Arkema subsidiary Altuglas -- maker of acrylic glass products -- also operates in the UK.

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.

Hawkins, Inc. manufactures, blends, and distributes bulk and specialty chemicals. It operates through two segments, Industrial and Water Treatment. The Industrial segment provides industrial chemicals, products, and services to agriculture, energy, electronics, food, chemical processing, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical, medical device, and plating industries. This segment also offers acids, alkalis, and industrial and food-grade salts; and distributes various chemicals in bulk, including liquid caustic soda, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide, and aqua ammonia. In addition, this segment manufactures sodium hypochlorite and agricultural products, as well as food-grade products, including Cheese-Phos liquid phosphate, lactates, and other blended products; repackages water treatment chemicals; and performs custom blending of chemicals for customers according to customer formulas. The Water Treatment Segment provides equipment, chemicals, and solutions for potable water, municipal and industrial wastewater, industrial process water, and non-residential swimming pool water. Hawkins, Inc. was founded in 1938 and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Allegro Biodiesel Corporation does not have significant operations. It intends to merge or acquire with an operating entity. Previously, the company owned a biodiesel production facility that used renewable agricultural-based feedstock/soybean oil to produce biodiesel fuel in Louisiana. Allegro Biodiesel Corporation was formerly known as Diametrics Medical, Inc. and changed its name to Allegro Biodiesel Corporation in January 2005. The company was founded in 1990 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

Forward Industries, Inc. engages in the design, marketing, and distribution of carry solutions for hand held consumer electronics products. Its products include carry cases for cell phone handsets, cases for handset camera attachments, handset plastic belt clips, carrying case straps and bags, decorative faceplates, wrist straps, digital display cleaning cloths, and other accessory products; and medical monitoring and diagnostic kit carrying cases. The company’s product portfolio also includes belt clips, as well as other carry and storage solutions, including cases for cameras, MP3 players, and retail bar code scanners. Forward Industries sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, as well as to retailers and wholesalers of cellular phone products and related accessories. The company sells its products in the Asia Pacific Region, the Americas, and Europe. Forward Industries was founded in 1954 and is based in Pompano Beach, Florida.

New Generation Biofuels Holdings, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, New Generation Biofuels, Inc., holds an exclusive license to commercialize proprietary technology to manufacture an alternative biofuels from vegetable oils and animal fats in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It offers its biofuels for use in diesel fuel applications, including power generation, commercial and industrial heating, and marine transportation. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland.

Osmose has its way. The company makes wood preservatives that repel water and termites, as well as inhibit the growth of mold. Among its consumer products are stains and water repellants; the company also makes preservatives for lumber and plywood. For railroads, Osmose produces preservatives for railroad ties and offers maintenance services. It also provides pole maintenance services and mobile communications software for utilities. Beginning in the mid-1990s the company began to focus on expanding internationally and now has operations in Canada, Latin America, Europe, and throughout the Asia/Pacific region.

With products ranging from citrus and baby soft to green apple, lemon lime, and raspberry, at least the company's factories shouldn't smell too bad. Bell Flavors & Fragrances manufactures flavors, botanical extracts, and aroma chemicals for the food, beverage, household products, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. The company has manufacturing operations in Canada, China, Germany, Mexico, and the US. It's owned by the family of Edward Heinz, who bought Bell Flavors & Fragrances from its founder, William Bell, in 1967.

Scapa Group thrives in sticky situations. The company makes technical adhesive tapes and films used by the automotive, aerospace, graphic arts, sports, electronics, industrial assembly, and medical markets. Scapa's commercial customers use its technical tapes for assembly and repair, protection, insulation, and identification. Specific uses range from medical bandages to shin guard protection for hockey players to electronic component assembly. The Acutek International subsidiary is a medical products manufacturer specializing in adhesive components. Scapa has rid itself of most noncore operations to focus on tapes.

TIC Gums was established in 1909 and is operated by the third generation of the Andon family, which has owned the company since 1949. While TIC Gums doesn't spend the day blowing bubbles, its gums are found in everything from donut glaze to hand lotion. The company is a leading US provider of hydrocolloids (thickeners) used in cosmetics, food (including chewing gum), and pharmaceuticals. Products -- including agar; carrageenan; guar gum; and pectin in powder, spray, and "pre-hydrated" forms -- are shipped to customers worldwide. The company has agents and stock locations in Asia, Australia, Europe, South America, and North America.

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