BUSINESS SUMMARY: Rockwood Holdings, Inc. engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of specialty chemicals and advanced materials for industrial and commercial purposes worldwide. It operates in five segments: Specialty Chemicals, Performance Additives, Titanium Dioxide Pigments, Advanced Ceramics, and Specialty Compounds. The Specialty Chemicals segment offers lithium compounds and chemicals; metal surface treatment chemicals, including corrosion protection/prevention oils; synthetic metal sulfides; and maintenance chemicals. This segment serves automotive pre-coating, steel and metal working, life sciences, aerospace, batteries, disc brakes, and aircraft industries. The Performance Additives segment provides iron oxide pigments, wood protection products, inorganic chemicals, synthetic and organic thickeners, specialty pools, spa performance chemicals, algaecides, and aquatic herbicides for residential and commercial construction, coatings and plastics, personal care, paper manufacturing, and pool product markets. The Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment offers titanium dioxide pigments, barium compounds, zinc compounds, and flocculants for synthetic fibers, plastics, paper, and paints and coatings markets. The Advanced Ceramics segment provides ceramic-on-ceramic ball head and liner components used in hip joint prostheses systems; ceramic tapes; cutting tools; and other ceramic components. This segment serves pharmaceutical contrast media, water treatment, medical, mechanical systems, electronics, and automotive markets. The Specialty Compounds segment offers specification compounds, such as polyvinyl chloride and thermoplastic elastomer for voice and data transmission cables, food and beverage, packaging, medical applications, footwear, and automotive markets.
