The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates, is an international
trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry. An industry trade association partic ...
that represents the interests of the batch, custom and specialty
chemical industry. According to the organization’s charter, SOCMA's stated mission is to "accelerat
the potential for members' growth," "increase
public confidence in the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry," and "influenc
the passage of rational laws and regulations."
History
The "Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association", as it was previously known, was established on September 15, 1921 at the Hotel Pennsylvania in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
. The event was followed by an organizational meeting in
Washington, DC
)
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, which included an address from
Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was an American politician who served as the 31st president of the United States from 1929 to 1933 and a member of the Republican Party, holding office during the onset of the Gr ...
. In his remarks, Hoover told the chemical industry representatives that “I have a feeling that this coming together of manufacturers in the different trades for the purpose of the advancement of their industry as a whole is a profound step towards cooperation in the entire business world, and that out of it will be gained tremendous benefits to the whole business public."
SOCMA members unanimously elected
Charles Herty
Charles Holmes Herty Sr. (December 4, 1867 – July 27, 1938) was an American academic, scientist, and businessman. Serving in academia as a chemistry professor to begin his career, Herty concurrently promoted collegiate athletics including creat ...
, an American chemist, to serve as the Association’s first president. At the time, Herty was the editor of
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 155,000 members at all ...
’s Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, a position he left in order to lead SOCMA. The organization was based in New York City until it relocated to Washington, DC in the 1970s.
On March 19, 2009, SOCMA members voted to formally change the organization’s name to the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates. The name change, the first in SOCMA’s 88-year history, allowed the organization to retain its acronym.
Members
SOCMA member companies encompass small, medium and large chemical manufacturers engaged in
batch production
Batch production is a method of manufacturing where the products are made as specified groups or amounts, within a time frame. A batch can go through a series of steps in a large manufacturing process to make the final desired product. Batch prod ...
.
Batch manufacturers produce intermediates, specialty chemicals and ingredients used to develop a wide range of commercial and consumer products. They operate differently from larger, bulk chemical producers, which generally use
continuous production
Continuous production is a flow production method used to manufacture, produce, or process materials without interruption. Continuous production is called a continuous process or a continuous flow process because the materials, either dry bulk ...
.
Activities
Lobbying
SOCMA promotes the batch chemical manufacturing industry to the U.S. federal government and international governing bodies. SOCMA lobbies on a number of issues impacting the
chemical industry, including the
Toxic Substances Control Act
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is a United States law, passed by the 94th United States Congress in 1976 and administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that regulates chemicals not regulated by other U. ...
, the
Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, and the European Union’s
. In addition to formal
lobbying
In politics, lobbying, persuasion or interest representation is the act of lawfully attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying, which ...
, SOCMA promotes industry interests through a
grassroots arm called SOCMA CONNECT.
ChemStewards
In September 2005, SOCMA introduced ChemStewards, the first environmental, health, safety and security (
EHS&S) program designed for batch chemical manufacturers. The ChemStewards EHS&S program requires participants to address performance improvement with consideration for their company’s policies and practices. The program offers a three-tiered approach to participation: fundamentals, enhanced performance and excellence. All tiers require adherence to a set of core principles in addition to security, metrics and a verifiable management system.
In April 2011, SOCMA announced a new management system database that integrates its ChemStewards® program with other government-sponsored performance improvement programs. The database, created by Gabriel Performance Products, is based on the ChemStewards Management System and complies with the requirements of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001.
SOCMA Association Management Services
In 1977, SOCMA launched an Association Management Services Group to manage consortia formed to address specific chemical or process advocacy, regulatory, testing, stewardship, or technical issues that are of interest to a particular sector of the chemical industry. As of 2012, SOCMA has 16 active affiliate groups, including the
Biphenyl
Biphenyl (also known as diphenyl, phenylbenzene, 1,1′-biphenyl, lemonene or BP) is an organic compound that forms colorless crystals. Particularly in older literature, compounds containing the functional group consisting of biphenyl less one ...
Work Group, the Bulk Pharmaceutical Task Force, and the
Nanotechnology SME Manufacturers Coalition.
Informex
In 1984, SOCMA founded Informex, a
trade show
A trade fair, also known as trade show, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products and services, meet with industry partners and ...
for the fine and
specialty chemicals
Speciality chemicals (also called specialties or effect chemicals) are particular chemical products which provide a wide variety of effects on which many other industry sectors rely. Some of the categories of speciality chemicals are adhesives, ag ...
industry. In August 2005, SOCMA sold Informex to CMP Information Ltd, part of and currently known as United Business Media, PLC, headquartered in London, England.
ChemAlliance
In May 2009, SOCMA acquired ChemAlliance, an online compliance assistance center formerly funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and designed to improve regulatory compliance of the chemical manufacturing industry. ChemAlliance.org was launched in 1996 as part of former Vice President Al Gore’s “
Reinventing Government” initiative.
Through this acquisition, SOCMA has obtained the naming rights and full ownership of ChemAlliance.
References
External links
Official website
{{Chemistry societies
Trade associations based in the United States
Chemistry trade associations
Scientific organizations established in 1921
Organizations based in Washington, D.C.