American Pacific Corporation primarily manufactures fine and specialty chemicals in the United States. The company operates in four segments: Fine Chemicals, Specialty Chemicals, Aerospace Equipment, and Other Businesses. The Fine Chemicals segment manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients and registered intermediates. Its pharmaceutical ingredients are used in drugs with indications in three primary areas: anti-viral, oncology, and central nervous system. The Specialty Chemicals segment principally produces ammonium perchlorate, an oxidizing agent for propellant rockets, booster motors, and missiles used in space exploration, commercial satellite transportation, and national defense programs. It also produces and sells sodium azide, a chemical used in pharmaceutical manufacturing; and Halotron, a series of clean fire extinguishing agents used in fire extinguishing products, such as portable fire extinguishers and total flooding systems. The Aerospace Equipment segment manufactures monopropellant and bipropellant liquid propulsion systems and thrusters for satellites, launch vehicles, and interceptors. The Other Businesses segment designs, manufactures, and markets systems for the control of noxious odors, the disinfection of water streams, and the treatment of seawater, as well as involves in real estate operations. The company was founded in 1955 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Valhi, Inc is a Delaware corporation that has operations through majority-owned subsidiaries or less than majority-owned affiliates. Valhi’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “VHI.” See the disclosure in Valhi’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10Q and Proxy Statement (see the SEC Filings section of this website) for a recent description of Valhi’s operations and ownership structure.Valhi Inc. is considered a controlled company under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. Pursuant to the listing standards, a controlled company may choose not to have a majority of independent directors, independent compensation, nominating or corporate governance committees or charters for these committees. Valhi has chosen not to have a majority of independent directors or an independent nominating or corporate governance committee.

GEO Specialty Chemicals knows that many niches can add up to a lot of market. The company makes about 300 specialty chemicals for niche markets such as water treatment, wire and cable manufacturing, construction, electronics, and oil and gas production. Its specialty additives improve the properties of concrete, gypsum wallboard, and plastics. GEO also produces performance chemicals (used in water treatment) and gallium (used in semiconductors for telecommunications equipment). GEO's strategy is to buy and build -- buy companies and then grow them organically.

Faultless Starch/Bon Ami aims to keep you crisp, clean, and nicely scented. The company's product lines include the market-leading Faultless and Magic Sizing brand laundry starches, Bon Ami cleaners, Kleen King metal cleaners, the Garden Weasel and WeedPopper garden tools, and Trapp room sprays and candles. It also produces a line of starches and chemicals for the commercial laundry market. Although once in decline, the Bon Ami product line has enjoyed a rise in popularity as an environmentally friendly cleaner, while starch is on the rebound with the return of cotton in garments. Faultless Starch/Bon Ami has been owned and operated by the founding Beaham family since 1887.

Pervo Paint hopes the elements won't penetrate its coatings. The company makes a variety of paints and industrial coatings ranging from exterior and interior house paint to those used to mark highways and parking lots. Its products include curb coatings, interior and exterior paints, industrial enamels, waterproofing systems, and thermoplastic marking materials. Pervo Paint serves customers in the midwestern and western US, as well as in Canada, Mexico, China, and Korea. The company has been family-owned and -operated since it was founded in 1929 by Herman Van Dulst and his son-in-law Henry DeRuiter. Pervo means impenetrable in Dutch.

Gulf Coast Chemical serves Florida chemical consumers. The company supplies industrial chemical compounding components and equipment. It distributes products from about 25 different manufacturers, including colorants, adhesives, resins, preservatives, filaments, and metal and plastic containers. The firm's suppliers include 3M, Ball Corporation, and Ferro. Gulf Coast Chemical was founded in 1957 and delivers by train and truck.

The company, now known as TOR Minerals International, was founded by Benelite Corporation of America in 1973. Benelite developed and patented the “Benelite Process” for producing synthetic rutile, the raw material used in HITOX TiO2 pigment. Benelite licensed and helped build several plants throughout the world, which utilize this process, including a plant in Malaysia, which remains the primary supplier of synthetic rutile to TOR Minerals International.The company also offers ALUPREM (premium alumina) products, which are used for color critical applications as fillers and flame retardants; SYNTHETIC RUTILE used as a feed stock for white TiO2 and as a component in welding rod flux; BARTEX, an inert extender pigment, used in coatings; HALTEX, which is used in technical applications, including SMC/BMC thermoset molding compounds, thermoplastic profiles, electrical wire and cable insulation, mining conveyor belts, and specialty coatings as well as adhesives and sealants; and TIOPREM, a series of heat stable colored TiO2 hybrid pigments used in various applications, including engineered plastics, laminates, window profiles, plastic lumber, roofing granules, and ceramic coatings. Its mineral products are used as pigments, pigment extenders, and flame retardants for the manufacture of paints, industrial coatings, plastics, catalysts, and solid surface applications.

Nippon Carbide has grown with the times. The company makes basic chemicals, but it also makes films, synthetic resins, and electronic materials. Nippon Carbide's films segment is its largest and makes wrapping film and reflective films for street signs. The company's resins unit makes melamine resins (for tableware), resins used in glue, and heat-resistant resins (used in pipes). Its electronic materials segment makes ceramic wiring boards and specialty resins. The chemical segment makes carbide derivatives and basic and fine chemical products ranging from pharmaceuticals to pesticides.

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the creation and manufacture of fragrance and flavor products in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Flavors and Fragrances. The Flavors segment offers flavor compounds to the food and beverage industries for use in consumer products, such as prepared foods, beverages, dairy, and food and confectionery products. The Fragrances segment provides various functional fragrances, including fragrance compounds for personal care and household products; fine fragrance and beauty care, including perfumes, colognes, and toiletries; and ingredients consisting of synthetic ingredients that could be combined with other materials to create functional and fine fragrance compounds. This segment markets its products primarily to the cosmetics industry, including perfume and toiletries manufacturers; and the household products industry comprising the manufacturers of soaps, detergents, fabric care, household cleaners, and air fresheners. The company markets its products through agents and distributors. International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. was founded in 1909 and is based in New York, New York.

BIP (Oldbury) has been dipping into specialty chemicals since its creation in 1894. The company, formerly BIP Limited (and earlier, British Industrial Plastics Limited), is the oldest polymer material manufacturer in the UK. A pioneer in developing thermoset resins and plastic molding materials, it was the first company to patent urea-formaldehyde resins. BIP now makes molding materials and textile and paper chemicals. It manufactures industrial chemicals such as formaldehyde resins, adhesives, and water-based polyurethanes. It also produces a biodiesel product, BIPSE, from discarded vegetable oils. Welsh company Synthite, a subsidiary of the Tennants Group, acquired BIP in 2004.

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.