UPM

SGL Carbon's graphite electrodes melt steel in electric arc furnaces — 3000C arcs. Our SIGRACET gas diffusion layers serve PEM fuel cells. The same element (C) bridges steelmaking and the hydrogen economy.

Mitsubishi Chemical's Kuraray division produces EVAL ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer — the world's best oxygen barrier plastic. A 15-micron EVAL layer in ketchup bottles prevents oxidation for months. Molecular engineering at its finest.

Takasago's BINAP-Rh catalyzed asymmetric isomerization of allylic amines — producing (-)-menthol from myrcene — won Noyori the 2001 Nobel Prize. 3,000 tons/year of synthetic menthol from enantioselective catalysis. Chemistry at scale.