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The Business

Stepan is a major global manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in a broad range of industries.

Although Stepan is classified with other specialty chemical companies, it is unique in the industry and does not have a competitor or competitors to precisely match its businesses because its products have a specific focus.

Product Lines

Surfactants

Stepan produces surfactants, which are the key ingredient in consumer and industrial cleaning compounds. Manufacturers of detergents, fabric softeners, hard surface cleaners, shampoos, lotions, toothpastes and cosmetics depend on surfactants to achieve the cleaning, foaming and emulsifying qualities required of their products.

The company also produces germicidal quaternary compounds. These cleaning products are used in consumer and industrial products that kill germs, mold and mildew. Hospitals and restaurants depend on these products for the safety and hygiene of their premises.

Industrial uses for surfactants are in foamers in gypsum wallboard, emulsifying and moisture repellence of paints and coatings, and emulsifiers to facilitate the spreading and application of agricultural products.

Polymers

The polymer product group includes phthalic anhydride, polyurethane polyols and polyurethane systems. Phthalic anhydride is used in plasticizers, polyester and alkyd resins for applications in construction materials, automotive and marine applications as well as other consumer products. Polyurethane polyols are used in the manufacture of laminate board for the construction industry in addition to coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers formulations. Polyurethane systems provide reinforcement and thermal insulation and are sold to the construction, industrial, aerospace and appliance markets.

Specialty Products

Specialty Products manufactured by Stepan are in consumer applications such as natural flavors for the beverage industry. Other applications are the esters, fats and oils used as emulsifiers, solubilizers and alternate fats for the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Facilities

Stepan utilizes a network of modern production facilities in North and South America, Europe, China and the Philippines with 2,015 employees.

Plant Locations:
Anaheim, California
Bauan, Batangas, Philippines
Brzeg Dolny, Poland
Columbus, Georgia
Ecatepec, Mexico
Fieldsboro, New Jersey
Jurong Island, Singapore
Manizales, Colombia
Matamoros, Mexico
Maywood, New Jersey
Millsdale (Joliet), Illinois
Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
Salto, Brazil
Stalybridge, United Kingdom
Vespasiano, Brazil
Voreppe (Grenoble), France
Wesseling (Cologne), Germany
Winder, Georgia

Growth Strategy

The company has been in business for 82 years and intends to grow through a four-part strategy:

• Research and development by developing a continuous stream of higher, value-added product applications, improving existing processes and developing new processes for known products.
• Acquisitions in surfactants, polyols, and urethane systems.
• Globalization by establishing manufacturing locations, sales offices and product development laboratories to supply its customers in their global expansion.
• Strategic alliances by leveraging its core technologies in world markets with joint ventures where it adds know-how, technology, capital and customers to complement resources of local partners with raw material supplies, plant sites, regional know-how and connections.