Fine & Speciality Chemicals (PDF) - NEPIC

FINE & SPECIALITY CHEMICALS
about chemicals

Introduction
What are Fine & Speciality chemicals?
• Fine & Speciality chemicals are used in almost everything we see around us. They are critical
components of the material world and are responsible for many of the properties of the things
we use in our everyday lives. Although there are some overlaps between the two sectors, there
are also several important differences.
• Fine chemical producers turn basic raw materials such as basic commodity chemicals into the
more complex building blocks from which familiar products such as pharmaceuticals,
agrochemicals, flavours and fragrances, electronics, pigments and photographic film are made.
Fine chemicals are usually described in terms of what they are and are specified in terms of their
chemical composition and for this reason are sometimes referred to as specification chemicals.
Customers of this sector buy molecules.
• Speciality chemical producers also start with basic raw materials but make products that are
described by what they do and so these products are sometimes referred to as effect or
performance chemicals.
• Speciality chemicals go into almost every branch of manufacturing, where they are used both to improve manufacturing processes and
also as ingredients in finished products where they are responsible for giving the product the required properties. Customers of this
sector buy effects and the list of these effects is almost endless.
• Both sectors sell to end-use industries who use their products to manufacture both industrial goods and consumer products.
• Both sectors depend significantly upon R&D and innovation and frequently work in close collaboration with universities and other
centres of technical excellence. Fine chemical producers invest heavily in chemistry and chemical process development. Speciality
chemical producers usually focus on the chemistry of the applications of their products.

Linking the strengths of North East England’s
Fine & Speciality chemical supply chain

Fine & Speciality chemicals in North
East England
• Almost all of the world’s top Fine & Speciality chemical companies are present in the North East including Dow, DuPont, BASF
and Degussa.
• There are more than 60 other Fine & Speciality chemical companies in the region.
• The Fine & Speciality chemical sector in North East England generates over £2 billion sales and is expected to grow by £500
million over the next few years.
• North East England has a strong presence across the whole supply chain, from suppliers of the basic and commodity
chemicals, that are the raw materials from which Fine & Speciality chemicals are produced to end-use customers in the
main markets for these products. Together these make a major industry cluster which generate significant economic benefit for
the region.
• North East England also has significant clusters of related industries, such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, who are
both customers and suppliers to the Fine & Speciality chemical sectors.
• North East England is committed to growing these sectors and is investing heavily in developing the science base of the
region with the establishment of the Centre for Process Innovation and its associated Centres of Excellence in Biotechnology,
Nanotechnology, Energy and Life Sciences.
• North East England has five universities active in R&D across the whole range of this sector from fundemental chemical
research to practical applications.
Join this exciting sector in the North East and be part of the fast growing process industry with a regional turnover of £10 billion.

Example company profiles
Degussa Fine Organics is part of Degussa's Exclusive Synthesis & Catalysts Business, a global leader in the
custom and contract manufacture of intermediates and active ingredients for the pharmaceutical, agrochemical
and speciality chemicals industries. Degussa Fine Organics provides expertise at all stages of the product life
cycle, from route development and manufacture of small kilo quantities, through pilot scale to commercial
production and has built a reputation for operating to the highest quality, safety and environmental standards,
while providing a responsive and flexible service.
High Force Research offers pharmaceutical and fine chemicals clients a confidential, high quality service for
outsourced synthesis and R&D from the scale of grammes to kilos. Purpose built laboratories at Bowburn, Durham,
include segregated Class 100,000 clean room suite for operation to cGMP. With an experienced, highly qualified
team, High Force Research aims to work in close partnership with clients on "fee-for-service", collaborative
research or joint venture basis. Services include research chemicals, route selection and feasibility studies,
multistep synthesis from grammes to kilos, analytical development and method validation, cosmetic formulation
development and stability trials, process optimization and scale-up and technology transfer.
Oxford Chemicals is a recognised leader in the supply of high impact aroma chemicals for both flavours and
fragrances with over 30 years experience. Oxford Chemicals’ forte is sulphur and heterocyclic chemistry backed
up by dedicated customer service and technical support. The high impact nature of the materials require the
company to operate to the highest levels of safety, health and environmental standards through the use of the
latest methods and technology. Oxford is developing a portfolio of natural aroma chemicals in response to
customers' demands. This is being achieved through the establishment of a number of strategic R&D ollaborations
with leading academic institutions in the field. In electronic commerce, Oxford is one of the driving forces in the
use of the Elemica trading platform within the aroma chemicals sector.
Thomas Swan was founded in the UK in 1926 and is a leading independent manufacturer of performance and speciality chemicals. The company
manufactures over 100 products, from kilogramme to multi-tonne quantities and offers an experienced and flexible custom manufacturing service. With
offices in the USA and China and a global network of distributors, Thomas Swan exports to over 80 countries worldwide and is well placed to service the
UK and international markets. Thomas Swan prides itself on an innovative approach to chemical manufacturing. By working closely with a number of
leading universities, the company has developed cutting-edge technologies including the world’s first continuous-phase supercritical fluid facility and the
UK’s first commercial-scale carbon nanotube plant.
Uniqema offers a unique range of oleochemicals, surfactants and functional ingredients for use in everyday products to improve the quality of life.
Uniqema’s broad technology platforms enable the responsible manufacture of high quality products delivered with efficient and reliable service to their
customers around the globe. Uniqema is not wedded to one technology and in most of their markets, offer a variety of technologies to provide 'special
effects' that improve the performance and value of their customers‘ products to their markets. Uniqema has market-focused experience in a broad
cross-section of industry, including: Chemicals, Cleaning, Crop protection, Fabric and leather, Fibers, Food, Health care, Lubricants, Oilfield chemicals,
Paper, Personal care, Personal wash, Pigments, Polymer additives, Polymers and coatings, Rubber and more.

The Fine & Speciality chemicals cluster
in North East England – some
suppliers, producers and customers
Raw material suppliers
Air Products
BASF
DuPont
Dow Haltermann
Huntsman
Lucite International
Sabic
Shell
Terra Industries
BOC
Measurement science
ICI Measurement Science Group
Durham University
Newcastle University
University of Sunderland
University of Teesside
Northumbria University
ChemiSPEC
Edwards’ Analytical
Companies doing major R&D in the region
International Paints
Shasun
DuPont Teijin Films
Dow Haltermann
Lucite International
Uniqema/Croda
Procter & Gamble
Fine chemical producers
Avecia Biologics
Degussa Fine Organics
Dow Haltermann
LyraChem
Seal Sands Chemicals
Durham Organics
Johnson Matthey
Speciality chemical producers
Baker Petrolite
High Force Research
Lucite International
Oxford Chemicals
Frutarom
Esschem Europe
Thomas Swan
Johnson Matthey
Customers of F&S Chemicals
Procter & Gamble
Merck Sharp & Dohme
GlaxoSmithKline
International Paints
sanofi-aventis
Universities
Durham University
Newcastle University
University of Sunderland
University of Teesside
Northumbria University

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