FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Sansoni, SDA, 202-662-2517 or bsansoni@cleaning101.com

16 New Members Join The Soap and Detergent Association

Recent Additions Include AlEn USA, American HomeHealth, Bayer MaterialScience, Cognis Oleochemicals, Commonwealth Soap & Toiletries, Galaxy Surfactants, Glaconchemie, INVISTA, The Laundress, Method, Nease Corp., Orchidia, Phoenix Brands, Securitas Inc., Technical Concepts, VVF Ltd.

            WASHINGTON, D.C., July 10, 2006 – More than a dozen new members have joined the ranks of The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), which is the trade association for the U.S. cleaning product and oleochemical industries.

            SDA, based in Washington, D.C., represents manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients and finished packaging; and oleochemical producers who have sales in the U.S.   The complete list of SDA members is available online at www.cleaning101.com/about/members.cfm.

            SDA’s Board of Directors has approved the applications of 16 companies in recent months, including:

• AlEn USA, the Houston-based U.S. subsidiary of Mexican cleaning products maker Industrias AlEn.  AlEn’s U.S. subsidiaries include Pine-O-Pine and White Cap.  Their products include including disinfecting wipes, surface cleaners, bathroom foams, laundry products, bleach, and antimicrobial hand soaps, sanitizing hand gels, and sanitizing hand sprays.  Website: www.pineopine.com/En/portada.html.


• American HomeHealth Inc. is a St. Petersburg, Florida-based producer of infection prevention products, including disinfecting wipes, surface cleaners, and bathroom foams, and antimicrobial hand soaps, sanitizing hand gels, and sanitizing hand sprays.  Websites: www.psthenewclean.com and www.ahhi.com.


• Bayer MaterialScience LLC, whose U.S. operations are based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, produces a number of chemical products.  Their chemicals include chlorine-based ingredients sold to the cleaning products industry.  Website: www.bayermaterialscienceNAFTA.com.


• Cognis Oleochemicals LLC, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the U.S. operation of Cognis Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., a joint venture between Cognis Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG and Golden Hope Plantations Berhad.  Cognis’ global oleochemicals business comprises fatty acids, glycerine, oilfield chemicals, Ozone Performance Additives (azelaic acid, pelargonic acid), and Plastics Additives.  Website: www.cognis.com/CognisOleochemicals.


• Commonwealth Soap & Toiletries Company is a soap and beauty products maker based in Fall River, Massachusetts.   Website: www.cstsoap.com.


• Galaxy Surfactants Ltd. is an India-based manufacturer of surfactants and specialty chemicals selling primarily to the Personal Care and Home Care industry in the U.S. and worldwide.  Their U.S. office is located in Piscataway, New Jersey.   Website: www.galaxysurfactants.com.


• Glaconchemie GmBH is a Merseburg, Germany-based producer of glycerine.  The company also has a U.S. office in Middleburg, Virginia.  Website: www.glaconchemie.de.


• INVISTA, based in Wichita, Kansas, is one of the world’s largest integrated fiber, resin and intermediates companies, serving the Apparel, Interiors, Intermediates, Performance Fibers, and Polymer and Resins industries. INVISTA produces Dibasic Esters (DBE), which can function as solvents as well as chemical intermediates used in cleaning products.  Website: www.invista.com.


• The Laundress, Inc. is a New York City-based maker of premium laundry and fabric care products revolutionizing proper garment and home furnishing care. Website: www.thelaundress.com.


• Method, based in San Francisco, is a producer of household cleaning, personal care, and fabric care products.  Website: www.methodhome.com.


• Nease Corporation, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, was spun off from Ruetgers Chemicals AG in 2005 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of International Chemical Investors (ICI).  Nease produces hydrotropes, acid catalysts, naphthalene sulfonates, surfactants, and phosphate esters.  Website: www.neasecorp.com.


• Orchidia is a Downers Grove, IL-based fragrance manufacturer. They also have an office in San Clemente, CA.  Website: www.orchidia-fragrances.com.


• Phoenix Brands LLC, based in Stamford, Connecticut, is a North American consumer products company, whose portfolio includes machine and dish detergents, laundry detergents and laundry aids, fabric softeners, and spray starches.  For more information: contact Bill Schmitt, V.P. of R&D, at  williamschmitt@snet.net.


• Securitas Inc. is a Richmond, Virginia-based manufacturer of personal care and cleaning products, such as soaps, body washes, shampoos, hand gels, liquid cleaners and deodorants.  Website: www.securitas-inc.com.


• Technical Concepts LLC is a Mundelein, Illinois-based manufacturer of hygiene products and systems for washrooms and washstations, including liquid and antimicrobial soaps.  They also have offices in the United Kingdom and Malaysia.  Website: www.technicalconcepts.com.


• VVF Limited is an India-based soap and oleochemical manufacturer, which has a U.S. oleochemical office based in Freehold, New Jersey.  Website: www.vvfltd.com.

            “Having these companies at the table strengthens SDA’s efforts to protect our members’ ability to formulate, innovate and succeed in today’s marketplace,” said Ernie Rosenberg, SDA President and CEO.  “Their insights will also aid us in reaching our vision of enhancing health and the quality of life through cleaning products and practices.”

            SDA membership information is available online at www.cleaning101.com/joinSDA.  For more information, contact Brian Sansoni at 202.662.2517 or at membership@cleaning101.com.

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The Soap and Detergent Association (www.cleaning101.com) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Product and Oleochemical IndustriesSM, representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients and finished packaging; and oleochemical producers.  SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S.  The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.