Dow, DuPont said to lead US chemicals nanotech activity

08 July 2004 23:23  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (CNI)--Dow Chemical and DuPont lead US chemical majors in pursuing nanotechnology and offer “good leadership potential” as nanotech opportunities expand in the chemicals industry, a leading consulting group said Thursday. 

Consulting Resources Corp (CRC) said today it has completed the third semi-annual update of its “Chemical Industry Nanotech Scorecard” and finds both Dow and DuPont in leadership positions with “strong nanotech activity.”

 

CRC president Roger Shamel said his firm reviews company data on research and development (R&D) focus and commercialization among the top 20 US chemicals firms, measured by dollar sales.

 

In CRC’s rating, General Electric and Honeywell rank in the second tier of nanotech-focused chemicals firms.  CRC describes both firms as having “respectable nanotech activity” and a “chance” of establishing a leadership position in chemicals nanotech.

 

Air Products, Cabot, Engelhard and ExxonMobil Chemicals all rank in CRC’s middle ground for nanotech activity.  These firms are said by CRC to have “adequate nanotech activity.”  And while they are not likely to be left behind in the nanotech race, neither are they likely to be leaders, according to CRC.

 

Dow Corning, Hercules, Eastman Chemical, Praxair, FMC and PPG have “relatively little nanotech activity,” Shamel said in a statement.

 

And Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Rohm & Haas, Crompton, Lubrizol, Huntsman and Solutia have shown “little or no obvious interest in nanotech opportunities,” according to Shamel.

 

Lexington, Massachusetts-based CRC re-evaluates the level of nanotech activity at the 20 top US chemicals firms every six months.  Shamel said the six-month update frequency is necessary because the nanotech industry is fast-developing and companies can shift their strategies fairly quickly.

 

He said that in this latest CRC nanotech scorecard, one company, DuPont, moved up in rank from the year-end 2003 ranking while seven firms dropped down one rung and 12 firms remained at the same rank.

 

“The nanotech revolution is inevitable,” Shamel said, “and the chemicals industry is fortunate to be one of the first industries to be impacted.”

By: Joe Kamalick
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