Chemicals & Materials Now!
From basic to specialty, and everything in between
Oil, costs, lack of growth and M&A all reflected in top 100 performance
Posted on October 7th, 2016 by Matt Weber
Chemicals Industry News and Analysis
The ICIS Top 100 Chemicals Distributors ranking reflects a market still under pressure from the global oil price collapse. Petrochemicals prices dropped in 2015 and 2016, down 28% and 7% from previous year averages, respectively. Continue reading “Oil, costs, lack of growth and M&A all reflected in top 100 performance” »
The New Old Generation
Posted on October 6th, 2016 by Paul Hodges
Chemical R&D
Today’s aging populations are creating a paradigm shift for the green movement. The reason is that increasing life expectancy has created an entirely new generation of people – the New Old 55+ cohort. Continue reading “The New Old Generation” »
Making it Real – Again
Posted on October 5th, 2016 by Ken Klapproth
New Materials & Applications
Image by Ann Mills via Ann Mills Photography
Another October, another National Manufacturing Day. Here’s a short list of things you can do this Friday, October 7th. Continue reading “Making it Real – Again” »
Paternity Leave and Women
Posted on October 4th, 2016 by Dr. Hannah Murnen
Chemical R&D
Paid leave for child care, be it maternity leave, paternity leave or the more general family leave, is becoming an increasingly important issue in America. Maternity leave is certainly important, I argue necessary, as a means to aid mothers and families to provide what is best for their careers and their family’s growth. Continue reading “Paternity Leave and Women” »
Low productivity growth continues to confound us
Posted on October 3rd, 2016 by Al Greenwood
Chemicals Industry News and Analysis
US productivity growth continues to remain below average, a trend that is reshaping the chemical industry. Continue reading “Low productivity growth continues to confound us” »
Political Shifts Threaten Free Trade Development
Posted on September 30th, 2016 by Matt Weber
Chemical R&D
The global economy has been impacted significantly in recent months by political mood shifts in major economies. Brexit, the upcoming US election and the dampening public sentiment in EU member countries all paint an uncertain future for free-trade relationships. Continue reading “Political Shifts Threaten Free Trade Development” »
About this Blog
This blog is a forum for a critical exchange of ideas on issues, trends and opportunities related to innovation and R&D in chemicals and new materials and applications, offering helpful perspectives in environmental health and safety, risk management, new product development and operational efficiency. This blog serves the chemicals and materials community specifically, heads of R&D, heads of Manufacturing and Engineering, and chemists and engineers involved in chemical and materials R&D from ideation to manufacturing and production at scale.
Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Elsevier, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company, Reed Elsevier.
