MacDermid's brood of specialty chemicals is too broad to pigeonhole. The company makes a range of chemicals used in electronics (for etching and to imprint electrical patterns on circuit boards), graphic arts (for image transfers), metal and plastics finishing, and oil and gas exploration. It markets and produces more than 5,000 proprietary chemical compounds used for cleaning, coating, electroplating, etching, mechanical galvanizing, and rust retarding applications. MacDermid also distributes chemical supplies of other companies and produces horizontal processing equipment used in circuit board production and chemical machining.

Reflec likes to reflect on new ways to commercialize glow-in-the-dark products. The company -- which operates through subsidiaries Reflecmedia and Reflec Evolution -- makes reflective products that allow TV and film producers to project special effects. Customers include BBC TV, CNN, and Disney. Reflec is engaged in powder processing and micro-grinding, as well as in research and development for the production of reflective systems. Reflec maintains offices in Hong Kong, the UK, and the US. Its Reflec (USA) unit holds patents and trademarks for reflective inks and clothing in the US. A newly formed subsidiary (in 2006), Perseus Global Security Technologies, provides security and risk analysis services.

Hanwha Chemical Corporation emerged, along with its home country's industrial economy, in the early 1960s. Today the diversified South Korean chemical company manufactures polyethylene (for industrial films and packaging products), PVC (pipes, cable insulation, and hoses), and caustic soda (used by the pulp, paper, and petroleum industries). Hanwha has also entered new business areas such as environmental and electronic materials, including water-soluble resins, wastewater treatment technology, and semiconductor slurry.

Univar operates a network of logistics centers throughout the UK and Ireland to ensure a regional supply and to provide service support in any market. A business unit of global chemical distributor Univar N.V., Univar Ltd caters to the distribution and logistical needs of UK customers. Through its three major business operations -- Chemical Distribution, Supply Chain Services, and Industrial Consumables (RW Greeff) -- the company serves customers in industries that include construction and engineering, personal care and pharmaceuticals, transportation, and water treatment.

ITOCHU Chemicals America Inc. (ICAI) has strong vendor and customer partnerships with large corporations and small companies alike. ICAI utilizes the resources of ITOCHU Corporation, a $28+ billion Fortune Global 500 company. Additionally, ICAI works closely with chemical related companies under the ITOCHU umbrella including: ITOCHU Chemical Frontier, ITOCHU Plastics, and ITOCHU Techno-Chemical. These strong relationships provide a solid foundation for ICAI to be competitive in the markets it serves. Effective sales channels, market knowledge, technical expertise, and efficient systems are just some of the benefits of working with ICAI.

McBride keeps Europe well-groomed and squeaky clean. The continent's largest manufacturer of private-label household and personal care products, McBride sells its products to most of Europe's major grocery chains. The company's array of household products includes laundry and dishwashing products, hard surface cleaners, bleach, and air fresheners. Its personal care items include shampoo, soap, shaving cream, deodorant, toothpaste, and nail and skin care products. McBride has about a dozen manufacturing facilities in a handful of European countries and operates through subsidiaries in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK. It also exports products to Central and Eastern Europe.

Linde's business is lighter than air and bigger than everyone else's. Operating in more than 100 countries, it is the world's largest producer of industrial and medical gases. Linde also has an engineering unit that builds process plants for companies in the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and gas manufacturing industries; the gases unit accounts for about three-quarters of its sales. A third division provides logistics and supply chain solutions to a broad range of commercial and industrial sectors, including electronics, grocery, retail and gas. The company is active worldwide but does about half of its business in Europe.

INEOS Oxide help with all of that. A member of the INEOS Group of companies, INEOS Oxide primarily makes ethylene oxide (EO) and ethylene glycol (EG). The first can be used to manufacture sterilants and pesticides, while the latter is a chief component of antifreeze and de-icing fluids in addition to being used to produce polyester, PET resin, and coatings. INEOS Oxide is among the world's leading manufacturers of EO, EG, and their derivatives, along with chemical manufacturers BASF and Dow. It works through third-party agreements with companies like Borealis, GE Bayer Silicones, Praxair, and Kuraray.

Elastogran makes specialty elastomers and more. Elastrogran is one of the global leaders of polyurethane manufacturing. The company, a subsidiary of world's No. 1 chemicals maker BASF, makes polyurethane systems and polyurethane special elastomers. It is also a manufacturer and supplier of polyurethane raw materials. Polyurethane consists primarily of two raw materials produced from crude oil: isocyanate and polyol. One of its products, Elastollan, is used in ventilation mesh for sports shoes and in the automotive and electronics industries. Elastogran operates about a dozen sites in Europe and works closely with affiliate BASF Coatings to sell its polyurethane products throughout Europe.

Rit-Chem. The family-run business is a go-between company that imports, exports, markets, and contracts for custom, high-quality, and hard-to-find chemicals. Its imports are primarily chemicals that are no longer made in the US, chemical preparations custom-produced for Rit-Chem, or chemicals of a higher quality than are typically made domestically. The company was founded by president Henry Rittel, who remains at the helm of business.

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