This page includes links to companies producing chemicals and chemistry-based products in the North West region and also directories of chemical companies. It does not aim to be a full directory.
The following organisations maintain lists of chemical and chemistry based companies, by region or by specific location:

Chemicals Northwest.
The organisation funded by the North West Development Agency supporting the chemical industry across the North West. Includes a list of companies involved in the chemical industry. www.chemicalsnorthwest.org.uk

The Heath Business and Technical Park.
Technical park in Runcorn, home to a range of chemical companies, with a directory of businesses, categorised by sector. www.theheath.com/directory
North West chemical and chemistry-based product companies
Sectors where chemists are likely to be employed include the chemicals industry, but also pharmaceuticals, food and drink, paints, polymers, metals, coatings and inks. These are some of the chemical and chemistry-based product companies, both large and small, who employ technical staff in the North West of England.
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AGC Chemicals.
Subsidiary of Asahi Glass Company of Japan, manufacturing fluorochemicals and fluoropolymers from a UK base in Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire. www.agcce.eu.com/

Akcros Chemicals.
With a global headquarters based in Eccles, Manchester, Akcros Chemicals researches and manufactures additives for the processing and manufacture of PVC. www.akcros.com

AstraZeneca.
Major pharmaceutical company with research, development, business and manufacturing operations in Macclesfield and Alderley Park. www.astrazeneca.co.uk

Bachem (UK) Limited.
Swiss company with a small base in St. Helens, focusing on peptide production and custom synthesis. www.bachem.com

BASF plc.
BASF companies' main areas of activity are Chemicals, Performance Products,
Plastics and Fibres, and Agricultural Products and Nutrition. Their main site in the
North West is in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire www.basf.co.uk
BASF Construction Chemicals is based in Swinton, including R&D and manufacturing facilities. www.basf-cc.co.uk

Bristol Myers Squibb.
Major multinational which develops medicines, beauty care and medical devices.
Their Pharmaceutical Research Institute in Moreton (Wirral) includes chemistry, manufacturing and control activities. www.b-ms.co.uk

British Textile Technology Group (BTTG).
BTTG carries out consultancy, testing and certification of a range of materials from a

range of locations in Manchester and Cheshire. www.bttg.co.uk

British Vita.
Major manufacturer of foams, plastics and non-woven fabrics, operating under a range of names such as Kay-Metzeler, Caligen, Chemical Innovations, Vitafoam etc.
British Vita operates from a wide range of locations in the North West, including
Manchester, Preston, Accrington, Warrington and Macclesfield. www.thevitagroup.com

Brunner Mond Group plc.
Major international manufacturer of sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium chloride and associated alkaline chemicals, based in Northwich, Cheshire. www.brunnermond.com

Cargill.
The Cargill group of food companies includes Cerestar which develops and manufactures wheat based products such as starches and sweeteners to industry from their base in Trafford Park, and Cargill Flavour Systems (formerly the Duckworth
Group) at both Manchester and Runcorn. www.cargill.com

Chemtura.
Multinational chemicals company with manufacturing plant covering crop protection, flame retardants and petroleum and performance products at Trafford Park,
Manchester. www.chemtura.com

Convatec
Medical devices company which has a manufacturing facility in Deeside, Chester which manufactures and packages ostomy and medical devices, and would healing products. www.convatec.co.uk

Croda.
Croda manufactures oleochemicals and their derivatives for a range of consumer and industrial products at a manufacturing plant at Bromborough, Wirral (formerly
Uniqema). www.crodaoleochemicals.com

Drew Scientific Group.
Manufacture diagnostic testing kits principally for diabetes and haematology uses at their plant in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria. www.drew-scientific.com

Eastman Chemical.
A multinational chemical company with a European Technical Centre in Kirby,
Merseyside, and a manufacturing plant in Workington, Cumbria. www.eastman.com

FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants.
Develop high performance coloured chemical toners for laser printing and photocopier markets. Their Central Research Centre is based in Blackley,
Manchester www.fujifilmimagingcolorants.com

GE Water Technologies.
Develop and supplies a range of speciality chemicals for water and waste treatment.
Have a technical services base in Widnes www.gewater.com

Glaxo Smith Kline.
The GSK Centre of Excellence for Bioprocessing is a manufacturing plant for this major multinational pharmaceutical company, based in Ulverston, Cumbria. www.gsk.com

GrowHow UK Ltd.
The UK's premier fertiliser manufacturer and a major supplier to the Process
Chemicals industry. Head office and manufactuing plant in Ince. www.growhow.co.uk


Hosokawa .
Powder and particle processing including design engineering and contract manufacture at Runcorn, Cheshire. www.hosokawa.co.uk

Incorez .
Specialist manufacturer of high performance resins and polymers, based in Preston,
Lancashire. www.incorez.com

INEOS.
Multinational manufacturer of PVC, specialty and intermediate chemicals. Several manufacturing and technical centres in the region, mainly in the Runcorn area. www.ineos.com

Innospec.
Multinational supplier of specialty chemicals. Includes major plants and laboratories at Ellesmere Port (Performance Chemicals, Fuel Specialties and European Corporate
Head Office) and Widnes (Active Chemicals - fragrance products for the detergent and personal care markets). www.innospecinc.com

Johnson Matthey Catalysts.
Manufacturing site for process and environmental catalysis and fuel cell technologies, based in Clitheroe, Lancashire. www.jmcatalysts.com/pct/

Lucite International.
Developer and manufacturer of acrylics (successor to ICI and Du Pont acrylics businesses). UK manufacturing site at Darwen, Lancashire. www.luciteinternational.com

LyondellBasell.
One of the world's largest polymers, chemicals and fuels companies. Their plant in
Carrington, Manchester consists of production and specialist central service departments, including the production of polypropylene and polyethylene resins. www.lyondellbasell.com/carrington

McBride.
Develops and manufactures laundry and household cleaning products, particularly for the "own brand" market. McBride has laboratories and plants in Middleton
(Manchester), Burnley (Lancashire), St Helens (Merseyside) and Barrow-in-Furness
(Cumbria). www.mcbride.co.uk

MEL Chemicals.
Specialists in zirconium chemicals, with R&D laboratories and manufacturing in
Manchester. www.zrchem.com

National Starch Food Innovation.
Part of the Akzo Nobel group since 2008, manufacture speciality food starches in
Heald Green, South Manchester. www.foodinnovation.com

Pentagon.
Speciality and fine chemicals company with manufacturing sites in Workington,
Cumbria, and Widnes, where they also have development laboratories and a pilot plant. www.pentagonchemicals.co.uk

Polartech
R&D and manufacturing of metalworking fluids and additives, headquartered in
Trafford Park, Manchester. www.polartech.co.uk

PZ Cussons.
International manufacturer and developer of personal care brands such as Imperial
Leather and Original Source, and other detergent products. Headquartered in
Stockport (relocating to Manchester Business Park in 2010) and manufacturing plant

in Salford, with significant manufacturing presence in Nigeria. www.pzcussons.com

Rockwood Additives Ltd.
Manufacturer of silicates and chemically treated clays. Manufacturing plant based at
Widnes, Cheshire. www.rockwoodadditives.com

SAFC
Part of Sigma Aldrich, SAFC Hitech manufactures chemicals for the semiconductor industry at Bromborough (Merseyside) and SAFC Pharma carries out custom synthesis for the pharmaceutical industry in Manchester www.sigmaaldrich.com

Sanofi-Aventis.
Major multinational pharmaceutical company with a plant manufacturing respiratory medicines and a respiratory medicines research unit in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. www.sanofi-aventis.co.uk

Speciality Coatings Group.
Specialists in plastic coatings for the wallcovering industry. Manufacturing and research and development group in Darwen, Lancashire. www.sclgroup.com

Shell.
Shell's presence in the North West includes research and development laboratories at Shell Global Solutions and the Stanlow Refinery where it makes fuels and range of petrochemicals for industry, near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. www.shell.co.uk

Solvay Interox and Speciality Chemicals.
Speciality organic and inorganic chemical manufacturer with sites in Northwich,
Cheshire and Warrington www.solvay.com

Tessella.
Scientific information technology based company serving a range of markets, including life sciences, energy and petrochemicals. Includes offices in Warrington. www.tessella.com/

Thermphos.
Multinational chemical manufacturer, producing specialty phosphates in Widnes,
Cheshire. www.thermphos.com

Unilever.
Major multinational developing a wide range of consumer. In the North West, Port
Sunlight, Wirral is the major research and development centre for home and personal care products, PG Tips tea is made in Trafford Park, Manchester and detergents are manufactured in Warrington. www.unilever.co.uk

United Phosphorus
Agrochemical manufacturer, with formulation and manufacturing facilities in
Warrington and Sandbach (Cheshire) www.upleurope.com

Victrex.
Worldwide producer of polymers with their world headquarters and Technology
Centre at Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire. www.victrex.com