ABSTRACT
These adverse market conditions resulted in the adoption of a number of strategies aimed at reversing the decrease in profitability, and which are again partial reflections of wider sectoral trends. Prior to the particular developments of the mid 1990s, the firm had begun to shift production away from high volume, low value added activities towards low volume high value added products. Chemicals UK has moved into the development and manufacture of speciality chemicals made to the specifications of individual customers. This process involves developing custom chemicals through the pilot and scale up stage towards full-scale commercial production where applicable. The firm has also moved into the niche pharmaceuticals market, a development argued to be the key to the company’s future (Transport and General Workers Union Convenor, Area Production Manager).
