64 Business View - February 2016
Society of Chemical
Manufacturers & Affiliates
From pharmaceuticals to fracking, SOCMA is the voice
of the specialty chemical niche
SOCMA was founded in 1921 as the Synthetic Organic
Chemical Manufacturers Association – a trade protec-
tionist group. It was just after World War I, and more well-
established countries like Germany were dominating the
chemical industry. Led by President Dr. Charles Herty,
SOCMA petitioned the government to levy tariffs on im-
ports of specialty raw materials, such as dyes. Herbert
Hoover, then Secretary of Trade and future U.S. Presi-
dent, spoke at one of the first SOCMA meetings about
the importance of trade barriers.
How times have changed. SOCMA is now the Society of
Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates, representing spe-
cialty chemical manufacturers, distributors and affiliated
service providers, and a staunch advocate of free trade.
SOCMA President and CEO, Lawrence D. Sloan, shares
his insight into this powerful and somewhat complex or-
MANUFACTURING
