Ashland Chemical Canada Ltd. manufactures and distributes a wide variety of chemicals, polymers, and plastics for Canadian industry and export. Both manufacturing and distribution activities have grown considerably in the past few years due to increased import and export business. Ashland is very grateful for customers’ continued demand for high quality, consistent products and services. They also remain critically aware of responsibilities to employees, neighbours, and the public in the areas of safety emissions and waste reduction.

As a corporation, Ashland manufactures and distributes chemicals and plastics needed by companies around the world to make useful products for people everywhere. In Canada, manufacturing operations are located in Mississauga, Ontario. Distribution facilities are strategically placed across Canada to serve key customer areas and are located in Mississauga, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Edmonton, Alberta; and Vancouver, B.C.

Earliest operations date to the 1930s, with a chemical manufacturing plant originally built for processing vegetable oils and a chemical and solvent distribution facility, both located in Toronto. These were replaced in 1975 with a modern chemical complex now located on a 34-acre site in Mississauga, Ontario. The manufacturing operation produces a wide variety of polymers, resins, and chemicals to serve ever-increasing national and worldwide markets. Ashland Chemical manufactures sand binding polymers and chemicals for the metal casting industry, alkyd base resins for paint and coating industries, and polyester resins for fabricated plastics manufacturers.
 

The Ashland Chemical plant is located in Mississauga, Ontario, and is one of several Ashland facilities in Canada.

Ashland’s distribution divisions consist of several facilities operated by a common distribution services organization which includes blending, bulk storage, and shipment consolidation activities. Sales distribution activities include the Industrial Chemicals and Solvents Division, which distributes a wide range of chemicals and solvents to Canadian industry, General Polymers Division, which supplies thermoplastic resins to a wide variety of molders and extruders, Fibre Reinforced Plastics Division which provides polyester resin, fibreglass, tools and equipment parts to the fabricated plastics industry and Fine Ingredients Division which supplies high purity products to the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries.

Products based on specific customer needs are developed locally and through corporate research facilities in Columbus, Ohio. As many products require local adaptation for peak performance, much attention is focused on product development and working with customers to maximize product performance in specific operations.

Quality and consistency of product performance are outstanding features of Ashland’s reliable products, earning the company numerous product quality accreditations since the early 1980s. Today, continuous improvement continues to be the driving force behind Quality Plus, Ashland’ s commitment to quality and productivity.

Since receiving Ford of Canada’s Q-1 status and becoming the first Canadian chemical supplier to their foundries to achieve this quality standard back in 1984, Ashland Chemical has continued to focus management systems on continuous improvement. Along the way, Ashland’s manufacturing facility has continued to ensure the worldwide recognition of its product consistency and quality standards through the use of globally recognized quality standards such as ISO 9002 (manufacturing) in 1984, ISO 9001 (R & D) in 1996 and QS 9000 (Automotive Quality Standard) in 1997.

Ashland’s concern for environmental issues is reflected in its commitment to the industry’s Responsible Care process. Under Responsible Care, the Canadian chemical industry is committed to doing the right thing and more importantly, to be seen to be doing the right thing, thereby continuing to be welcomed by neighbours in the communities in which they operate. Ashland became one of the first facilities worldwide to complete a process of public verification of its commitment and the successful implementation of the Responsible Care codes of practice in its facility in 1996.

Operating a modern chemical facility requires close attention to many details involved in the safe handling of chemicals to protect employees, neighbours and the environment. The modern incinerator eliminates odours and the need to transport hazardous waste through the community. It also recycles energy from waste to provide power for plant processes, decreasing consumption of fossil fuels and reducing CO₂ emissions, a key factor in global warming.

Continued focus on facility improvements in storage facilities include reduced tank emissions, upgrading of tank diking and isolation to ensure that possible spills and emergencies are contained and can be cleaned up without permanent impact on the soil or groundwater systems in the community.

Emergency preparedness and prevention are major aspects of Ashland’s Product Stewardship responsibilities in all activities in all operations, starting with environmental and safety reviews of new products at the development stage and through similiar reviews as new products are introduced into the facilities. The transportation, distribution and ultimate disposal impact of the company’s products are also considered and built into the entire distribution network, including customer use of all products. Ashland, as a company worldwide, has committed not to develop, produce, distribute or sell products that cannot be made, used, transported or disposed of in a safe manner.

Both hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal are serious concerns of the operation. Waste reduction through prevention, reuse, and recycling have been particularly successful initiatives of the plants. Where hazardous waste must be disposed of, it is either incinerated or sent to safe, secure, approved landfill sites.

Ashland’s efforts in waste reduction have gained community recognition through the Region of Peel’s Waste Reduction Award in Mississauga. Currently over 75 percent of non-hazardous waste is recycled, reducing the burden on municipal landfill facilities.

A safe operation is the foremost requirement in the facility. No activity will happen or continue to occur if it cannot be done safely. All employees accept the responsibility to stop any process which cannot be done safely. A safe operation is essential for the well-being of Ashland’s most important asset, its employees. Safety is an integral part of the Total Quality Management System and has ensured continued operation at a world-class level of outstanding safety performance.

Storage of both flammable and non-flammable material in the company’s facilities, for example, requires high standards of fire prevention and protection. Working in close cooperation with local inspectors and fire departments ensures all regulations are in place both in new and existing storage facilities. Older facilities are upgraded as needed, while new facilities have the latest requirements installed during the construction phase.

People are the key to Ashland’s success. They are an organization of approximately 190 employees with a common goal of pursuing excellence in product and service to all inside and outside customers. Innovation is an essential part of the company’s culture, technology, and products. Computers are a normal tool used by every employee. Productivity, quality improvement, waste reduction and emission controls are all dependent on the innovations of employees to ensure the continuous improvement required of an industry leader.

As our world becomes increasingly a global market, Ashland has changed from being strictly focused on servicing the Canadian market to expanding to meet global markets. Distribution groups provide Canadian customers with a wide range of chemicals, plastics and speciality food and pharmaceutical materials from all over the world. Manufacturing facilities import raw material on a global basis, manufacturing products for both Canadian and global customers.

Ashland’s employees view the future with confidence. Their skills, pride, and dedication to the pursuit of excellence in product and service, along with modern operations, will serve Ashland’s customers now and in the future.