ClearCross announces availability of ClearCross Fast Track - Chemical Outlook - Independent industry news, analysis and business information for chemicals makers and users

According to ClearCross, the solutions offer fast, affordable and guaranteed implementation, to enable companies to reduce their risk of non-compliance and help ensure supply chain efficiency.

The ClearCross Fast Track solution is designed to include the ClearCross Export, Import, and Materials Compliance Solutions, as well as its Document Production solution to provide full functionality and regional content that specifically addresses cross-border challenges such as the movement of goods, screening for restricted parties, and determining license requirements.

In addition, the ClearCross Fast Track offerings include software licenses, implementations, maintenance and a one-year regional content subscription. Using the solutions, companies are able to select the specific content they need to manage global commerce and automate the document production process.

"Preparing for the new rules of trade can no longer be left to forward thinking organizations," says Bruce Johnson, CEO of ClearCross. "Corporations were already being faced with the financial implications of having a global supply network and we are trying to ease the pain of improving their compliance procedures as a first proactive step to this new world."

My views might not be considered neutral, with OxyChem's equity participation in Envera, but "Hub-to-Hub" connectivity was always in Envera's plans. As a founding Envera member and as an early adopter of B2B connectivity utilizing XML (in production since November 1999) OxyChem strongly endorses the need for "Hub-to-Hub" connectivity, both inter- and intra-Industry. Consider the real flywheel effects of connecting two hubs within the Chemical sector. In addition here are four thoughts on why this would be a positive step:

FAIRFIELD, California (October 29, 2001) - ChemSW chemsw.com has introduced a new Oracle version of STIS Sample Tracking and Inventory System, for the monitoring of samples and work throughout the laboratory. STIS is designed to enable users to register samples, create work lists, assign tests, enter test results and check progress and status, with complete audit trail and reporting. According to ChemSW, tests can be assigned to a single sample or to a batch of samples at once.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. Nov. 1, 2001--Buckeye Technologies Inc. announced today that it has entered into a joint venture with Z Pellet Enterprises, Inc. of Weldon, N.C. The new venture will focus on expanding the market for FuzZpellets, a pelleted cottonseed dairy feed. The new joint venture, CottonFeed, LLC, will provide marketing, manufacturing and process technology expertise to third party manufacturers who will produce the product.

CALGARY, Alberta, Canada--Nov. 2, 2001--Hyprotech is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Cesc Batlle as president of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), heading up the company's European Operations. Batlle's primary role will be to assure customer satisfaction and growth within EMEA, as well as to continue to provide a challenging and rewarding environment for all Hyprotech employees in the region.

RADNOR, Pa.--Nov. 2, 2001--Airgas, Inc. announced today the completion of the sale of two nitrous oxide production facilities and related business to Air Liquide America Corporation. The transaction, which was originally announced on October 3, received provisional approval from the Federal Trade Commission last Friday.

BRIDGEWATER, Mass.--Nov. 2, 2001--Chase Corporation today announced that it has concluded the purchase of certain assets of Tapecoat, a Division of TC Manufacturing Co., Inc. of Evanston, Illinois. Tapecoat is a provider of protective coatings for the transportation, marine and geo-synthetics industries and for underground oil, gas and water pipelines. Tapecoat is expected to report sales of about $9 million for 2001. The company recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 19 -- Rohm and Haas Company today said that an unexpected power outage damaged production equipment at its Deer Park, Texas, methyl methacrylate (MMA) facility and caused the company to temporarily reduce its supply of that raw material. The company said it expects to restore production within the week and return to full supply levels within 8 weeks.

ST. PAUL, Minn.- -Aug. 20, 2002--Ecolab Inc. announced that, effective immediately, Douglas M. Baker, Jr. has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. In this position, all business units will report to him. Baker previously served as President - Institutional Sector, and was responsible for the Institutional, Kay and Textile Care businesses. He has held previous leadership positions with Ecolab's Institutional, Kay and European operations.

FAIRFAX, Virginia (August 20, 2002) - webMethods, a provider of integration software, has launched two new solution suites designed to enable global organizations to upgrade and expand current EDI-based operations by leveraging the webMethods integration platform to gain end-to-end, enterprise integration for automated business processes.

Slovnaft is a refinery and petrochemical company based in Bratislava in the Slovak Republic. Since being privatized in 1992, the formerly state-run company has worked aggressively to modernize and adopt Western business practices, including creating a series of subsidiaries and launching a Strategic Partnership with MOL, one of Hungary’s biggest corporations, in 2000.

BASEL, Switzerland--Aug. 21, 2002--Ciba Specialty Chemicals: Second quarter of 2002 outpaces the second quarter of 2001; Proactive measures pay off; Net income up in Swiss francs, despite strong adverse currency effect; Net debt down 46 percent, very strong free cash flow; Outlook 2002: Higher sales and EBITDA in local currencies and higher net income in CHF expected.