SOCMA Acquires Specialty & Custom Chemicals Show

Association Comes Full Circle as it Reenters Trade Show Arena

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Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates

Sep 01, 2020, 10:22 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) is pleased to announce it is returning to trade show ownership with the acquisition of the Specialty & Custom Chemicals Show, a trade show founded in 2019 and produced by Chemicals America.

"As a galvanizing force for the specialty and custom chemical community, it is SOCMA's role and responsibility to connect the supply chain," said SOCMA President and CEO Jennifer Abril. "When we sold InformEx in 2005, it left a void. Our industry thrives on face-to-face, intimate interactions to solidify business partnerships and fulfill supply chain needs, and without InformEx that unique space for connecting was severed for SOCMA. Returning to the trade show space underpins our strategic focus to offer commercial growth opportunities for our members and the industry, alongside our year-round trove of tools and resources."

Purchasing the Specialty & Custom Chemicals Show has been a long time in the making, according to Abril. "This is something we have considered since partnering with Tom Leahy to launch the Fort Worth Show, and conditions were right between both parties to effectuate the sale. Tom has built an event that is strategically important to the industry, and it has indeed been a pleasure working with the Chemicals America team these past two years to carry out our mutual vision to see the industry succeed."

Tom Leahy echoed those sentiments. "I'm excited for SOCMA to take over ownership of the Specialty & Custom Chemicals America show," Leahy said. "SOCMA is a trusted association voice for the specialty chemical industry, and SOCMA member companies already represent a significant percentage of the Fort Worth event. We have been partnering together since 2018 to produce the first two Texas shows, and I believe the timing is right to hand over the baton to their organization."

SOCMA is taking a cautious and thoughtful approach in planning the 2021 event, with the health and safety of exhibitors and attendees of primary concern. The show will follow its traditional format this year, with limited adjustments based on social distancing and other safety protocols associated with the pandemic.

"This is also a historic and remarkable way to kick off SOCMA's 100^th anniversary in 2021," Abril said. "Our Board of Governors and SOCMA team are energized about returning to the trade show space with an opportunity to build upon our long history of delivering value to the supply chain."

Registration for the 2021 Specialty & Custom Chemicals, set for February 9-11 at the Omni in Fort Worth, TX, is now open. For questions about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, contact Jenny Gaines at [email protected].

About SOCMA
Solely dedicated to the specialty and fine chemical industry, SOCMA focuses on building commercial connections, supporting manufacturing and operations and advocating for regulatory and legislative policies that advance the specialty chemical supply chain. Learn more at www.socma.org.

SOURCE Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates