Contact Us Axis, Alabama P.O. Box 99 13755 Hwy. 43 N. Axis, Alabama 36505 Phone: 251.829.9421 Fax: 251.829.4240

Our Products and Markets

The Axis facility produces a wide variety of chemical additives, such as heat stabilizers and impact modifiers. Heat stabilizers are compounds added to PVC to slow color development during processing and extend the life of a product. Impact modifiers are added to PVC to make it less brittle and to increase its strength. Our organotin products have varied uses, including automotive paint catalysts and stabilizers in the plastics industry.

Our products are used in everyday items such as hair dryers, plastic piping and vinyl siding. Our chemical additives are used to give strength and durability to vinyl siding, window frames, gutters, plastic piping for plumbing and plastic bottles. Our products are also used in the agricultural, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and paint industries.

The employees of the Axis plant take pride in the quality of the products we make. In 1997, the plant's quality process earned certification to the International Standards Organization 9002 standard.

On June 3rd, 2003, the Axis plant was issued a Management System Certificate of registration to the ISO 9001:2000 standard by Det Norske Veritas (DNV). This success was enhanced by a structured continuous improvement process that is fully implemented throughout all levels of the plant.

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Our History

The Axis plant began operations in 1981 as M&T Chemicals, producing inorganic and organic tin compounds. Numerous expansions have occurred over the years, with the addition of thioglycolic acid and a line of impact modifiers and process aids added to the product base. In December 1989, M&T Chemicals merged with Pennwalt and Atochem, Inc. to form Atochem North America. The company name was later changed to Elf Atochem North America, Inc. to identify it with the Elf Group.

Atofina Chemicals, Inc. (formerly Elf Atochem North America, Inc.) was formed in mid-2000 as a result of the merger between TotalFina and Elf Aquitaine, Elf Atochem's parent company. Now part of Arkema, the Axis plant plays a key role in businesses that reach throughout the world.

Throughout the production and distribution processes, everyone at our plant is focused on safety and protection of the environment. An active on-site safety team of employees from all areas of the plant works with a staff of safety professionals to provide safety direction, recommendations and guidance for improvement of the overall safety and health process. A staff of environmental professionals works with a range of employees and contractors to continually improve environmental protection and waste reduction.

The Axis Arkema facility was named by OSHA to the level of Star status. There are approximately 830 Star sites in the U.S. out of 6,000,000 work sites. The Axis facility is the first site in the Arkema Inc. family to achieve this designation. The VPP Program is a voluntary one and it involves much hard work on the part of the employees.

The Axis plant has a strong commitment to protection of the environment for our families, our community and ourselves. Our plant is equipped with state-of-the-art environmental controls, including a wastewater treatment plant that can treat more than one million gallons of water each day. The plant installed additional equipment in 2000 and 2001 to enhance the management of stormwater and wastewater treatment. In 2002, the plant received an Industrial Treatment Excellence Award from Alabama's Water Environment Association. Arkema also participates in Responsible Care^®, an industry-wide initiative among members of the American Chemistry Council (ACC). Through Responsible Care, our industry demonstrates its continuing commitment to health, safety and the environment.

We also extend our concern for safety to our community. We participate in the LeMoyne Community Advisory Panel, the LeMoyne Industrial Park association, and the Mobile County Local Emergency Planning Committee. Through the Mobile Emergency Management Agency we have established an emergency mutual aid program with other LeMoyne Industrial Park companies. This program calls for an exchange of equipment, materials and expertise in case of an emergency at any of the facilities.

Arkema participates in numerous community and business organizations, including the LeMoyne Community Advisory Panel, the LeMoyne Emergency Medical Service, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (Arkema is a founding member), the March of Dimes Wild Ghost Chase, United Way and the Manufacture Alabama. As part of the LeMoyne Industrial Park, Arkema participates in the annual community day event, which gives local residents the opportunity to meet the plant workers and management in a comfortable setting.

Education is the primary focus of our community outreach. The Axis plant works with McDavid-Jones Elementary School in the Partners-in-Education Program. The Axis facility sponsors an Accelerated Reading Program that encourages children to read books for prizes and recognition. The child selects a book from a list indicating the value of the book based on difficulty. After reading the book, the child must pass a test to accumulate points to be used at the McDavid-Jones Mall (a store with a wide selection of prizes provided by Arkema).

The Axis plant also sponsors a summer Science Teacher Program. Local science teachers spend a week studying experiment kits with the help of a plant scientist, who acts as a mentor. The program is designed to help science teachers expand and enhance their science teaching skills.

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