With over 70 years in the chemical industry, the Jayhawk name is synonymous with complex fine chemical sourcing solutions. Today, customers benefit from improved supply chain efficiencies via Jayhawk’s custom manufacturing services for active ingredients and intermediates, or sustainable sourcing from a boutique portfolio of made-to-order products.
The Jayhawk site was originally commissioned by the U.S. military as Jayhawk Ordinance Works in September of 1941. Strategically located in the middle of the country next to rail yards and the famous Route 66, Jayhawk Ordinance produced ammonium nitrate and nitric acid for explosives manufacturing.
Subsequently purchased by Kenneth Spencer, Jayhawk Ordinance Works became known as Jayhawk Works and the foundation of Spencer Chemicals. During this time, a new herbicide production plant was built at Jayhawk. This plant served as a platform for custom manufacturing services critical to the expanding agricultural industry.
CONTINUED EXPANSION: GULF OIL CHEMICALS COMPANY (GOCC), 1964-1983
Under GOCC, Jayhawk expanded its manufacturing capacity for specialty chemicals including BTDA. This product was introduced as a thermal curative for epoxy resins. Proving the versatility and continuing relevance of this legacy product, BTDA now offers additional benefits for the manufacture of polyimide films in cutting-edge smartphone and tablet applications.
A SHARPER FOCUS: FINE CHEMICAL CUSTOM MANUFACTURING, 1983-2018
In 1983, GOCC was acquired by Chevron, who proceeded to sell the site to Allco Chemical. Ownership was then passed along to several companies including Koch Chemical Corporation, AlliedSignal, Lenzing, Inspec, Laporte, Degussa and Evonik. No matter the owners, the Jayhawk site focused on providing high-quality service in fine chemical manufacturing. And so the Jayhawk name endured, becoming synonymous with excellence in fine chemical products and custom manufacturing services.
NEW OPPORTUNITY: PERMIRA AND CAAB, 2018-Today
In late 2018, Jayhawk was acquired by Permira, the global private equity firm, and became affiliated with CABB, a leading European manufacturer of chemical intermediates and finished products. The current leadership of the “new” Jayhawk Fine Chemicals Corporation has worked at the site for decades, ensuring that customers receive the high level of service they have come to expect, while allowing Jayhawk to fully leverage opportunities with CABB’s multiple European sites. As part of this new transatlantic partnership, ChemCreations, a new, “modular” approach to custom chemical manufacturing, has been launched. ChemCreations allows customers to select services along the life cycle of a fine chemical project from proof of concept to full-scale manufacturing. When choosing to outsource a complex chemical synthesis, customers have grown to rely upon Jayhawk’s expertise in fine chemical custom manufacturing services.
