The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) announced the approval of five new companies for membership, bringing the total number of new members this year to 13. The companies, who range from specialty chemical manufacturers to security providers to insurance brokers, were approved by SOCMA’s Board of Governors at their June 15 meeting in Washington, DC.

“The addition of these five new companies speaks to the quality of SOCMA’s membership and we are pleased to welcome them on board,” said Board of Governors chairman Dr. Larry Brotherton. “Companies continue to join SOCMA for business enhancement opportunities, as well as compliance and regulatory assistance. We are committed to continually improving our benefits to add greater value to our membership.”

Brotherton added that new members like Texas Molecular are already taking advantage of their SOCMA membership by engaging members of Congress on issues facing the industry. Last week, the Texas-based company joined some 30 other chemical industry executives for SOCMA’s Washington Fly-In, an annual event designed to encourage members to participate in the policy making process.

With the addition of NCM Hersbit Chemical of Shanghai, China, SOCMA’s total international membership jumps to 60. NCM’s vice president Frank Hu said his company joined SOCMA because it “is a well-known group in the world stage for the specialty chemical industry.”

SOCMA’s new members include:

* Arichem, LLC, Ariton, AL – Arichem is a global provider of high quality specialty chemicals. The company produces a number of distinct products including sulfonic acids and a variety of monomers and sulfones. Arichem is industry’s leading producer of flame retardants for polycarbonate manufacture as well as other polymer systems.

* Huffmaster, Troy, MI – Huffmaster is a full-service security provider specializing in strike management solutions, premium security services, disaster planning, response and recovery, and cost-efficient staffing solutions. The company has been in business for 45 years, providing security at chemical facilities throughout North America; from small local manufacturers to Fortune 500 companies.

* Marsh USA, Philadelphia – Marsh is a world leader in delivering risk and insurance services and solutions to its clients. The company’s 23,000 employees provide risk management, risk consulting, insurance broking, alternative risk financing, and insurance program management services to a wide range of businesses, government entities and professional service organizations around the world in more than 100 countries.

* NCM Hersbit Chemical, Shanghai, China – NCM Hersbit Chemical is the leading distributor and marketer of fine chemicals, coatings and ink ingredients, plastics and fiber reinforcement and construction materials in China. NCM represents and distributes more than 20 categories of chemical products.

* Texas Molecular, Deer Park, TX – Texas Molecular provides various industries with an economical and environmentally friendly way to manage their wastewaters.
The company’s Hazardous Class I Commercial Deepwells provides an environmentally sound and permanent wastewater disposal alternative to more costly methods such as incineration.

Click here for a full list of all SOCMA members. For more information on SOCMA, visit www.socma.com.