Stronger, more efficient:
building superior value through focus
Maintaining a competitive edge is the toughest balancing act in business. Witco plans to stay ahead of the competition by focusing resources on core businesses and by continually introducing new products, improving manufacturing processes, and developing new market opportunities.
Repositioned for Excellence.
Since 1996, Polymer Chemicals' focus has been on boosting capacity, shortening supply chains, improving productivity and flexibility, and enhancing product quality. Moving into 1999, we are well positioned to capitalize on these improvements.
In Bergkamen, Germany, we are stepping up production of catalysts and methyl aluminum oxane (MAO) carriers used in rapidly mushrooming metallocene polyolefin production processes.
In Memphis, Tennessee, Witco has improved amide production, providing enough new capacity to grow our lubricant share in the US, Europe, Asia and other emerging markets so that we can take advantage of significant new market opportunities. Similarly, our new expansion at Marshall, Texas will let us extend our line of organic peroxides to include grades that enhance initiations for the polymerization of various monomers and enhance curing of polyester or vinyl ester resins. Exciting new additives enable vinyl medical products to withstand gamma ray sterilization and allow use of water-based inks for printing on thermoplastics.
Field Hands.
Most companies tie their best researchers to a lab bench. Witco OrganoSilicones Group sends them into the field to work directly with customers to find solutions to technical problems.
Often, they return with insights into new opportunities. This is one reason why OrganoSilicones is a leader in generating innovative specialty products.
It's also a big reason why we know enough about our customers to develop products they are going to need while we also develop the ones they need right now. Witco's Urethane Additives business is helping customers address important environmental concerns by leveraging our surfactant and catalyst expertise to develop environmentally superior CO2 technology for the rigid foam market.
Urethane Additives' market leadership in flexible, rigid, molded and microcellular foams for markets such as furniture, appliances, automobiles and system houses also gives us a unique perspective as we work with customers in developing markets. Our expertise is enhancing our customers' ability to develop the technology they need to meet growing consumer demand in even the most remote worldwide locations.
Being There.
Witco Industrial Specialties business has risen to prominence in agricultural and oilfield chemicals thanks to a consistent ability to develop formulations that meet specific customer needs and specialty applications. In 1998, we positioned ourselves to bring this high level of service to the global market by establishing operations close to our customers.
During 1998, we established an ethoxylation facility in Singapore. It positions us as one of region's few suppliers of nonionic surfactants. A new technical service center at the facility will serve the region's rapidly growing agricultural and oilfield needs. It complements new technical centers opening in Brazil and Switzerland in 1999.
In 1999, we will complete consolidation of our surfactant manufacturing at Houston, Texas. This will give us a state-of-the-art facility capable of serving our growing global operations with improved flexibility and product quality.
Success Under Pressure.
Witco sets the standard for excellence in a multitude of diverse applications for white oils and petrolatums, such as personal care, polystyrenes and polyolefins.
Our products, such as our new Sonolube™ fluids, are also ingredients in more specialized industrial products. By blending performance additives into white oils, Witco Refined Products developed a new family of lubricants that do an outstanding job of protecting machinery from wear and rust.
Our food-grade lubricants for food-processing machinery can be used in heavy-duty applications where typical white oils break down.
Similarly, our new third-generation compressor lubricants allow users to increase productivity by running their equipment harder and longer.
Finally, our fiberoptic cable fillers, made from a patented white oil-polymer blend, promise superior performance in the fast-growing telecommunications and network markets.
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