Dyno Nobel has exploded and landed down under. Formerly based in Norway, Dyno Nobel was founded in 1865 by an associate of Swedish dynamite inventor and prize giver Alfred Nobel. The company makes explosives at more than 65 manufacturing and distribution facilities in Australia and North America. It sells to mining, construction, and industrial quarry companies, among other industries. Once split into four geographic segments (Asia Pacific, Europe and Africa, Latin America, and North America), Dyno Nobel was restructured in 2005. Three years later, Australian agrochem maker Incitec Pivot bought Dyno Nobel for about $3 billion.

Kyzen -- derived from the Japanese word "kaisan," which means continuous improvement -- is trying to improve the performance of electronics with its specialty cleaning products. The company offers environmentally safer cleaning chemicals (alternatives to ozone depleting chemicals) for semiconductor, optics, and aerospace components, including aluminum tubes, electronic assemblies, medical implants, optical lenses, silicon wafers, and solid rocket motors for the space shuttle. Its Metalnox products are solvents that are specially formulated to remove tough soils used in metal finishing; Optisolv is a line of chemical cleaners for glass and plastics. Kyzen sells via a direct sales force to customers worldwide.

OM Group, Inc. engages in the development, production, and marketing of specialty chemicals and advanced materials to complex chemical and industrial processes worldwide. The company produces cobalt-based specialty chemicals, as well as specialty chemicals and advanced materials from barium, calcium, iron, manganese, potassium, rare earths, zinc, zirconium, germanium, and copper. Its advanced materials include powders and specialty chemicals for various industries, such as rechargeable battery, construction equipment and cutting tools, catalyst, and ceramics and pigments. The company’s specialty chemicals consist of electronic chemicals for the electronic packaging, memory disk, general metal finishing, and printed circuit board finishing markets; advanced organics for the tire, coating and inks, additives, and chemical markets; ultra-pure chemicals used in the manufacture of electronic and computer components, such as semiconductors, silicon chips, wafers, and liquid crystal displays; and photo-imaging masks and reticles for the semiconductor, optoelectronics, and microelectronics industries. OM Group’s products are sold in various forms, such as solutions, crystals, cathodes, powders, and quartz or glass plates. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Founded in 1935 as a maker of caustic soda, Tosoh (a Japanese abbreviation of oriental soda) still produces caustic soda but has expanded into a number of other areas. Today Tosoh's three core chemicals businesses -- petro-, basic, and specialties -- account for roughly equal portions of sales. The company's basic chemicals include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), and chlorine. Its petrochemicals include olefins and aromatics such as benzene, toluene, and ethylene. Tosoh has been building up its higher-margin specialty chemicals like ethylene amines and specialty materials such as quartz. The Tosoh Corporation company has more than 140 affiliates worldwide but gets about 90% of sales from Japan.

Kraton Polymers LLC products are recognized as the vital ingredients that can improve performance in a wide variety of applications, and help companies win in their markets. This is why we have seen a steady increase in global demand for Kraton® polymers, confirming our position as the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of SBCs. In addition, we make and supply unique, high molecular weight polyisoprene grades. Kraton polymers provides consistent and high quality products, and this reliable production capability gives our customers vital supply security.

IRPC Public Company Limited ranks among the leading integrated petrochemical companies in Thailand, producing naphtha, liquefied petroleum gas, and lubricant oils. The company's operations include petroleum, mostly refined products (gasoline, diesel, and fuel oils), though also lubricating oils and asphalt. IRPC 's other major business is the manufacture of olefins (ethylene and propylene) and aromatics (benzene, toluene, and xylene) that are used to make pretty much every kind of plastic used in all manner of industries. The company had been operating under bankruptcy protection for much of the decade.

United Salt Corporation (USC) unites consumer-, agricultural-, and industrial-use salt products under one umbrella. The company produces salt for table use, road deicing, and water conditioning. Other customers use the company's salt as a livestock supplement, to make ice cream, to dry seafood or treat hides, or to create brine for use in oil drilling. USC, which was formed in 1928, sells its products under the Ranch House, Flavor House, Melt Away, Gulf, Sea & Land, Tru-Flo, and Tru-Soft names. The company operates production facilities and a salt mine in Texas, New Mexico, and Virginia.

Start with a strong dose of analytical expertise in organic compounds, add more than a pinch of synthesis, and mix in high quality manufacturing operations. These are the key ingredients that ABITEC says make up its business. Enzyme producer ABITEC's services range from vegetable oil refining to customer-specific ingredients synthesis. In addition to emulsifiers for the food and flavor industries, the company makes oleochemical-based ethoxylates for industrial uses, emollients and emulsifiers for the personal care segment, and excipients for pharmaceutical companies. It is a part of the ingredients unit of Associated British Foods.

Inolex Chemical Company is a family-owned supplier of specialty chemicals for the lubricant, personal care and cosmetics industries. Inolex′s headquarters is located in Philadelphia, PA.At this Philadelphia site, fatty acids have been produced since the 1800′s, when D.B. Martin Oil and Fats began operations there. Wilson and Company, a major meat packer acquired the business for the first half of the century. In the 1970′s American Can acquired the company as part of a diversification strategy providing an entry for American Can into the chemical business. American Can changed the name to Inolex (Innovation Technology Excellence) in 1974. The present ownership dates back to 1981 when the Plimpton family acquired the business and incorporated under the name Inolex Chemical Company.

Tronox Incorporated was founded in 1964 and is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Tronox Inc. (NYSE:TRX) operates independently of Kerr-McGee Corp. as of March 30, 2006. Tronox Incorporated produces and markets titanium dioxide pigment in the United States and internationally. The company’s titanium dioxide, a white pigment is used in a range of products for its ability to impart whiteness, brightness, and opacity. Its pigment product is used in coatings, plastics, and paper, as well as various specialty products, such as inks, food, and cosmetics. The company also offers electrolytic manganese dioxide, which is used as active cathode material for alkaline batteries; lithium manganese dioxide that is used as rechargeable battery material; sodium chlorate for the pulp and paper industry; boron trichloride, a specialty chemical gas, which is used in various products, including pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, high-performance fibers, specialty ceramics, and epoxies; and elemental boron that is used in igniter formulations for defense, pyrotechnic, and air bag industries.

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