Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates
Encyclopedia
SOCMA, the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates, is an international trade association
that represents the interests of the batch chemical industry
. According to the organization’s charter, SOCMA’s stated mission is to “accelerat[e] the potential for members’ growth,” “increase[e] public confidence in the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry,” and “influenc[e] the passage of rational laws and regulations.”
. The event was followed by an organizational meeting in Washington, DC , which included an address from Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover
. 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 Dr. Charles Herty
, an American chemist, to serve as the Association’s first president. At the time, Herty was the editor of American Chemical Society
’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.
.
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
.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Specialty-batch or performance chemical manufacturers produce smaller quantities of more expensive chemicals on an "as needed" basis that are used less frequently. Often there is only one or a limited number of suppliers producing a given product. In contrast to the production of commodity chemicals, batch manufacturing requires that the raw materials, processes, operating conditions, and equipment change on a regular basis to respond to the needs of customers.”
, including the Toxic Substances Control Act
, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
, and the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. In addition to formal lobbying, SOCMA promotes industry interests through a grassroots
arm called SOCMA CONNECT.
&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.
Work Group, the Bulk Pharmaceutical Task Force, and the Nanotechnology
SME Manufacturers Coalition.
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
that represents the interests of the batch chemical industry
Chemical industry
The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
. According to the organization’s charter, SOCMA’s stated mission is to “accelerat[e] the potential for members’ growth,” “increase[e] public confidence in the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry,” and “influenc[e] 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 CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The event was followed by an organizational meeting in Washington, DC , which included an address from Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover was the 31st President of the United States . Hoover was originally a professional mining engineer and author. As the United States Secretary of Commerce in the 1920s under Presidents Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, he promoted partnerships between government and business...
. 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 Dr. Charles Herty
Charles Herty
Charles Holmes Herty, Sr. was an American academic, scientist and businessman. Serving in academia as a chemistry professor to begin his career, Herty concurrently promoted collegiate athletics including creating the first varsity football team at the University of Georgia...
, an American chemist, to serve as the Association’s first president. At the time, Herty was the editor of American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society 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 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
’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 productionBatch production
Batch production is a technique used in manufacturing, in which the object in question is created stage by stage over a series of workstations. Batch production is common in bakeries and in the manufacture of sports shoes, pharmaceutical ingredients , inks, paints and adhesives. In the manufacture...
.
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
Continuous production is a 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 or fluids that are being processed are continuously in motion,...
.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Specialty-batch or performance chemical manufacturers produce smaller quantities of more expensive chemicals on an "as needed" basis that are used less frequently. Often there is only one or a limited number of suppliers producing a given product. In contrast to the production of commodity chemicals, batch manufacturing requires that the raw materials, processes, operating conditions, and equipment change on a regular basis to respond to the needs of customers.”
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 industryChemical industry
The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials into more than 70,000 different products.-Products:...
, including the Toxic Substances Control Act
Toxic Substances Control Act
The Toxic Substances Control Act is a United States law, passed by the United States Congress in 1976, that regulates the introduction of new or already existing chemicals. It grandfathered most existing chemicals, in contrast to the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals ...
, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards , also known as 6 CFR, Part 27, are a set of US government security regulations for high-risk chemical facilities such as chemical plants, electrical generating facilities, refineries, and universities. The US Department of Homeland Security...
, and the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. In addition to formal lobbying, SOCMA promotes industry interests through a grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
arm called SOCMA CONNECT.
ChemStewards
In September 2005, SOCMA introduced ChemStewards, the first environmental, health, safety and security (EHSEHS
EHS may mean:* Electromagnetic hypersensitivity, also called electrical sensitivity and electrosensitivity* Electronic Hook Switch, a device electronically connects headset and phone...
&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.
SOCMA Association Management Services (formerly VISIONS)
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 2009, SOCMA has 13 active affiliate groups, including the BiphenylBiphenyl
Biphenyl is an organic compound that forms colorless crystals. It has a distinctively pleasant smell. Biphenyl is an aromatic hydrocarbon with a molecular formula 2...
Work Group, the Bulk Pharmaceutical Task Force, and the Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
SME Manufacturers Coalition.