Top 10 Chemical Companies to Watch in 2020 by Insights Success Media

2020 | VOL- 1| ISSUE- 1

www.insightssuccess.com

TOP

HEMICAL COMPANIES TO WATCH IN 2020

Ray Hurrell Kyle Imrie

Katelyn Imrie

Ellen Mcgregor

FIELDING ENVIRONMENTAL The Right Way.

EDITOR’S DESK

2020 | VOL- 1| ISSUE- 1

Developing safer chemical products and processes is one most challenging aspects in minimizing toxicity, while maintaining function and eﬃcacy. Thus achieving this, integration of green toxicology, green chemistry, and environmental science into the processes has played a vital role.

www.insightssuccess.com

TOP

HEMICAL COMPANIES TO WATCH IN 2020

Ray Hurrell Kyle Imrie

very chemical organization strives to develop chemicals that are eﬃcient and harmless to environment as well as to the lives across the globe. To achieve this goal in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way, these organizations are embracing latest researches, and innovating the traditional processes.

Katelyn Imrie

Ellen Mcgregor

FIELDING ENVIRONMENTAL The Right Way.

Green Chemistry: Towards a Sustainable Future

Over the past two decades, the movement of Green Chemistry has become a new standard embraced for the development of less harmful materials and chemicals that are safer for both the environment and consumers. The efforts have resulted in the reduction of hazardous waste in a cost-effective manner. It has maintained the need, efficacy and safety of products for consumers. Green Chemistry is now being practiced and incorporated into higher education, at scientific conferences and in journals. The practices are being easily recognized by the industry for their advantageous benefits commercially, environmentally and publicly. Investments and dissemination on the importance of green chemistry, and how they affect directly is been studied by scientists and researchers. The study including pharmaceutical analysis, employee and patient health, environmental sustainability have become extremely important for the process of future improvements.

Integrating green chemistry, manufacturers try to generate minimum waste, during reactions, process design, and recycling. They perform chemical reactions and integrate processes that make the most effective use of available resources. Remarkably, applying green toxicology in the sustainable development and production of new less harmful materials and chemicals, is subsequently reducing waste and exposure. Green Toxicology which is built upon the foundation of Green Chemistry and Green Engineering is curating the future of manufacturing processes. It is catering to safe synthesis of chemicals reducing environmental and human health impacts. Being the most significant aspect of Green Chemistry, the principles of green toxicology are readily helping to lessen the health related concerns. This has become possible as toxicologists and chemists are trying to work together on in the development of materials and chemicals to utilize safe design strategies and innovation. Digital transformation has also played a vital in these advancements: Digital transformation Due to the increasing demand and growing competition, chemical manufacturers are adopting advanced technologies, transforming their operating procedures, and structures. Thus, improved efficiencies, safety, and reliability can be realized through implementation of advanced technologies. These transformations are enabling new business models that could bring chemical manufacturers closer to their suppliers, their direct customers, and even their end customers. Today emerging and well established companies are providing businesses with advanced solutions and assistance in unraveling the secrets of all the industries. We at Insights Success have released this special edition titled “Top 10 Chemical Companies to Watch in 2020”. Within the edition, we have focused on exhibiting the top chemical companies and their portfolios with unique solutions. Considering the same intent, let us introduce you

to these exemplary companies. On the Cover of the magazine, we have featured the special story of Fielding Enviromental, which is North America’s leading chemical and refrigerant gas recycling company. For decades Fielding has survived with winds in its face. Just think what it can do with winds of support at its back – support for cleantech – support for a circular economy – mounting societal support driven by the fear and reality of climate change. Fielding is postured for growth. We have also focused on a number of progressive companies and their core personnel who have come up with the most unique solutions; Ceradis, a company that has developed and patented (biological) formulation additives that boost the efficacy of existing chemical active ingredients, making them more environment-friendly. Alongside, we have an exclusive ‘Interview with Insights Success’. This interview highlights the consistent endeavors of team Archroma, a chemical manufacturing company that treads the extra mile to quench the needs of its client organizations with utmost excellence. Moreover, we have interviewed the team of Blendwell Chemicals, a company specialized in manufacturing cleaning products. Also, Insights Success is delighted to introduce you to Craig Rogerson, the Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer at Hexion Inc., and Lihong Yu, the President and Founder of PHT International Inc. The leaders talk about their overall journey and the influences made by their firm, service offerings, winning honors, current and future perceptions. The editor’s thoughts are also the part of this magazine where we have made an amazing article based on, Waves in the Chemical Industry. So flip the pages of our magazine and explore interesting insights into the world of business!

Rajkunwar Bhosale

CONTENTS

COVER STORY

08 FIELDING ENVIRONMENTAL The Right Way.

Archroma

A Global Leader in Dyes and Specialty Chemicals

Blendwell Chemicals

ProďŹ ciently Contributing to the Sustainability of the Environment

Ceradis

Creating Environmentalfriendly Agriculture with Innovative Formulation

Hexion Inc.

On the Path Towards a Responsible Chemistry

40 40

PHT International Inc.

At the Forefront of Green Chemistry through Innovation and Technology

ARTICLES

Before Starting up

Tech Bites

A Startup Ecosystem: How to Build and Sustain one?

Tips to adapt to Tech in Everyday Life

Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal Senior Editor Anish Miller Managing Editor Rajkunwar Bhosale Publishing Control Team Rahul, Shruti Quality Assurance Team Abhishaj, Sneha Visualiser David King Art & Design Head Amol Kamble Art & Design Assistant Deepanjali Jena Co-designer Paul Belin Art & Picture Editor Asha Bange Business Development Manager Joe Millers Marketing Manager Jennifer Winget Business Development Executives Stephie, David, Joseph Sales Executives Alice Technical Head Jacob Smile Assistant Technical Head Amar Sawant Technical Consultants Pratiksha, Aditya, David Digital Marketing Manager Alina Sege Assistant Digital Marketing Manager Prashant Chevale SME-SMO Executives Gemson, Uma, Manoj Research Analyst Eric Smith Circulation Manager Tanaji sales@insightssuccess.com

January, 2020 Corporate Ofď&#x20AC; ce Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com

www.facebook.com/insightssuccess/

www.twitter.com/insightssuccess

We are also available on : RNI No.: MAHENG/2018/75953 Copyright ÂŠ 2020 Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd., All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success. Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success.

COVER STORY

FIELDING ENVIRONMENTAL

The Right Way.

“

Our vision sees a world where people and industry live in harmony with the environment – and that world demands Cradle to Cradle® care of waste. Ellen, CEO

TOP

HEMICAL COMPANIES TO WATCH IN 2020

“The 3 R’s, sustainable development, environmental business, cleantech, innovation and circular economies.”

ll these words and phrases, created over the past few decades, have one thing in common – Fielding Environmental. Fielding is North America’s leading chemical and refrigerant gas recycling company. Long before there was a Ministry of Environment in any Canadian province, Fielding was helping customers save money and protect the environment. In 1955 the North American manufacturing sector was thriving and chemicals that companies used to paint, clean or cool became wastes after their primary use. Companies had few options. Chemicals were buried, burned, vented or dumped. That’s what Jack McGregor saw. And that’s when he decided to pioneer chemical recycling as a business that also helped the environment. He bought distillation equipment, set up a small lab, hired the right talent and convinced Ford Motor to send Fielding its spent cleaning solvents. Fielding puriﬁed the material and returned it to Ford – at a price less than the price of virgin chemical – for reuse over and over again. Fielding grew its customer base to include companies that only wanted Fielding to safely treat their waste. They did not want it puriﬁed for their reuse. Fielding saw such waste as a raw material and they innovated to create new products for distribution. Fielding gave manufacturers options for responsible treatment of chemical waste and built a reputation for making high quality recycled chemicals. By doing so, Fielding proved the merits of a value proposition that years later would be characterized as an example of the 3R’s, sustainable, innovative, cleantech and part of an innovation and circular economy. Little did Jack know that he had launched a family-owned business that would see at least two more generations driving its growth. How could he? When he joined Fielding he was a President holding a small equity position. When the owner retired, Jack bought the company. The Complexities on the Way Along the way, the business became much more complex and expensive. There were several reasons • It became intensely regulated under a framework that was designed for disposal, not recycling (a condition that

remains the same today). • Banks were not prepared to extend a term loan to a family-owned business in a sector yet to be defined. • Publicly traded customers demanded sophisticated quality and environmental management systems that equaled their own. Fielding truly was a salmon swimming against a swift current in a river full of barriers. The company was under intense pressure to build trust, invest in capital, talent, and markets. Jack had hired his son, Ian, a brilliant mechanical engineer who designed new technologies to advance the business. And in 1994, Jack hired his daughter Ellen to assume the CEO position. One by one the barriers were strategically tackled. Building Trust Ellen championed the strategy to earn the trust of stakeholders- the City, regulators and of course new customers. In its industry, Fielding became the 1st company in North America to be registered to the quality standards of ISO. It also became the 1st in the world to be registered to the environmental standards of ISO, the first to be verified to Responsible Care ®, and the first to be a member of Responsible Distribution®. While the list of credentials customer demands, the addition of each made the company stronger and sent a signal that Fielding was a business they could trust.

“

Fielding continually invests in people, assets and research to advance our capabilities Ray Hurrell, Chief Operating Ofcer

“

We dened what talent, assets, and systems were required to make Fielding the preeminent Canadian player in the refrigerant management industry. Katelyn, Executive Vice President In addition, Ellen assumed advisory roles and board positions to build the Fielding brand. She sat on the Principal’s Advisory Committee, University of Toronto Mississauga and the Economic Development Committee for Mississauga. Boards positions included Sheridan College, The Credit Valley Conservation Foundation and Mississauga Board of Trade. New relationships launched collaborations with academia to advance research for commercial gain. Ellen continues the work to advance the brand. She sits on the board of Sustainable Technology Development Canada, a federal agency that helps cleantech companies demonstrate technologies. Yet another board she is proud to sit on is the Canadian Council for Innovators, an association that advocates for innovation companies to strengthen access to capital, talent, and markets. Fielding co-founded a not for proﬁt called LINCit (Lincit.ca) that helps cleantech companies scale by matchmaking them with companies and agencies in the innovation ecosystem. What started as an eﬀort to strengthen local trust resulted in something much bigger. Today Fielding’s brand is recognized throughout North America and beyond with a tag line that signals vision and

corporate commitment. Fielding Environmental The Right Way. ™ Our vision sees a world where people and industry live in harmony with the environment – and that world demands Cradle to Cradle® care of waste The Right Way. ™ Ellen Investments for Growth When the manufacturing sector began to erode in Canada, wastes previously produced locally became unavailable. Fielding responded by assigning sales talent in other provinces and the US to source waste across Canada and into the United States. It developed distribution channels overseas in places as far away as South Africa. Today, Fielding products can be found in over 30 countries. The Montreal Protocol and its banning of certain refrigerant gases created yet another market – the collection and reclamation of refrigerant gases. Fielding invested in research, reclamation equipment, market development, and talent. Talent & Succession Most family owned businesses do not become owned and operated by third-generation members, but not so in the case of Fielding. Ellen’s adult son, Kyle Imrie, and adult daughter Katelyn Imrie are both shareholders and

“

With operations in both Canada and the United States and exports to over 30 countries, Fielding is a global player. Kyle, President, Business Development

Members of the Executive. Kyle is seasoned in business development and marketing. Kyle championed a bold and covetable acquisition that put Fielding on a fast track for growth and extended its distribution channels – a plant in Freedom, PA. With operations in both Canada and the United States and exports to over 30 countries, Fielding is a global player. Katelyn is also a seasoned professional in market development. When legislation changed, Katelyn defined how and where Fielding could play a lead role in the collection and reclamation of refrigerant gases. We defined what talent, assets, and systems were required to make Fielding the preeminent Canadian player in the refrigerant management industry. And then there is Fielding’s operations expert- Ray HurrellRay has become one of the family and an owner of Fielding. Ray finesses the balance between the growth of waste sales and the assets required to turn waste into new products. What sounds simple takes extensive knowledge of science, engineering, law and most importantly the leadership of Fielding team members. Fielding continually invests in people, assets and research to advance our capabilities” But Fielding’s biggest asset is its committed people. They are educated, skilled, trained and proud. Never before has the word “environment” had the profile it has right now. The effects of “climate change” are published, discussed and taught – everywhere. Fielding team members know that what they do contributes to mitigating climate change. Here is why. • Through chemical recycling, Fielding prevents greenhouse gas emissions – if you planted enough trees to absorb the amount of C02 that Fielding prevents from being emitted, you would have to plant 2 million trees ever year. • Fielding produces an environmentally superior fuel that is a drop in replacement for coal. • Over time, refrigerant gases used to keep things cool – homes, hospitals, offices – lose their effectiveness. Venting those gases contributes to global warming. Fielding’s work keeps those gases out of the air and in the market for use again and again. Our beautiful, thriving aquarium is a reminder of the importance of our work. Fielding team members know that what we do is good for human health and the health of all nature. And that makes Fielding team members committed

and proud” Sean Barnett, Director Alternative Energy and Compliance. The Future Society relies upon chemicals for pretty much everything. From the clothes we wear to the pharmaceuticals that protect our children and extend adult's lives, chemicals play a pivotal role in our well being. Waste chemicals do not belong in our air, water or lands. They should be given a new life. Twenty-five years ago Ellen coined and trademarked the phrase “Cradle to Cradle”. Those words continue to drive Fielding innovation efforts. They drive partnerships with customers and academia. They drive advocacy efforts with the government, all of which helps Fielding out-perform the competition. Fielding will continue to give new life to new wastes and continue to grow its export markets. One last thing. For decades Fielding has survived with winds in its face. Just think what it can do with winds of support at its back – support for cleantech – support for a circular economy – mounting societal support driven by the fear and reality of climate change. Fielding is postured for growth.

“

Our beautiful, thriving aquarium is a reminder of the importance of our work. Fielding team members know that what we do is good for human health and the health of all nature. And that makes Fielding team members committed and proud. Sean Barnett, Director Alternative Energy and Compliance

TODAY Never Miss an

Issue

Yes, I would like to subscribe to Insights Success Magazine.

Global Subscription Date :

Name : Address :

Telephone : Email :

City :

State :

Zip :

Country :

Check should be drawn in favor of : INSIGHTS SUCCESS MEDIA TECH LLC

CORPORATE OFFICE Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754,(302)-319-9947 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription : www.insightssuccess.com

Heike van de Kerkhof CEO

16 | January 2020

www.insightssuccess.com

Archroma A Global Leader in Dyes and Specialty Chemicals

he chemical industry has many roles in sustainability. It provides chemicals, materials, and technologies that enhance safe and eﬃcient use of energy and natural resources. It delivers them in a way that protects human and environmental health. One such organization that is driving the sustainable agenda bringing continued improvement to their purpose is Archroma- a chemical manufacturing company. This interview highlights the consistent endeavors of team Archroma that treads the extra mile to quench the needs of its client organizations with utmost excellence. IS: Tell us about your company, its inception story and the vision behind. Team Archroma: Archroma’s heritage traces back to when Kern & Sandoz was established in 1886 in Basel to produce textile dyes. In 1995 Clariant was formed, as a spin-oﬀ from Sandoz, and in 1997 acquired the specialty chemicals business of Hoechst. The company continues to grow with additional acquisitions, such as the global textile chemicals business of BASF, M. Dohmen, a specialist in automotive and synthetic dyes, and more recently the stilbene-based optical brighteners business of BASF for paper and powder detergent applications. Archroma works with 3,000 employees over 35 countries and with 25 production sites. The company operates a highly integrated, customer-focused platform that delivers specialized performance and color solutions in over 100 countries.

www.insightssuccess.com

Archroma believes in continuously challenging the status quo in the deep belief that it can make its industry and the industries it serves sustainable. IS: Kindly give a brief overview of your products and services. Team Archroma: Archroma is a global, diversified provider of dyes and specialty chemicals, supplying industries, such as textile, fashion, leather, packaging, paper, adhesives, paints and construction. The company supports customers that manufacture a large number of everyday products, with innovations and solutions such as the anti-UV agents that allow our t-shirts to stay fresh, the high-performance dyes that make our swimming suit’s bright colors long-lasting, the water repellent agents on our raincoat, the flame retardant additives that make our curtains safer, the finishes that protect our sofa from stain and spills, the brightening agents that make our paper whiter, and the emulsion used in the paint you use to refresh your living room smooth and easy to use. IS: What’s the company’s take on chemical industry & market evolution and what can be expected in the forthcoming years? Team Archroma: There has been major growing global awareness rising on sustainability among consumers to NGOs to authorities, and this will accelerate and increase proportionately. In the last two years, particularly in China, the government has been taking stern action against environmental pollution and has suspended many chemical

January 2020 | 17

TOP

HEMICAL COMPANIES TO WATCH IN 2020

factories’ operations. In the long run, these regulatory changes and actions will ensure that the industry is taking a better and more sustainable direction. This also means that there will not be much room for those who are not contributing to maintaining processes sustainably. Regardless it is India, China, Europe, North America, or South Asia, the chemical industry has a critical role to play with its position in the value chain for a sustainable process, which is also driving more economic sustainability.

its supply networks, and regularly engage to improve their sustainability performance and make them an integral part of reporting and value chain approach. Archroma is also an active member of the local communities in which it operates and regularly initiates programs that enrich the lives of those who depend upon it, such as its partnership with WWF in Pakistan or investments in training programs across the organizations.

IS: What are the beneﬁts gained by your clients/users from your products/solutions/services?

Last but not least, Archroma puts safety ﬁrst for its employees, visitors and communities, conducting programs on safety awareness and training.

Team Archroma: Archroma’s goal is to support its industries by constantly developing innovations and solutions aimed to serve manufacturers with optimized productivity and value creation in their markets.

Considering the necessity of adapting to the volatile technological disruptions and/or development of cutting-edge solutions, how does your company sustain its competency in the Chemicals market?

Archroma’s innovations are built around ﬁnding solutions that help them use less natural resources, be it water, energy, or other material consumptions, and as a consequence make products less expensive to produce while imparting the same quality.

Archroma has established itself as a leader in sustainable chemistry based on its strong technology-driven product portfolio and investment into R&D leading to a continuous ﬂow of ground-breaking innovations.

IS: Tell us about the CEO and her industry experience. Team Archroma: Heike van de Kerkhof has been appointed as CEO of Archroma, eﬀective January 6, 2020. Prior to joining Archroma, Ms. van de Kerkhof held leadership positions at Castrol, DuPont and The Chemours Company in a career spanning almost thirty years. IS: In what ways does your organization contribute towards the Corporate Social Responsibility cause? Team Archroma: In manufacturing specialty chemicals, sustainability has always been embedded into Archroma’s global organization, not only in terms of own manufacturing footprint but also in bringing to the market technologies that allow positive impacts for its customers and the ﬁnal consumers. Archroma actively engages with its relevant stakeholders to support and progress initiatives that are bringing concrete and ambitious solutions and innovations in the area of transparency and traceability in supply networks. For instance, the company has been actively engaged in ensuring its portfolio is REACH ready, and the company is a member of the ZDHC roadmap to zero hazardous chemicals. Archroma also understands the impact that it has towards

18 | January 2020

Archroma’s innovations and systems have gained global traction thanks to the visionary practice of major brands like Patagonia or G-Star, which adopted Archroma’s watersaving Advanced Denim dyeing technology, EarthColors® dyes based on non-edible biomass raw materials, and, most recently, the company’s synthetic pre-reduced liquid Denisol® Pure Indigo that allows creating authentic blue denim without aniline, a substance under scrutiny as potentially harmful to workers in denim factories, and to aquatic life. IS: What obstacles and limitation do your organization face while growing, sustaining or retaining its clientele? Team Archroma: Manufacturers in almost all industry have been entertaining the myth that sustainability comes at the expense of cost-eﬃciency. Archroma has therefore opted for a system-based approach to addressing its customers’ needs, requirements and challenges, along with the principles of The Archroma Way: Safe, eﬃcient, enhanced. Each system combines carefully selected technologies and innovations, aiming to optimize productivity, reduce resource usage, create value – or all of the above. The resource and cost savings achievable in each system

www.insightssuccess.com

are quantified using Archroma’s ONE WAY process simulator, and that alone is probably the most efficient tool against the myth that sustainability is expensive. For instance, ‘DEEP DIVE’, a system developed for highly efficient coloration with less water, is based on a recent innovation, a range of reactive dyes for high build-up called Drimaren® Ultimate HD dyes. The system can bring resource savings, among which water saving of nearly 29%, which in turn can translate into cost savings of 7% in the production process. IS: Could you list out the most growthdeteriorating challenges for your organization till date? Team Archroma: The past year has been challenging for several of the markets where Archroma operates. The company, however, has an agile and reactive culture focused on accountability for performance that encourages all its organization and people to quickly adapt to changing market conditions. Archroma’s last Financial Year (October 2018 to September 2019) has been very good in terms of profitability, placing the business in a strong position to capitalize on its significant momentum moving forward. IS: What does the future hold for your organization in terms of internal as well as holistic development? Team Archroma: Archroma has managed the tourde-force to become a go-to partner for its customers worldwide, and is on a strong path thanks to is focus on developing innovations and systems aimed at helping brands and manufacturers optimize productivity and create value in their markets. IS: Tell us about some Awards or Recognition the company has received over the years? Team Archroma: Archroma has continuously earned awards over the years, such as the 2017 OutDoor Industry Award 2017, Gold winner within the Sustainable Innovations category, for its EarthColors(R) technology, or the 2014 Global Water Summit commendation for its Sustainable Effluent Treatment Facility in Pakistan.

www.insightssuccess.com

January 2020 | 19

20 | January 2020

www.insightssuccess.com

Before Starting up

A STARTUP

Ecosystem How to Build and Sustain one?

ith digitization & the likes of AI & Big Data, communication the way we see it (or for that matter, saw it) has changed so drastically that for those from half-a-century back may not recognize the world of communication as it exists these days. The path ahead, if the present is anything to go by, could be equally unrecognizable. One of the reasons for the sheer uncertainty is that the medium has spawned practically an entire universe of ideas which themselves generate further ideas. The progression of ideas these days is thus geometric and promises a very star-like landscape where-ever you see it. An advantage of such a scenario is that folks aren’t dependent upon a central body for ideas or even ways to monetise the same and create sources of income. With so much depending upon people themselves to create employment for themselves, it is thus an interesting idea to promote as it does not strain the system (very unlike a normal socialist, centralized structure) and in return, if handled the right way, may generate further employment and an easy decentralized way to increase the GDP where healthy ideas get promoted. That, is easier said than done because ideas come with

www.insightssuccess.com

the speed of light but implementation takes time, resources and efforts, and sometimes for all their worth, could result in the creation of yet another flop, and sometimes a seriously costly one. What then would be the idea situation where ideas get generated and nurtured with unerring regularity which brings prosperity to people, the country and the region? It starts with developing the right start-up ecosystem, one which nurtures, teaches, hand-hold and lets the enterprise grow, and which is also around when the entrepreneur wants either to go to the next step or wants to exit. Today we tell you all there is to build sustainable ecosystems! 1. Identify the basics. Gains need pains. Find pains, and it’s only a time before gains come to you. For that find a list of all the problems that exist in a system which with the least bit of efforts can be turn around into profitable ideas which benefits everyone. It could be things as simple as getting an office space, the right set of employees and talent to something as complex as identifying who could be your potential customers!

January 2020 | 21

Identify who can put an end to the pains. This typically means you approach established places which generate the right employees and manpower including colleges, schools, institutes and the likes. Sometimes, it could also mean you approach people with the least bit of skills but the right understanding of how to bring an end to pains and turn them into gains. Sometimes the right skills may not be available in the immediate viscinity but may have to be imported from other places in which case, you either develop the talent locally (which means you spend time, resources and efforts) or quicken the pace of the project with costly imports from elsewhere. Find the right mentors. The single biggest reason most startups fail is that they do not approach the experienced or the experienced do not exist for an industry. Costly mistakes in the initial stages may sometime result in the project getting derailed even before it starts. The right mentor, be it from the same or similar industry can guide a start-up ecosystem in ways which shall keep it from floundering and, also register healthy growth. Find the right financers. Dreams mean nothing if they cannot be put into action, and one way to go about it is to have the right resources in the form of money. Money puts in place all the other resources required to get any set-up going and more so when the venture is a start-up with zero income. Till the time the venture becomes selfsustaining, finances remain a one-way street pointing towards expenditure. The right financiers also help identify ideas that make the cut versus those that sound great on paper but may not be so in reality. Find industry captains who are ready to engage with start-ups. Like money attracts money, needs attracts needs. Industry Heads are known to engage with start-up in a give-and-take way. They may invest money, and they may even use the services of the start-up, besides being the mentor for the same. The very presence of industry heads is known to bring the right attention towards a start-ups’ working. The same could be the case of a startup ecosystem. Find the right place to start an ecosystem. Start-up ecosystem across industries flourish in place where they find the right sustenance which includes office space,

22 | January 2020

meeting places, and those areas where the right human components can be found in abundance. Initially, these start in and around the homes and offices of established mentors and gurus which with time may need to be established in a proper manner in a proper place. Dedicated industrial areas are thus the need of the hour which should cater to every need of start-ups. One should remember that start-ups are in a great hurry to scale up so that they do not perennially depend upon external (and expensive) resources. In their urge to grow the biggest hurdle could be the right infrastructure which could sometimes include even the smallest pin-prick like vehicle parking space! And when you think you got all there is to create the perfect start-up ecosystem, remember the following points: • A start-up is a marathon and NOT a 100-meter sprint, even though the start-up entrepreneur may have all the energy of a sprinter. • The best of intention and efforts may result in failure • Time is the biggest factor, healer and destroyer • Look for a reasons when you fail and work on it for future success. - Locate the right strategy Get the right ingrediets in place like: Find the right leader from the industry or otherwise Leverage local conditions Build critical mass be it inter-city or intracity Ideas & clients Talent & universities Capital, incubators and equity Service providers Teachers for investment and reinvestment What is needed on a personal level Understand that it takes time Understand that the best efforts sometimes may bring zero returns Understand that everything happens for a reason or even sometimes the lack of it

www.insightssuccess.com

Blendwell

C H E M I C A L S

Proﬁciently Contributing to the Sustainability of the Environment

IS: Tell us about your company, its inception story and the vision behind. Team BC: Blendwell Chemicals was founded nearly 30 years ago. It’s founder Charles Marais saw a gap in the market to supply quality cleaning products to the reseller market. The idea was to manufacture a comprehensive range of cleaning products for resellers, who would in turn market the product range under their own cleaning brand. This business model remains the foundation of our traditional product range. The second-generation owner, Judy Sunasky has further developed the range of high-quality product by adding two additional ranges. H-Range was developed speciﬁcally for the food industry, whereas Enviroblend is an internationally certiﬁed, environmentally friendly range of product for cleaning service providers in the general cleaning space. Blendwell’s Enviroblend products do not harm the people that use it, the environment it comes from or the environment it is used in. IS: Kindly provide a brief overview of the products and services.

24 | January 2020

Team BC: We provide our clients with high-quality cleaning products that they can trust. Blendwell Chemicals is fully certified to manufacture cleaning product and disinfectant that is food appropriate and backs up the service with training to ensure compliance to the food industry. The green product range provides peace of mind to the client or service provider using it with the knowledge that a cradle to the grave concept has been proved by the GreenTag certification which is highly recognized by the Green Building Council of South Africa. These ranges are also Halaal certified. We provide training for our clients in two different ways. We run regular training sessions throughout the year on a variety of topics. These courses start at the basics of cleaning and include educating people on green cleaning means and compliance in the food industry. We also offer is on-site training for food facilities where each staff member is trained to ensure food safety. IS: With regards to the profound industry experience, what’s your company’s take on chemical industry and market evolution and what can be expected in the forthcoming years? Team BC: The cleaning chemical industry has evolved over the years with fewer non-accredited factories being able to meet market needs. As laws become more stringent in food safety, reputable companies cannot afford to skimp on cleaning practices and specific products and procedures are now are required. There has also been a wonderful shift towards needing greener products that do not harm people and the environment. As time goes on these products have become more affordable and even better at being eco-friendly. There was a perception that green cleaning products were not as strong as others, however, the technology within the

www.insightssuccess.com

TOP

HEMICAL COMPANIES TO WATCH IN 2020

www.insightssuccess.com

January 2020 | 25

industry has advanced and in keeping up with modern trends, we can produce a product that is effective and concentrated. Clients want cost-effective solutions that meet the demands of today’s world. We will continue to see product and service being brought together with digital concepts that improve efficiencies. IS: What are the benefits gained by the clients/users from your products/solutions/services? Team BC: Our clients have been able to able to reduce risk, offer turnkey solutions to their clients and meet the delivery demands of modern times. We have an in-house product development team who are always looking for more effective, more eco-friendly cleaning solutions. Our product offering is in constant development and we meet our client’s needs by having stock available and quick turnaround times for delivery. Also, we provide education through short training courses - the key to meeting clients needs is understanding where the gaps are for them. IS: Tell us more about the present owner and her contribution towards the company and its success. Team BC: Judy is passionate about the eco-friendly space and ensures as many people as possible are educated about the world around us and the impact our actions and what we do have on the earth, people, and animals. Blendwell has grown organically, and there have been some tough lessons. As a leader, you need to bring your team with you, have faith, believe in your dreams and keep your eye on the bigger picture. People are everything and we work constantly to provide opportunities for growth for our staff, ensuring a cohesive team and always communicate, communicate, communicate. IS: In what ways does your organization contribute towards the Corporate Social Responsibility cause? Team BC: We choose to support local projects and like to get involved in and around local area, whether it is in a clean-up project, bringing in interns from local colleges and universities or aiding and supporting children’s homes. We support women to support women and children. IS: Considering the necessity of adapting to the volatile

26 | January 2020

technological disruptions and development of cuttingedge solutions, how does your company sustain its competency in the Chemicals market? Team BC: Our company is very process-driven though all procedures being part of a system that has the potential to duplicate itself into all areas. We engage our staff through regular training and hold our core values of quality and customer satisfaction to the highest regard. Our systems are a constant work in progress, ensuring better efficiencies and 2020 will see us with a new technological tool. IS: What obstacles and limitation does your organization face while growing, sustaining or retaining its clientele? Team BC: The question of funding is always a consideration and limitation. Our current economy has been challenging, making the market extremely competitive. Having said that, the opportunity is always there to find the gaps. Change is inevitable in this climate and smaller businesses now have the edge in adaptability and agility. IS: Could you list out the most growth-deteriorating challenges for your organization till date? Team BC: South Africa’s economy has not been in a strong growth cycle We have seen clients close up shop, downsize and restructure frequently over the past few years but we continue to look ahead as people will always need cleaning products and the market expects great quality and efficacy. IS: What does the future hold for your organization in terms of internal as well as holistic development? Team BC: People are the key to any business. A strong team that holds each another accountable and communicate well. We have developed a cohesive environment, an understanding for each other, our diversity and differences and understand one another’s strengths and weaknesses. People have to deal with constant change and learning is now a continual. Modern technologies allow us to work differently and we are adapting accordingly. IS: Would you like to highlight any awards, accolades or testimonials your company has achieved throughout? Team BC: Blendwell Chemicals was one of the first companies to be awarded GreenTag certification in South Africa in the cleaning product category. We also won the SABC3/ Enviropaedia award in 2009 and 2014. Judy Sunasky is a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization and was an International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge (mentee) in 2018. Judy was selected as an EY Winning Woman in 2017.

www.insightssuccess.com

Ceradis Creating Environmental-friendly Agriculture with Innovative Formulation

grochemicals widely involve fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, and plant growth regulators that enable plant and soil protection, improve the yield, maintain and improve the growth process of plants. Given the large operational area and the never-ending need for the agrochemical industry, many market players and companies have entered the industry. Ceradis is such a company that has developed and patented (biological) formulation additives that boost the eﬃcacy of existing chemical active ingredients, resulting in a reduced rate of chemicals use per hectare of farmland and lower residues on the crop, making them more environmentfriendly. In addition, these formulation technology allow biopesticides from other sectors to crop protection. We approached Willem-Jan MEULEMEESTERS, the prestigious CEO of the company for an exclusive “Interview with Insights Success”:

A: Ceradis was founded in 2006 as a spin-oﬀ from Wageningen University & Research, to develop and commercialize innovative green products & formulations for crop protection. We do this through our proprietary formulation technologies. These enable a reduction of the dose rate of existing agrochemical active ingredients with 25-50% or to bring biopesticides from other sectors to crop protection. The vision of Ceradis is to create safer food and contribute to sustainable agriculture by reducing chemical pesticides. Q: Kindly provide a brief overview of your products and services. A: Ceradis has already successfully marketed several products in six European and three Latin American countries. We bring these products to market through (local) distributors. We aim to be a partner to the crop protection industry, bringing our technology to help them deal with the

28 | January 2020

Willem-Jan MEULEMEESTERS CEO

“

WE CREATE SAFER FOOD FOR MANKIND, CLEANER AND SAFER FOR USER, AND ENVIRONMENT

“

Q: Brief us about your company, its inception story, and the vision behind it.

www.insightssuccess.com

TOP

HEMICAL COMPANIES TO WATCH IN 2020

increasing demand for a lower chemical load. We bring our technology to them either as a ready product for distribution, or we enter into a partnership to develop a tailor-made product. In all cases, our products are unique and patent-protected. This business model is appreciated, and already some of the largest and best-known companies work with us and our products (e.g. Syngenta, Adama, Dole). Q: With regards to your organization’s profound industry experience, how do you think the chemical industry and market have evolved and what can be expected in the forthcoming years? A: Firstly, we continue to believe that pharma is ahead of us and shows where we will go in terms of industry structure: a couple of truly massive development companies who create around them an ecosystem of start-ups, through whom they source much early-stage innovation. Next to this, there is a larger group of generic players. Finally, there are the ‘super generics’, who use generic molecules but drive superior value through the delivery system for the molecule- what we’d call the formulation. In pharma, as in our industry, this is driven by the ever-increasing costs to develop and commercialize active ingredients, and the raising of regulatory, end-consumer and society’s ‘bar’. Secondly, we believe that while the long-term game is one of being able to feed the planet, short-term we still see a world with very low food commodity prices. Together, this means that crop protection faces, in our view, challenges even greater than pharma given the need to deliver solutions at a fundamentally lower price point! Q: What are the benefits gained by your clients/users from your products/solutions/services? A: Wageningen University saw the challenges above well in advance. So, the Ceradis technologies were developed with these in mind. Using our products, farmers can protect their crops as well as with chemicals while reducing chemical load. And not only that, our products are easy to handle, deliver excellent value for money and help manage resistance. And to our distributor partners, we offer unique products to differentiate themselves in the market, and a way to potentially enable the renewal of their actives under regulatory scrutiny.

A: Growing from scratch is of course always challenging. Our main goal initially was showing our potential customers we were not ‘snake oil sellers’. We are very proud to work with several of the leading companies in our field, and of course, it remains a continuous challenge – and a pleasure – to help them be successful. Now, while we keep building on this momentum, we aim to move from more ‘solo solutions’ to help our customers with multiple aspects of their portfolio and become part of their strategic product initiatives. Finally, it always remains challenging to obtain and keep up to date the kind of deep expertise on crops, pests, products, regulations, farmers’ needs that are required to be successful in our industry. For this, we have a network of local experts and nothing beats going out, walking the fields and talking with people. Q: Could you list out the most growth-deteriorating challenges for your organization to date? A: At this point, obtaining the talent needed to help further growth is a nearly constant preoccupation. We are lucky to be based in a very dynamic and competitive country (the Netherlands is ranked #4 globally for competitiveness by the World Economic Forum) with a strong start-up culture. So, we know the ‘war on talent’! We are proud that, while still small, we are very diverse in terms of nationalities, gender, and professional background. We have succeeded in attracting talented people who are keen to help us realize our mission of fewer chemicals in agriculture, excited to work in a company that gives lots of personal responsibility and growth opportunities, in a very international setting. But as said, we are always actively looking for people who could contribute to our – and their own – growth. Q: What does the future hold for your organization in terms of internal as well as holistic development? A: We are less focused on the development of the company and much more on the realization of our mission. To help farmers worldwide farm sustainably, we wish to expand our offering to ever more pest/crop/application areas, as well as enter more and more countries. This requires the full usage of our existing technologies and turning promising ideas for new technologies into reality. But most of all it means we wish to scale our commercial presence and build strong alliances with our distribution partners.

Q: What obstacles and/or limitations does your organization face while growing, sustaining or retaining its clientele?

www.insightssuccess.com

January 2020 | 29

TIPS to ADAPT

to Tech in

EVERYDAY LIFE

or a start, remember that technology is almost like breathing. Can you live without breathing?? NO, YOU CAN’T! So why expect the same from technology? Like everything else, technology shall also change. If you don’t keep pace, you would be as useful as a caveman in the 21st century! Novel to look at but nothing beyond!

Like a tsunami wave that takes away everything in its path, technology comes in waves with succeeding one carting away whatever is left of the previous one. And as far as tech goes, it does come in waves. For those who resist, there is certain drowning. Or worse, being hit by something entirely unexpected because you remain unmoved. But, what if you learned to swim? You would obviously NOT drown. Even better, with time, you would simply enjoy the experience like a surfer on a surfboard who doesn’t get scared of the biggest and most frightening of waves! The best swimmers too enjoy a good tip. So why not a tech surfer! We mention tips to adapt to technology in everyday life. • Acceptance: It’s said that acceptance brings peace. When you accept, you look at the problem the perspective to ﬁnd solutions which with time does come to you. Acceptance wholeheartedly is much better than acceptance with reluctance. The latter is never from one’s heart and that which doesn’t come from the heart remains shallow in

32 | January 2020

www.insightssuccess.com

Tech Bites

substance. Acceptance makes one open to ideas and exploration. Left with no option and also not accepting make a person vengeful, negative and pessimistic. Instead, when you accept, you look at the positives and plan for change. • Read extensively whenever possible: Technology can initially overwhelm when one doesn’t accept. Acceptance is like the first step in the journey of a thousand miles. Doing so sends a strong message to the other parts of one psyche to start looking with positivity at things. Read initially from publications meant for ‘dummies’. Don’t get carried away by the world dummy. In the beginning, you are just that. Accept and read on till rudimentary things start to irritate you. With time you shall move to tougher things simply because you understand the nittygritty. But, never, ever give up reading. It is that one thing that shall keep you ahead on the curve of knowledge. Find out all the gurus of your field and where all they write and subscribe for those feeds to come to your mailbox. Without any major efforts, you shall get stuff that makes sense. • Meet with experts who are easily accessible in your immediate circles: A tech guru on the other side of the moon won't serve any purpose where it’s about understanding things first-hand. Find one in your immediate circles, preferably even in your workplace who you know for a fact is good with tech and has an inclination to explain others. There are those who continue being secretive about their knowledge who in the tech world turn dodos pretty fast. • Keep recording questions either on your notes section or even on your recorders. Questions don’t come to mind when you are in the presence of an expert because we forget most in the course of our day’s activities. These are precisely the points you need to avoid. Records all the questions that come to mind and keep it handy because a question solved is an answer gained, and an answer gained results in much-needed knowledge which when used can get you places. • Attend meetings, seminars, and workshops. On your job or otherwise, try to attend events where experts come together in numbers. Network and hobnob with experts. Besides increasing your knowledge, it shall bring you in the company of the

www.insightssuccess.com

right folks who can with time be of great help in more than one way. • Use and streamline the use of technology in your daily lives. Practically every activity that we do these days is driven by technology right from the time we open our eyes. Mobile phones are more computers than a phone. The same goes for every gadget in the hose. Learn to use them eﬃciently by visiting sites such as youtube where videos tell you how exactly a product ought to be used to gain its max advantage. Besides using them, learn about all their features so that you can upgrade yourself into using them better. • Invest in tech products as part of life. If you can, do buy upgraded versions of tech products. They aid and whet your appetite for more. Use them extensively whenever you get the chance to and learn all there is about them. • Inform others! One of the best ways to adapt tech to everyday life is to update others. In doing so, questions are always asked which helps us read more and stay ahead on the learning curve. Reading more only makes one more inquisitive. So, give yourself an opportunity which goads you to read more.

January 2020 | 33

Hexion Inc. ON THE PATH TO RESPONSIBLE CHEMISTRY

Craig Rogerson Chairman, President & Chief Executive OfďŹ cer Hexion Inc.

36 | January 2020

www.insightssuccess.com

TOP

HEMICAL COMPANIES TO WATCH IN 2020

hemical industry is one of the largest manufacturing industries, serving both a sizable domestic market and an expanding global market. Strong product identification and quality, access to highly educated workforce, world-class production facility, and a robust regulatory system has made Hexion Inc. a competitive chemical firm across the globe. We at Insights Success are delighted to introduce you to Craig Rogerson, the Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer at Hexion Inc. We’ve had the privilege to understand and exhibit his professional journey at Hexion Inc. The company is driving industrial trends providing products, and partnering with producers and manufacturers to innovate and use chemistry to make the world better, safer and cleaner. Below are the highlights of the interview: Brief us about your company, its inception story and the vision behind. For over 100 years, Hexion Inc. has been advancing specialty chemicals and performance materials. From a combination of four companies in 2005 (Resolution Performance Products, Resolution Specialty Materials, Borden Chemical and Bakelite), Hexion has grown and expanded our technologies and global footprint. We are pioneers of a higher chemistry. A chemistry designed to address the most pressing issues of our time. Hexion is committed to safe manufacturing and community involvement. The company’s diversified product portfolio understands no boundaries, making it capable and responsible for shaping the future. This is the responsible path forward and is what we call Responsible Chemistry. Kindly provide a brief overview of your products and services. Hexion is currently one of the world’s largest producers of thermosetting resins and a leading producer of coatings, adhesives and specialty resins. Our specialty chemicals are critical components in most paints, coatings, binders and other adhesives that serve a diverse range of industries and provide valuable performance characteristics of durability, gloss, heat resistance, adhesion or strength of the final product. Please tell us something about your Founder/CEO and

www.insightssuccess.com

his contribution towards the company and the industry. Craig Rogerson is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Hexion Inc. Craig joined Hexion in July 2017. Prior to joining Hexion, Craig served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chemtura Corporation, a position he held from December 2008 until April 21, 2017. Craig also served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Hercules Incorporated from December 2003 until November 2008. Craig joined Hercules in 1979 and served in a number of management positions before leaving the company to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wacker Silicones Corporation in 1997. In May 2000, Craig rejoined Hercules and was named President of its BetzDearborn Division in August 2000. Prior to being named CEO of Hercules in December 2003, Craig held a variety of senior management positions with the company, including president of the FiberVisions and Pinova Divisions, vice president of Global Procurement, and Chief Operating Officer. Craig serves on the boards of Ashland Global Holdings inc., PPL Corporation, the American Chemistry Council, the Society of Chemical Industry, and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Craig holds a chemical engineering degree from Michigan State University (MSU). He also serves on the advisory board of the MSU Chemical Engineering & Materials Science Department. With regards to your organization’s profound industry experience, how do you think the chemical industry and market have evolved and what can be expected in the forthcoming years? The chemical industry has evolved from providing products which help support and sustain the world to partnering with producers and manufacturers to innovate and use chemistry to make the world better, safer and cleaner. What are the benefits gained by your clients/users from your products/solutions/services? With nearly 50 facilities, Hexion’s global presence, expert technical support and understanding of the markets we serve better position us to partner with our more than 3,100 customers in 85 countries to help them deliver superior endmarket products.

January 2020 | 37

Give us a brief overview about the featured person(s) and their contribution towards the company and its success. Craig Rogerson is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Hexion. Prior to joining Hexion, Craig served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chemtura Corporation. Craig has been instrumental in driving results at Hexion and successfully leading the corporation through a balance sheet restructuring in 2019, continuing to invest in our specialty portfolio, positioning the company for long-term success, and creating value for our shareholders. In what ways does your organization contribute towards the Corporate Social Responsibility cause? Hexion’s corporate social responsibility comes in many forms including community engagement, education and charitable giving. Our participation is local and global. For example, our “Hexion Cares” day encourages associates to volunteer at national and local community organizations. Hundreds of associates volunteer hundreds of hours around the world throughout the year. Through a variety of outreach activities, Hexion and more than 2,000 of our associates have affected more than 600,000 people, and raised and/or donated more than $700,000. Considering the necessity of adapting to the volatile technological disruptions and/or development of cutting-edge solutions, how does your company sustain its competency in the Chemicals market? Hexion continues to find ways to leverage its existing technology and find new technologies to meet expanding market needs. Our products are aligned with some of the key sector megatrends happening globally. For example, Hexion’s EPIKOTE™ and EPIKURE™ epoxy systems are used for wind energy applications, which provide superior mechanical and process properties, reducing air emissions when hours of energy are created. Based on our EPIKOTE™ and EPONOL™ resin systems for automotive applications, Hexion’s enabling technology is used in lightweight auto composite components and other technologies that allow customer to build cars with better mileage, reducing air emissions without sacrificing performance, as well as enabling technologies that support production of electric-powered vehicles.

becoming increasingly critical. In addition, spray foam created with Hexion’s aromatic polyols deliver improved mechanical, thermal and fire properties in polyurethane rigid foam (PUR) and polyisocyanurate insulation (PIR). Finally, Hexion’s NextGen Epoxy™ Waterborne system offers coating performance comparable to solvent-borne systems while providing for lower volatile organic compounds, which reduces air emissions. What obstacles and/or limitation does your organization face while growing, sustaining or retaining its clientele? Hexion has a leading market position across our key business segments, so we focus on delivering and demonstrating value to our customers while driving efficiency internally and innovating for the future. Could you list out the most growth deteriorating challenges for your organization till date? (Talent acquisition / infrastructure or anything apart from the above question’s response) In addition, finding and keeping the talent we need to be successful is a challenge for any organization. What does the future hold for your organization in terms of internal as well as holistic development? We have an experienced management team with extensive chemical industry knowledge and industry leading R&D and technical capabilities. That said, we remain continuously focused on developing the next generation of adhesive, coatings and composite solutions for our global customers. Would you like to highlight any awards, accolades or testimonials your company has achieved throughout? Hexion maintains certification under American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Responsible Care® Management System, the chemical industry’s worldclass environmental, health, safety and security initiative. In 2019, three programs and 19 facilities at Hexion were recently named Responsible Care® award winners and honored for excellence in waste minimization, energy efficiency and employee health and safety by the ACC. In addition, Hexion was just named a Leading International Coating Enterprise in China by Paints and Coatings Industry magazine.

In addition, ﬂame retardancy in building materials is

38 | January 2020

www.insightssuccess.com

Lihong Yu President & Founder

40 | January 2020

www.insightssuccess.com

At the Forefront of Green Chemistry through Innovation and Technology

ABOUT THE FOUNDER Lihong Yu is the President and Founder of PHT International. Through founder Lihong Yu’s conviction to providing top-quality products and services, PHT saw signiﬁcant growth early on and expanded our offerings to serve agricultural and pharmaceutical industries, in addition to the industrial. Founder and President of PHT International, Lihong Yu established PHT in 1993 to provide exemplary service and products to the chemical industry. Originally from Ningbo, China, Lihong holds Bachelor degrees in both English Literature and American Culture & Society from Beijing Foreign Languages University. After spending many years as a sales manager at Sinochem, she founded PHT International. As a well-respected leader in the chemical industry, Lihong’s vision sets the path for PHT.

www.insightssuccess.com

he applications of chemistry are used worldwide for several purposes. One cannot really imagine a world without chemistry and its applications such as production of medicines and many other sectors that aid human well-being. The concept of greening chemistry developed in the business world as a natural evolution to control pollution created during the manufacturing of chemicals and chemical products. Green chemistry and sustainability are the new paradigms that promise to have a deep and lasting impact on the science of chemistry. It is one of the most fundamental and powerful tools on the path to sustainability. A company which has embraced the discipline is PHT International Inc. With passion, innovation, and an unrelenting belief that the right relationships produce the best results, PHT has become a sought-after leader in chemical manufacturers in the industry. The following interview highlights the consistent endeavors of team PHT International Inc. that treads the extra mile to quench the needs of its client organizations with utmost excellence. 1. Brief us about your company, its inception story. PHT International was established over 26 years ago in Charlotte, North Carolina as a chemical trading company for textile and dye intermediates.

January 2020 | 41

TOP

HEMICAL COMPANIES TO WATCH IN 2020

PHT started as a vision to bring the beneﬁts of low-cost, high-quality chemicals to US in the early 1990’s. Lihong was working for Sinochem at the time, servicing the west coast territory and saw that the east coast of the US was relatively unexplored. She wanted to bring these cost and production beneﬁts to the east coast producers. That is why PHT was started in Charlotte.

serving customers in pharma and Crop Protection industry. Of course our own innovation in technology is very important, especially in today’s environmental responsibility.

2. Kindly provide a brief overview of your products and services.

Trade war between China and USA created uncertainty and impacts our customers decision, that directly impacted our business.

With a full-service manufacturing facility, key industry alliances, and a global network of relationships, the company provides individualized, start-to-ﬁnish chemical industry solutions for the customers, including customized chemical creation, research & development, procurement, and chemical trading.

6. What obstacles did you face while growing or sustaining?

7. Could you list out the most growth-deteriorating challenges for your organization till date? Talent acquisition and infrastructure. Talent acquisition shortage between age 20’s and 50’s in USA specially.

PHT provides custom solutions in the chemical industry with a full range of services: manufacturing, strategic sourcing, technical innovation, supply chain management, distribution, quality assurance and compliance.

8. What does the future hold for your organization in terms of internal as well as holistic development?

3. With regards to your organization’s profound industry experience, how has the chemical industry and market have evolved and what can be expected in the forthcoming years?

We will focus on investment in talent infrastructure, encouraging more and more young generation to study and love science, especially in Chemical engineer or chemist. Also investing more capacity in contract development and manufacture (CDMO ) to meet big pharma and big Crop Protection customers outsourcing need.

Although crude oil price for 2019 slightly softened compared to 2018, Many of the RM prices went up due to China blue sky policy, and many non-compliant manufacturers have shutdown. More CMO (Custom Manufacturing) opportunities will come to USA and Europe. The trend will continue in 2020 also.

9. Would you like to highlight any awards, accolades or testimonials your company has achieved throughout? PHT International, Inc. ranks 3rd in Charlotte’s Largest Minority-Owned Companies list by the Charlotte Business Journal.

4. What are the beneﬁts gained by your clients/users from your services and solutions? The clients at the company get quick response with one stop solution providers. The services provided to the clients are integrated with latest technologies, experience, ﬂexibility, and accountability. 5. Considering the necessity of adapting to the volatile technological disruptions and/or development of cutting-edge solutions, how does your company sustain its competency in the Chemicals market? We only supply what we are good at, not commodities. Most of the raw materials we provide are regulated when

42 | January 2020

www.insightssuccess.com

January 2020 | 43