Dow Chemical

Go To Fortune 500 Job Source Michigan Job Source Add Your Resume

Headquarters: 2030 Dow Center Midland, MI 48674 Employees: 43,000 CEO: Andrew Liveris Stock Quote: DOW Website: http://www.dow.com Career Site Dow develops chemicals, plastics and agricultural products that serve numerous industries and consumer markets. Dow has customers in 175 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress from food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction. Some of the innovations Dow has developed include: preservatives in foods, antifreeze for airplanes, plastic wraps, pesticides for trees, and additives used in gasoline. The company announced in December it will eliminate 5,000 full-time jobs to cut costs and close 20 plants and several businesses. Dow said it will temporarily idle 180 plants and cut 6,000 contractors from its payroll. The chemical maker expects the cuts to save about $700 million by 2010. In 2007, Dow reported revenues of $53.5 billion and net income of $2.8 billion. Dow Product Highlights - STYROFOAM brand insulation is producing more energy efficient homes around the world. In North America alone, over 2 million homes are insulated with STYROFOAM, resulting in $200 Million per year in energy savings and a significant reduction in fossil fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. - Dow's manufacturing experts are being contracted to create innovative and life saving pharmaceutical products such as RenaGel, a promising new drug for kidney failure patients. - Dow AgroSciences provides farmers globally with crop protection products. New innovations such as biotechnology are reducing environmental risks associated with crop protection products and improving the agricultural industry's ability to feed the world. - Dow's Ion Exchange resins are used to purify water around the world for drinking water, power plants, wastewater treatment and pharmaceuticals. - Dow paper coating polymers are used in the paper and board industry to improve strength, brightness, opacity and readability for brochures, graphics and books. - Dow epoxy technology makes it possible to create lighter, larger and more durable windmill blades offering higher energy yields, increasing the use of renewable energy. - Innovative Dow thermoplastic resins eliminate the need for paint in consumer products such as TV, reducing volatile organic compound emissions and improving the recyclability of TV cabinets. - Saran resins provide food protection, extending the food available to the world. In developing countries where refrigeration is scarce, meat products are extruded into a sausage covered with Saran film that can be shipped and stored without refrigeration for up to six months. - Dow's heat transfer fluids provide freeze and burst protection allowing the US Antarctic Program's McMurdo Station to remain operable in temperatures as low as ­60 degrees Fahrenheit. - Polyurethane material from Dow offers automobile part manufacturers better cushioning for seats and reduction in noise, vibration and harshness in interior parts. History On May 18, 1897, The Dow Chemical Company is incorporated, based on Herbert H. Dow's plan to manufacture and sell bleach on a commercial scale. In 1898, the first commercial production of bleach begins. In 1906, Dow produces sodium benzoate as food preservative. The company exited the bleach business in 1913 to focus on production of chlorine. Dow established its first research lab in 1919. Dow Chemical was formed in 1951. Saran wrap was introduced in 1953 for household use. Benefits Dow contributes, on average, an additional $.40 per dollar of pay toward the cost of benefits for employees. Medical, dental insurance is provided along with health care reimbursement accounts. Dow offers eight holidays per year and two personal days for use. New employees receive 14 days of vacation for the first two years; 15 days at 3-4 years, 19 days at 5-9 years; 21 days at 10-14 years and 28 days at 30 years of service. Most employees can borrow 5 days of vacation from the next year to use. The company also provides a pension plan that vests after 5 years. A 401(k) plan and employee stock purchase is also offered. Some Dow sites offer fitness centers, dieticians and massages. Updated December 17, 2008