The CHEMICAL INDUSTRY FACTS BOOK Manufacturing Chemists FIRST EDITION Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc. Woodward Building 15th and H Streets, N.W., Washington 5, D. C. 1531 FOREWORD Both as witness and participant, every American has been sharing over the past 25 years in an extraordinary economic adventure. For the first time in history, the fruits of an unprecedented living standard have been extended to practically an entire population. Neither black magic nor the generous bounty of nature has been responsible for this achievement. It has come only because we have created in this country a new and spectacular technology which multiplies each man's effort many times over. Technology, which is simply the tools and techniques that extend productive capacity, is the true engineer of our national development. Nowhere has the leverage of modern technology been brought to bear more effectively than in the chemical industry. The history of the chemical industry has been one of continuous and persistent innovation. Its research laboratories create new materials and new processes that in time are reflected in the purchasing power of every family and in the financial bloodstream of every community. What we call our standard of living is actually nothing more than the accumulation of these gains, joining with a steady flow of similar contributions by all industries. Technology has been the great revolutionary of our times. In a few generations it has exercised more profound influence on social custom and social reform than legislation or codes of law could effect in centuries. The direct results of technology have been the vast outpourings of our factories and the abundance of our harvests, from which have stemmed the ease, comfort and convenience of life in the United States. The indirect effects are our standards of education and health; the dignity of leisure and personal development; the social responsibilities we assume in our care of the young, the aged and the infirm. It is hoped that this Facts Book will help create a wider understanding of how these benefits have been spread through chemical progress. W. H. Ward, Chairman Manufacturing Chemists' Association PREFACE SIGNIFICANT FACTS ABOUT THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY 1. The chemical industry is one of the basic industries. Millions of tons of chemicals are used annually by every other major industry. They range from basic raw materials for other commodities to specialized chemicals which perform a small but vital function in manufacturing processes. Hardly a manufactured article can be made today without the use of chemicals. In addition, the chemical industry is supplying an increasing number of consumer products. Chemicals and allied products rank among the first six industries in value of product. See Chapters 1 and 3. 2. The chemical industry has one of the highest growth rates. A constant stream of new and better products for industrial and consumer needs has promoted vigorous growth of the chemical industry. Since 1925, the chemical industry has grown at an average rate of about 10% a year, compared to 3% for all industry. Future growth, at a more rapid rate than the rest of industry, is predicted by authoritative studies. See Chapters 3, 4 and 5. 3. The chemical industry is a dynamic factor in creating new industries and new jobs. Through its many new products such as synthetic fibers, medicinals, plastics and agricultural chemicals, the chemical industry has created thousands of new businesses. It has given employment to added hundreds of thousands in new jobs both within and without the industry. See Chapter 3. 4. The chemical industry is a progressive employer, offering rewarding careers to trained personnel. In January 1953, the chemical industry employed 769,000 persons whose compensation and employee benefits were among the best in the country. There are many opportunities for technically-trained persons, because the ratio of professional workers to production workers is six times as high for the chemical industry as for all manufacturing. See Chapters 7 and 9. 5. Chemical research benefits the nation in many ways. For many years the chemical industry has been among the leaders in research expenditures to improve existing products, to develop new products and processes and to advance basic knowledge. Resulting chemical products and processes conserve raw materials, replace scarce commodities with synthetics based on plentiful raw materials, promote national self-sufficiency, and hold prices down. See Chapters 3 and 9. 6. The chemical industry has been among the leaders in abating air and water pollution. New chemical plants are carefully engineered to avoid, or minimize to the greatest practicable extent, escape of wastes, stack gases, and objectionable odors. Great strides have been made in controlling pollution from older plants. To this end the industry is currently spending more than $10 million a year in research and the installation and operation of special devices. See Chapter 8. 7. The chemical industry has an excellent safety record. It is not generally known that chemical plants are among the safest places to work. National Safety Council figures show the chemical industry ranks ninth in safety among 40 industries. Its safety record is almost twice as good as that of industry as a whole. See Chapter 8. 8. The chemical industry is highly competitive. Competition is intense in research, processes, raw materials, products and distribution. Companies with largest sales have a smaller proportion of total industry sales than large companies in other industries. No one company has the resources to enter into all product lines, and the largest company makes only a fraction of the total volume of chemicals and chemical products regularly made. See Chapter 5. 9. The chemical industry is characterized by heavy capital investment in plant equipment. Capital investment per wage earner in the chemical industry is among the highest in manufacturing industries, and is increasing. The reason for this is the complexity of modern chemical operations required for large-scale, low-unit-cost production. See Chapters 5 and 10. 10. The chemical industry is a major contributor to better health and higher living standards. Chemical products, synthetic medicinals, textiles, rubbers, agricultural chemicals, and plastics serve basic human needs directly and indirectly in everyday life. Chemical aids to health. and welfare, food production and processing, construction materials, transportation and communication are bringing the benefits of modern technology to all people. See Chapters 11 to 15. |