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.

Yara International tries to make the world green -- and, in the process, make a little green of its own. The manufacturer of fertilizers and industrial gases is among the world's largest makers of plant nutrients and ammonia, selling about 20 million metric tons of fertilizer per year. It is also a top supplier of CO2 and nitrogen chemicals to industrial markets and of nitrates to the explosives industry. Yara has a quarter stake in Chilean fertilizers maker SQM, as does Canadian fertilizers maker PotashCorp. Formerly known as Hydro Agri, the company was spun off in 2004 by Norwegian aluminum giant Norsk Hydro. Yara markets its products worldwide.

Landec Ag's products provide something of a wake-up call for crop seeds. The subsidiary of Landec Corporation produces temperature-activated seed coatings that allow for earlier planting. The coatings, marketed under the brand name Intellicoat, protect seeds planted in cold weather and control germination time, thereby increasing crop yields and extending the time period during which farmers can plant seeds. They are applied to corn and soybean seeds. Landec Ag sells directly to more than 10,000 farmers in more than 40 states. It also licenses its coatings technology to Monsanto.

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. began with the coming together of Nagano Prefecture's (Shinano-area) water and Niigata Prefecture's (Echigo-area) limestone. Nagano Prefecture's plentiful water give birth to electric power and the limestone that came from Niigata Prefecture was a key raw material, which was called, "Oyashirazu's great earth." Because of the presence of these two gifts of nature, Shin-Etsu Nitrogen Fertilizer Co., Ltd. was founded on September, 1926 to manufacture chemical fertilizer and limestone nitrogen.The history of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. began from this point.The company's "Shin" comes from Shinano and "Etsu" is taken from Echigo.

Rockwood Holdings, Inc. engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of specialty chemicals and advanced materials for industrial and commercial purposes worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Specialty Chemicals, Performance Additives, Titanium Dioxide Pigments, Advanced Ceramics, and Specialty Compounds. The Specialty Chemicals segment offers lithium compounds and chemicals; metal surface treatment chemicals, including corrosion protection/prevention oils; synthetic metal sulfides; and maintenance chemicals. This segment serves automotive pre-coating metal treatment and car body pre-treatment, steel and metal working, life sciences, polymerization initiators for elastomers, steel and metal working, batteries, disc brakes, and aircraft industries. The Performance Additives segment provides iron oxide pigments, wood protection products, inorganic chemicals, synthetic and organic thickeners, and flocculants for residential and commercial construction, coatings and plastics, personal care, paper manufacturing, foundries, and water treatment.The Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment offers titanium dioxide pigments, barium compounds, and zinc compounds for synthetic fibers, plastics, paper, pharmaceutical contrast media, and paints and coatings markets. The Advanced Ceramics segment provides ceramic-on-ceramic ball head and liner components used in hip joint prostheses systems; ceramic tapes; cutting tools; wear and corrosion; and armor components. This segment serves medical, industrial, electronics, automotive, and defense markets. The Specialty Compounds segment offers specification compounds, such as polyvinyl chloride and thermoplastic elastomer for voice and data transmission cables, food and beverage, packaging, medical applications, footwear, and automotive markets. The company also provides wafer recycling and repair for semiconductors manufacturing. Rockwood Holdings was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Princeton, New Jersey.

ELANTAS PDG has a long business pedigree when it comes to making protective and performance-enhancing electronic coatings, varnishes, and resins. Although scholars might take issue, the company claims that "founder P. D. George coined the word 'Pedigree' in 1919 to denote quality." Etymology aside, the company -- which is owned by German conglomerate ALTANA -- makes wire coatings, insulating varnishes, and encapsulating resins designed to insulate, protect, and improve the performance of wires and other electronic components. ELANTAS PDG (formerly called P. D. George Corporation) also makes resins used in other electronic products and applications, including banding tape, adhesives, and laminating resins.

Robert Walsh, Arthur Schmidt, and George Claytor formed Walsh & Associates, Inc. in 1968. The three St. Louis businessmen had joined Ashland Oil Company briefly following the acquisition of a small chemical distributor where they were employed. Encouraged by customers and suppliers to form an independent regional distribution company of their own, Walsh, Schmidt, and Claytor were fortunate to have several of the original suppliers align with the newly formed Walsh & Associates, Inc. The company has expanded greatly adding regional offices in Kansas City, Missouri, Denver, Colorado, Memphis, Tennessee, Salt Lake City, Utah, Dallas, Texas, and Kalamazoo, MI.

Kyocera Chemical's products are materially important. The company manufactures chemicals and chemical materials like epoxy resins, molding compounds, laminates, and insulating materials for electronics products such as semiconductors and printed circuit boards. Kyocera Chemical also makes insulating varnishes used in household appliances and the custom machines used to apply that varnish. Among its other products are molded casings used for finished electronics like PDAs and laptops. The company was formed as Toshiba Chemicals in 1974 and became a part of the Kyocera family in 2002. Many of the company's goods are used in Kyocera's own electronic devices.

Ashland Inc. operates as a specialty chemicals company in the United States and internationally. Its Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients segment produces cellulose ethers; and specialty additives and functional ingredients. Its products offer functionality, such as thickening and rheology control; water retention; adhesive strength; binding power; film formation; protective colloid, suspending, and emulsifying action; foam control; and pH stability.

Kumho Petrochemical manufactures synthetic rubbers and resins, rubber chemicals, and electronic components for the semiconductor industry. Its products are found in everything from tires and shoes to office supplies and building materials. The company also builds heat and power plants that supply steam and electricity. Founded in 1970, Kumho Petrochemical operates through several domestic offices and plants and international locations in China, Germany, Indonesia, and the US. It is the holding company for the Kumho Asiana Group (land and sea transportation, construction, tire manufacturing, and financial services, among others).

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