Ashland (NYSE:ASH) is a global specialty chemicals company that develops, manufactures and supplies a broad range of performance and process-critical additives, ingredients and technologies. Its portfolio spans performance additives for coatings, adhesives and sealants; specialty ingredients for personal care and pharmaceutical applications; and process aids used in water treatment and other industrial processes. Ashland aims to address customer challenges by delivering tailored solutions that improve product performance, processing efficiency and sustainability outcomes.
Founded in 1924 as the Ashland Oil & Refining Company, the firm gradually expanded into the specialty chemicals sector over the second half of the 20th century. In 2011, the company formally rebranded as Ashland Inc. to reflect its strategic focus on high-value chemical solutions. Today, Ashland is headquartered in Covington, Kentucky, and operates manufacturing facilities, research laboratories and technical service centers across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
Ashland’s product offerings are organized around key market segments such as coatings and construction, personal care and pharmaceuticals, adhesives and sealants, and industrial process technologies. Its performance additives include rheology modifiers, dispersants and protective colloids, while its specialty ingredients range from emollients and surfactants to pharmaceutical excipients and polymer modifiers. The company works closely with customers in industries including paints and coatings, consumer goods, healthcare, energy and water treatment to co-create innovative formulations.
Research and development lie at the core of Ashland’s strategy, with multidisciplinary teams focusing on new product platforms, formulation optimization and sustainable processing methods. The company maintains partnerships with academic institutions and industry consortiums to accelerate innovation and drive environmental stewardship. Ashland is led by President and Chief Executive Officer William F. Oplinger, under whose direction the company continues to pursue growth through technology-led solutions and customer-centric collaboration.
