Agrium U.S. operates south of the border for Canadian fertilizers manufacturer and distributor Agrium. The parent company produces and distributes four major crop nutrients: nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and sulfate fertilizers for the wholesale market. Agrium U.S. operates a network of about 500 retail farm centers in the US and Latin America, and is one of the largest independent retailers of fertilizers, seeds, and chemicals in North America. The US provides Agrium with about two-thirds of its sales. Agrium began originally as Cominco during the 1930s.

Whether it flies, bulldozes, or hauls golfers, Arrow-Magnolia International has something that cleans it. The company makes about 400 chemical cleaners that it sells under its own brands; it also distributes nonchemical janitorial supplies. Its products include chemicals used in construction (concrete and rust removers), government engineering (street and equipment cleaners), aviation (carbon and dirt removers), and golf course maintenance. Arrow-Magnolia makes more than half of its products in-house and sells them through independent representatives and a dozen distributors. An investment group led by Tanya Tippeconnic-Shaw has owned Arrow-Magnolia since 2005.

Titan Chemicals reigns supreme among Malaysian petrochemical manufacturers. Founded in 1989, the group produces olefins (ethylene and propylene) and polyolefins (various polyethylene and polypropylene products like LDPE, LLDPE, and HDPE). They're all key ingredients found in such products as carpet fibers, packaging film, automotive parts, and plastic pipes and bottles. Titan's primary industrial complex includes eight manufacturing plants; the company also operates another complex in Indonesia. High-growth markets like China and niche markets such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, and the Philippines sit firmly in Titan's export sights. Titan agreed in 2010 to be acquired by South Korea's Honam Petrochemical.

Technic's technique allows it to specialize in electroplating chemicals and technology. The company makes plating chemicals for electronic manufacturing, specializing in precious metals plating. It also produces wafer processing chemicals and powders and flakes for electronic applications. Additionally Technic manufactures plating equipment like wafer plating benches for semiconductor makers, automatic hoists, and reel-to-reel plating machines. It operates two manufacturing plants in the US and also has manufacturing operations in Asia and Europe.

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.

Abengoa Bioenergy is the only truly global ethanol producer, with about a dozen plants in the US, Europe, and South America. Its plants have a production capacity of 840 million gallons a year, including 380 million gallons in the US. The company's primary product is fuel-grade ethanol, which, when blended with gasoline, raises oxygen levels and cuts exhaust emissions pollutants such as carbon monoxide. Its research and development unit works in partnership with universities and other companies to develop improved processing technology for ethanol. Abengoa Bioenergy has been a part of Spanish engineering firm Abengoa, which owns about 80% of the company, since 2002.

Robert McBride, named after its founder, is cleaning up in the private-label market for household cleaners and personal care items. The UK-based manufacturer and wholly owned subsidiary of McBride plc earned Best in Class recognition based on The Grocer magazine's survey of UK grocery retailers. Parent company folded McBride Aircare Limited, an aerosol products manufacturer and distributor, into Robert McBride's operations. The firm also runs a joint venture, Aerosol Products Limited. Robert McBride was founded in 1927 as a chemical processing products company complementing the area's cotton industry.

Kuraray's synthetics are for real. The diversified company manufactures chemicals and resins (about half of sales, including copolymer EVAL used in food packaging) and synthetic fibers and textiles (man-made leather, nonwoven fabrics, rayon, and polyester). It also offers engineering and consulting services. Kuraray pioneered the commercialization of several synthetic fibers and resins -- such as its KURALON and Poval products -- for industrial uses. The company, which does most of its business in Japan, is made up of about 80 companies operating in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Prolab Technologies is counting on lubricants to grease its path to success. The company markets a number of lubricants, chemicals, and treatments, and has two subsidiaries, Prolab Technolub and Prola﫮 Prolab Technolub makes lubricants and treatments for industrial customers and for the auto and recreational vehicle markets. Prola﫠manufactures oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids and related products, which are used in textiles, cosmetics, and lubricants. The group's lubricants include brands such as PL-100 and GS-1000. The company began in 1985 as Les Industries Antifriction McLab and had about 10 lubricants on the market. It now has locations in Canada, France, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Honduras.

PolyOne Corporation provides specialized polymer materials with operations in thermoplastic compounds, specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, thermoplastic resin distribution, and specialty polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins. It also has equity investments in a manufacturer of caustic soda and chlorine, and a formulator of polyurethane compounds. The company’s International Color and Engineered Materials segment offers color and additive masterbatches, and engineered materials. Its Specialty Engineered Materials segment provides custom plastic compounding services and solutions for processors of thermoplastic materials to various markets, as well as offers a range of thermoplastic elastomer compounds for consumer, packaging, and medical applications. PolyOne’s Specialty Color, Additives, and Inks segment provides specialized color and additive concentrates, as well as inks and latexes. Its Performance Products and Solutions segment offers vinyl compounds, vinyl resins, and specialty coating materials based on vinyl to various manufacturers of plastic parts and consumer-oriented products, as well as offers materials testing and component analysis, custom compound development, colorant and additive, design assistance, structural analyses, process simulations, and extruder screw design services.The company's PolyOne Distribution segment distributes engineering and commodity grade resins to custom injection molders and extruders. PolyOne's Resin and Intermediates segment produces chlorine and caustic soda. The company primarily serves building and construction materials, wire and cable, transportation, durable goods, packaging, electrical and electronics, medical, and telecommunications markets. PolyOne sells its products worldwide through direct sales personnel, sales agents, and distributors. The company was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Avon Lake, Ohio.

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