Chemical I ndustry I n The Czech Republic

1. Chemical Industry In The Czech Republic Jindřiška Bočková & Jakub Dombek

2. Petrochemistry, plastics, rubber industry, structural materials Barum Otrokovice • Česká gumárenská a.s., Zlín • Fatra Napajedla • Rubena a.s., Náchod • Silon, a.s., Planá n.Lužnicí • Transform a.s., • PF PLASTY CZ s.r.o. • Gumotex Břeclav • Technoplast, a.s., Chropyně • Vulkan a.s., Hrádek nad Nisou • Optimit Odry a.s.

3. Lovochemie, Lovosice Spolek pro chemickou a hutní výrobu a.s., Ústí nad Labem Spolana, Neratovice Merck, česká pobočka Balakom, Opava Barvy a laky s.r.o., Praha Colorlak a.s., St.Město u Uh.Hradiště Fosfa, Břeclav DEZA, Valašské Meziřičí AGA, Praha 8 Druchema, Praha Ekochem Šorm, Praha Hlubna v.d., Brno Severochema, LiberecPragochema, Praha Production of common chemicals

4. Lachemaa.s., Brno Lachemaa.s., Brno, záv. Neratovice Lachema Brno, záv. Blansko Foma, Hradec Králové Bochemie, Bohumín Crytur, Turnov Draslovka a.s., Kolín Synthesia, Pardubice-Semtín Farmak, Olomouc Qualified chemistry a pharmacy

6. Unipetrol is a group of companies operating in the chemical industries sector in the Czech Republic, primarily in crude oil processing, distribution of fuels, petrochemistry and fertilizer production. In all of these fields, Unipetrol is a majorrepresentative of the industrial sector in the Czech Republic and in Central Europe. The Unipetrol Group includes primarily the following: Česká rafinérská and Paramo, the largest Czech producers of motor fuels, lubricants and other products related to crude oil processing. Profile: • Chemopetrol, Kaučuk and Spolana,involved mainly in the production of petrochemical products and plastics. • Benzina, the largest network of petrol stations in the Czech Republic. • The Group has the following affiliated members: Lovochemie and Aliachem

7. History: • The Unipetrol was founded in 1994 to bring together a selection of Czech petrochemical companies to a grouping which would be able to compete with strong multinational concerns. The majority stakeholder of the company is the Czech state, represented by the National Property Fund. • The annual turnover of firms of the Unipetrol Holding is over then 60bn, which makes the group one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic as well as the most prominent exporters. In 2002, revenue from exports reached almost 37%.

8. Spolana, Neratovice Spolana aims at producting chlorine especially for PVC and a lot sof another chemicals which need chlorine for their existence (for example sodium chloride, HCl) also liguid chlorine, 5 kinds of suspenzive PVC. Spolana is big producer of sulfuric acid or caprolactam too. Paramo Paramo is the renowned manufacturer of fuels, automotive oils, machining, technological and preservation agents, plastic lubricants, asphalt insulation products and road asphalts. Chemopetrol Ethylen – for production of PE,spirit,…in grocery to ripen fruit Propylen – for PP and oxoalcohols… PE – toys, bottles, folios,… PP – dishes, pools, toys, folios, textiles (bags), … Synthetic spirit,Ammonia,Benzene Products:

9. Kaučuk Styrene-butadiene rubbers(KRALEX)- mainly used in the rubber industry and shoe industry and for the production of small household accessories andsportswear Liquid polybutadienes(KRASOL)- a binder for granulates that are used for the production of sports stadium and hall surfaces Polystyrene(KRASTEN)- in the civil engineering, in the electrical engineering industry, consumer goods and food industry. Polystyrene (KOPLEN)FORSAN acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer (ABS)- for the production of interiors and exteriors in the car industry

10. Profile: • IVAX Pharmaceuticals s.r.o. (also known as Galena a.s.) is a leading Czech pharmaceutical company which works with boasts of one hundred and twenty years long tradition of pharmaceutical manufacturing in the region of the Opava city. It has a large portfolio of products. • The company does not offer only human and veterinary medicinal products but also substances and herbal extracts.

11. History: • 1869 - Gustav Hell, the later founder of the factory, has moved to Opava city. • 1883 – the company was registered in Business register as “Gustav Hell und Company”. • 1885 - the company bought the facilities of today´s company from company “Glassner and company” and the real history of “Galena“ started. • The factory was in huge development until WW1. Then it had to cooperate with Austrian company, which ensured expedition to Austria. • After WW2 the company had to start from the beginning. The new start was in 1946. • 1952 - the concern was reorganized and was the named: Galena. • The complementary program for many years was production of Kofo–syrup as basic material to product Kofola. • Between 1994 – 1998 - The American IVAX Corporation with the seat in Miami, Florida, became the majority owner of the company within the process of privatization. • 2001 - Galena was renamed to Ivax.

12. development of medicinal products and food supplements development of active pharmaceutical ingredients obtained by means of isolation from herbal materials as well as by means of semi-synthetic modifications of natural substances and by means of totally synthetic processes development of biotechnological processes Products: disinfectants (Septonex), some vitamins, cosmetics, … Main orientation of the research work:

13. Profile: Research, development and production of antineoplastic agents and cardio-vascular drugs, antivirotics for herpes virus infections, diagnostics and special chemicals.

14. History: • The Lachema Brno started to manufacture, finish and pack pure, laboratory and specialchemicals more than a half century ago. During the 1950s Lachema became a major manufacturer of analytical reagents and indicators, dyes for microscopy, sugars, amino acids and a range of other chemicals and bio-chemicals. • 1964 – The Institute of Pure Chemicalswas established, to absorb all other parts of Lachema • 1999 – a new strong strategic partner – Pliva, multinational pharmaceuticals company, became a majority stockholder • 2000 – the name of company was changed into Pliva – Lachema • Pliva – Lachema aimed its strategy at generic preparations, especially cytostatics, support therapy, qualified chemistry and selected diagnostics.

15. Products: • Pharmaceuticals - medical products used in the treatment of serious diseases such as  - antineoplastic agents and cardiovascular drugs, and antivirotics for the treatment of herpes virus infections • Diagnostics - diagnostic preparations for biochemical and microbiological laboratories, for fast diagnostics at the surgery and for self-monitoring. • Chemicals: - active substances and their intermediates, speciality chemicals based on adamantane and its derivatives

16. Profile: • VULKAN is among the leading European producers of latex goods. Its production programme is made up of four fundamental elements, which mainly comprise the production of condoms, examinational and surgical gloves, children’s pacifiers, and household rubber gloves.

17. History: • 1890 – The foundation of the Bohemian – Saxon factory for rubber products in Hrádek nad Nisou • 1938 – the factory was bought by Fridjof Peterson from Sweden • 1942 – A new owner was a.s. Hans Scheibert , and the company got name Gummiwerke Grottau, and it worked on wartime production of rubber belts, sealing for submarines and airoplanes, etc • 1950 – Vulkan • 1969 – 1989 - The company became the monopoly producer in the field of condoms, children’s pacifiers and proboscis, balloons and toys, surgical, household and technical gloves for the whole of Eastern Europe

18. The history of the condom: • The first note of a mechanical device that covered and adorned the male genitals dates back to the year 1350 B.C. and comes from Ancient Egypt. The device mentioned, which resembles today’s condom, was also used in Asian cultures. We cannot, however, speculate on a specific era for Asian use. The first users in these lands were most probable the Celts. • The first evidence of actual condoms comes from 1564 A.D., when Italian doctor Pallopius created a kind of sheath that was made of flax. This textile material was replaced with animal, and particularly sheep gut during the 17th century. It was at this time that the name “condom” was born.

19. Certain researchers say that the name originated thanks to an English doctor called Conton (some sources specify the name Condom). This gentleman was the court doctor of the English King Charles II. (1630-1685). Doctor Conton apparently handed out modified sheep gut to members of the royal family and their encourage in order to protect them against sexual diseases and thebirth of children out of wedlock. • The French town of CONDOM also proudly claims credit for the naming of the condom. However, this small town is affected by one major problem in that the sign bearing the name of the town is always being lost to tourists and constantly in need of replacement. The thieving souvenir hunters cannot even be discouraged by police patrols or taxpayers.

20. Vocabulary: • Boasts of – pyšní se, hrdá na … • Crude oil processing – zpracování surové ropy • Fertilizer - hnojivo • Affiliated members – přidružení členové • Found – založit • Stockholder – akcionář • National Property Fund – Fond národního majetku • Annual turnover – roční obrat • Binder – pojivo • Supplement – doplněk • Dye – barvivo • Sheath – pouzdro • Flax – len • Gut - střevo

21. Intertnet adress: • http://www.lachema.cz/cz/index.php • http://www.britishcouncil.org/ • http://www.unipetrol.cz/html/ • http://www.paramo.cz/html/ • http://www.chemopetrol.cz/ • http://www.ivax-cr.com/ • http://www.vulkan.cz/