Full Description

The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), incorporated in 1947, is a diversified chemical company. The Company is engaged in the manufacture and sale of chemicals, plastic materials, agricultural and other specialized products and services. It delivers a range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, helping them to provide fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. The Company has 150 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and produces approximately 3,300 products. Dow operates in six segments: Performance Plastics, Performance Chemicals, Agricultural Sciences, Basic Plastics, Basic Chemicals, and Hydrocarbons and Energy. The Company is also engaged in the property and casualty insurance and reinsurance business primarily through its Liana Limited subsidiaries. In January 2009, the Company announced that its thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) business was acquired by Lubrizol Corporation. In April 2009, the Company completed the acquisition of Rohm and Haas Company. In August 2009, Arkema S.A. announced that it has acquired a monomere acrylic production site in Clear Lake (Texas) and latex acrylic activities (UCAR Emulsion Systems) from the Company. In September 2009, the Company completed the sale of its interests in Total Raffinaderij Nederland N.V. to Total S.A. In September 2009, Union Carbide Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow, announced that it has completed the divestiture of its ownership in the OPTIMAL Group of Companies to Petroliam Nasional Berhad. In November 2009, Dow Corning, equally owned by the Company and Corning, Incorporated, announced that it acquired 100% interest in Globe Metais Industria e Comercio S.A., a silicon metal manufacturer in Para, Brazil, and a 49% interest in Globe Metallurgical Inc.’s silicon manufacturing operation in Alloy, West Virginia (United States), WVA Manufacturing LLC.

In October 2009, the Company completed the divestiture of its interest in Morton International, Inc. to K+S Aktiengesellschaft. In April 2008, The Dow Chemical Company announced that it has opened a silicone rubber plant in Zhangjiagang, in Jiangsu Province, China. The 6,000-square meter site manufactures high consistency rubber and liquid silicone rubber for a range of industrial and consumer applications. In July 2008, JPS Industries Inc. announced that it had completed the sale of its Stevens Roofing and Geomembrane business unit and related assets to Dow Building Solutions (DBS), a market-facing unit of The Dow Chemical Company.

Performance Plastics

Dow Automotive provides plastics, adhesives, glass bonding systems, emissions control technology, films, fluids, structural enhancement and acoustical management solutions to original equipment manufacturers, tier, aftermarket and commercial transportation customers. Dow Automotive also provides materials science expertise and technical capabilities to its customers worldwide. Its products include BETAFOAM NVH and structural foams; BETAMATE structural adhesives; BETASEAL glass bonding systems; DOW polyethylene resins; IMPAXX energy management foam; INSPIRE performance polymers; INTEGRAL adhesive films; ISONATE pure and modified methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) products; MAGNUM ABS resins; PELLETHANE thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers; Premium brake fluids and lubricants; PULSE engineering resins; SPECFLEX semi-flexible polyurethane foam systems, and VORACTIV polyether and copolymer polyols.

Dow Building Solutions manufactures and markets a line of insulation, weather barrier, and oriented composite building solutions and adhesives. Its products include FROTH-PAK polyurethane spray foam; GREAT STUFF polyurethane foam sealant; INSTA-STIK roof insulation adhesive; SARAN vapor retarder film and tape; STYROFOAM brand insulation products (including XPS and polyisocyanurate rigid foam sheathing products); THERMAX brand insulation; TILE BOND roof tile adhesive, and WEATHERMATE weather barrier solutions (housewraps, sill pans, flashings and tapes).

Dow Epoxy is a producer of epoxy resins, intermediates and specialty resins for a range of industries and applications, such as coatings, electrical laminates, civil engineering, adhesives and composites. It products include AIRSTONE epoxy systems; D.E.H. epoxy curing agents or hardeners; D.E.N. epoxy novolac resins; D.E.R. epoxy resins (liquids, solids and solutions); Epoxy resin waterborne emulsions and dispersions; Epoxy intermediates (acetone, allyl chloride, bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin, and phenol); FORTEGRA epoxy tougheners; Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), and UCAR solution vinyl resins.

The Polyurethanes and Polyurethane Systems business is a producer of polyurethane raw materials and polyurethane systems. Dow’s polyurethane products and formulated polyurethane systems are used for a range of applications, including construction, automotive, appliance, furniture, bedding, shoe soles, decorative molding, athletic equipment and more. Its products include ECHELON polyurethane prepolymer; ENFORCER and ENHANCER for polyurethane carpet and turf backing; HYPOL prepolymers; ISONATE MDI; MONOTHANE single component polyurethane elastomers; PAPI polymeric MDI; Propylene glycol; Propylene oxide; RENUVA Renewable Resource Technology; SPECFLEX copolymer polyols; TRAFFIDECK and VERDISEAL waterproofing systems; VORACOR and VORALAST polyurethane systems and VORALAST R renewable content system; VORALUX and VORAMER MR series; VORANATE isocyanate; VORANOL VORACTIV polyether and copolymer polyols; VORASTAR polyurethane systems, and XITRACK polyurethane rail ballast stabilization systems.

Specialty Plastics and Elastomers includes a range of engineering plastics and compounds, performance elastomers and plastomers, monomers, specialty copolymers, synthetic rubber, polyvinylidene chloride resins and films (PVDC), and specialty film substrates. The business serves industries, such as automotive, civil construction, wire and cable, building and construction, consumer electronics and appliances, food and specialty packaging, textiles, and footwear. Its products include AFFINITY polyolefin plastomers (POPs); AMPLIFY functional polymers; CALIBRE polycarbonate resins; DOW XLA elastic fiber; EMERGE advanced resins; ENGAGE polyolefin elastomers; FLEXOMER very low density polyethylene (VLDPE) resins; INTEGRAL adhesive films; ISOPLAST engineering thermoplastic polyurethane resins; MAGNUM ABS resins; NORDEL hydrocarbon rubber; PELLETHANE thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers; PRIMACOR copolymers; PROCITE window envelope films; PULSE engineering resins; REDI-LINK polyethylene-based wire and cable insulation compounds; SARAN PVDC resin and SARAN PVDC film; SARANEX barrier films; SI-LINK polyethylene-based low voltage insulation compounds; TRENCHCOAT protective films; TYRIL SAN resins; TYRIN chlorinated polyethylene; UNIGARD HP high-performance flame-retardant compounds; UNIGARD RE reduced emissions flame-retardant compounds; UNIPURGE purging compound, and VERSIFY plastomers and elastomers.

The Technology Licensing and Catalyst business includes licensing and supply of related catalysts, process control software and services for the UNIPOL polypropylene process, the METEOR process for ethylene oxide (EO) and ethylene glycol (EG), the LP OXO process for oxo alcohols, the Mass ABS process technology, and Dow's technology for production of purified terephthalic acid (PTA). Licensing of the UNIPOL polyethylene process and sale of related catalysts, including metallocene catalysts, are handled through Univation Technologies, LLC, a 50:50 joint venture of Union Carbide. Its products include LP OXO SELECTOR technology and NORMAX catalysts; METEOR EO/EG process technology and catalysts; PTA process technology; UNIPOL PP process technology, and SHAC and SHAC ADT catalyst systems.

Performance Chemicals

Designed Polymers is a business portfolio of products and systems. Within Designed Polymers, Dow Water Solutions offers technology-based solutions for desalination, water purification, trace contaminant removal and water recycling. Also in Designed Polymers, businesses, such as Dow Wolff Cellulosics, Dow Biocides and ANGUS Chemical Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow), develop and market a range of products that enable key physical and sensory properties of end-use products in applications, such as food, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, paints and coatings, personal care, and building and construction. Its products and services include acrolein derivatives; basic nitroparaffins and nitroparaffin-based specialty chemicals; CANGUARD BIT preservatives; CELLOSIZE hydroxyethyl cellulose; Chiral compounds and biocatalysts; CLEAR+STABLE carboxymethyl cellulose; CYCLOTENE advanced electronics resins; DOW electrodeionization; DOW latex powders; DOW ultrafiltration; DOWEX ion exchange resins; DOWICIDE antimicrobial bactericides and fungicides; FILMTEC elements; FORTEFIBER soluble dietary fiber; Hydrocarbon resins; Industrial biocides; METHOCEL cellulose ethers; POLYOX water-soluble resins; quaternaries; reverse osmosis, electrodeionization and ultrafiltration modules; SATINFX delivery system; SATISFIT Weight Care Technology; SILK semiconductor dielectric resins; SOLTERRA boost; UCARE polymers; WALOCEL cellulose polymers, and WALSRODER nitrocellulose.

The Dow Latex business provides a line of styrene-butadiene products supporting customers in paper and paperboard applications, as well as carpet and artificial turf backings. UCAR Emulsion Systems manufactures and sells latexes for use in architectural and industrial coatings, adhesives, construction products and traffic paint. Its products include EVOCAR vinyl acetate ethylene; FOUNDATIONS latex; NEOCAR branched vinyl ester latexes; Styrene-acrylic latex; Styrene-butadiene latex; UCAR all-acrylic, styrene-acrylic and vinyl-acrylic latexes; UCAR POLYPHOBE rheology modifiers, and UCARHIDE opacifier.

The Specialty Chemicals business provides products and services used in a range of applications, such as agricultural and pharmaceutical products and processing, building and construction, chemical processing and intermediates, electronics, food processing and ingredients, gas treating solvents, fuels and lubricants, oil and gas, household and institutional cleaners, coatings and paints, pulp and paper manufacturing, metal degreasing and dry cleaning, and transportation. Its products include acrylic acid/acrylic esters; AMBITROL and NORKOOL industrial coolants; Butyl CARBITOL and Butyl CELLOSOLVE solvents; CARBOWAX and CARBOWAX SENTRY polyethylene glycols and methoxypolyethylene glycols; DOW polypropylene glycols; DOWANOL glycol ethers; DOWCAL, DOWFROST and DOWTHERM heat transfer fluids; DOWFAX, TERGITOL and TRITON surfactants; Dow Haltermann Custom Processing and Haltermann Products; Ethanolamines; Ethyleneamines; SAFE-TAINER closed-loop delivery system; SYNALOX lubricants; UCAR deicing fluids; UCARSOL formulated solvents, and UCON fluids and VERSENE chelating agents.

Agricultural Sciences

Dow AgroSciences provides pest management, agricultural and crop biotechnology products and solutions. The business develops, manufactures and markets products for crop production; weed, insect and plant disease management; and industrial and commercial pest management. Dow AgroSciences is building a biotechnology business in agricultural seeds, traits, and healthy oils. Its products AGROMEN seeds; BRODBECK seed; CLINCHER herbicide; DAIRYLAND seed; DELEGATE insecticide; DITHANE fungicide; EXZACT precision traits; FORTRESS fungicide; GARLON herbicide; GLYPHOMAX herbicide; GRANITE herbicide; HERCULEX I, HERCULEX RW and HERCULEX XTRA insect protection; KEYSTONE herbicides; LAREDO fungicide; LONTREL herbicide; LORSBAN insecticides; MILESTONE herbicide; MUSTANG herbicide; MYCOGEN seeds; NEXERA canola and sunflower seeds; PHYTOGEN brand cottonseeds; PROFUME gas fumigant; RENZE seed; SENTRICON termite colony elimination system; SIMPLICITY herbicide; STARANE herbicide; TELONE soil fumigant; TORDON herbicide; TRACER NATURALYTE insect control; TRIUMPH seed; VIKANE structural fumigant, and WIDESTRIKE insect protection.

Basic Plastics

The Polyethylene business supplies polyethylene-based solutions through sustainable product differentiation. Through the use of multiple catalyst and process technologies, the business offers customers a range of polyethylene resins. Its products include ASPUN fiber grade resins; ATTANE ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE) resins; CONTINUUM bimodal polyethylene resins; DOW high density polyethylene (HDPE) resins; DOW low density polyethylene (LDPE) resins; DOWLEX polyethylene resins; ELITE enhanced polyethylene (EPE) resins; TUFLIN linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) resins, and UNIVAL HDPE resins.

The Polypropylene business, a global polypropylene supplier,, provides a range of products and solutions. Its products include DOW homopolymer polypropylene resins; DOW impact copolymer polypropylene resins; DOW random copolymer polypropylene resins, and INSPIRE performance polymers.

The Polystyrene business is engaged in the production of polystyrene resins. Its products include STYRON A-TECH and C-TECH advanced technology polystyrene resins and a full line of STYRON general purpose polystyrene resins, and STYRON high-impact polystyrene resins.

Basic Chemicals

The Core Chemicals business produces basic chemical products, which are sold to many industries worldwide, and also serve as key raw materials in the production of a variety of Dow's performance and plastics products. Its products include acids; alcohols; aldehydes; caustic soda; chlorine; chloroform; COMBOTHERM blended deicer; DOWFLAKE calcium chloride; DOWPER dry cleaning solvent; esters; ethylene dichloride (EDC); LIQUIDOW liquid calcium chloride; MAXICHECK procedure for testing the strength of reagents; MAXISTAB stabilizers for chlorinated solvents; methyl chloride; methylene chloride; monochloroacetic acid (MCAA); oxo products; PELADOW calcium chloride pellets; perchloroethylene; trichloroethylene; vinyl acetate monomer (VAM); vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), and vinylidene chloride (VDC).

The Ethylene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol business supplies ethylene glycol to MEGlobal, which is a 50:50 joint venture, and manufactures and markets merchant monoethylene glycol and diethylene glycol. Dow also supplies ethylene oxide to internal derivatives businesses. Ethylene glycol is used in polyester fiber, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for food and beverage container applications, polyester film and antifreeze. Its products include ethylene glycol (EG) and ethylene oxide (EO). The Basic Chemicals segment also includes the results of MEGlobal and a portion of the results of EQUATE Petrochemical Company K.S.C. and the OPTIMAL Group of Companies, all joint ventures of the Company.

Hydrocarbons and Energy

The Hydrocarbons and Energy business encompasses the procurement of fuels, natural gas liquids and crude oil-based raw materials, as well as the supply of monomers, power and steam principally for use in Dow's global operations. Dow also produces olefins and aromatics. Its products include benzene, butadiene, butylene, cumene, ethylene, propylene, styrene, and power, steam and other utilities. The Hydrocarbons and Energy segment also includes the results of Compania Mega S.A. and a portion of the results of the SCG-Dow Group, both joint ventures of the Company.