| Ashland, Inc. operates in transportation construction, chemical, and petroleum industries worldwide. It operates in five segments: APAC, Ashland Distribution, Ashland Specialty Chemical, Valvoline, and Refining and Marketing. The APAC segment performs asphalt and concrete contract construction work, including highway paving and repair, excavation and grading, and bridge construction. It also produces asphaltic and ready mix concrete, crushed stone, and other aggregate in the southern and midcontinent United States. The Ashland Distribution segment distributes chemicals, plastics, and resins in North America and plastics in Europe. It also provides environmental services. The Ashland Specialty Chemical segment focuses on two businesses: thermoset resins and water technologies. It supplies specialty chemicals to service industries, including building and construction, commercial and institutional water treatment, graphic arts and printing, industrial water treatment, marine, metal casting, packaging and converting, pulp and paper, recreational marine, and transportation. The Valvoline segment produces and markets packaged motor oil and automotive chemicals, including appearance products, antifreeze, filters, and automotive fragrances. It also provides fast oil change services through Valvoline Instant Oil Change outlets. The Refining and Marketing segment owns and operates refineries in the United States. Its operations include crude oil atmospheric and vacuum distillation, fluid catalytic cracking, catalytic reforming, and desulfurization and sulfur recovery. As of September 30, 2004, the Refining and Marketing segment owned and operated seven refineries in the United States. Ashland was organized in 1936 and is headquartered in Covington, Kentucky. |
