Interesting article on chemicals industry in Pittsburgh area (manufacturing, natural gas)

[BrianTH]

Chemicals are actually the third-largest export from the region, with over 250 related companies and 10,000 employees:

http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2010/07/12/focus1.html?b=1278907200^3622321

The industry contracted and the local companies shifted more to R&D after heavy manufacturing moved out of the region. But it is is very energy-intensive business, and so cheap supplies of natural gas in the region might contribute to stabilization and perhaps future growth on the industrial side.

It was not discussed in that article, but I also know that Marcellus gas produces a lot of liquid components as a byproduct, and those are also used in the chemical business. So that might be another reason to locate chemical production in the area.

[PeterRabbit]

I read something to that effect some time ago and was surprised. It's an industry with little news. I don't recall it being any big deal back in our manufacturing days. We used a lot of chemicals and I can't think of any company as a supplier.