View from the Roof

Better Living Through Chemistry

I had the opportunity to visit a local research facility celebrating their fifty year anniversary in Buffalo yesterday. Anyone who has travelled the I-190 just south of downtown Buffalo may have noticed the Honeywell complex, yet how many folks are aware of the fact that well over 1000 patents have been granted to those working there since 1955.

(Full disclosure: Honeywell has been known to make donations to the local community center and I serve on the board of directors of said community center)

Some of most well known products developed at this location are the refridgerant gases which replaced the ozone depleting chloroflourocarbons previously used in air conditions and the like. Other products such as the ridgid foams used in car dashboards and furniture were also developed here. As youngsters growing up in the same neighborhood we would often liberate large blocks (2' x 2' x 5') of this foam, stack them up at the base of the most convienient tall structure, and well, you can imagine the rest. Also, this being Buffalo, many of the same foam blocks were cut up, covered with duct tape and lashed to the body with clothesline. Viola! Instant goalie pads for those aspiring future NHLers.

Commercial dyes were also made in this area. Before Honeywell, the company was known as Allied Signal. Allied Chemical before that, and National Analine prior to that. Buffalo Color has an ajacent facility, but they no longer produce 90% of the blue dye found in jeans as they once did. Competition from China has ended that era.

It is nice to know this particular company is still here providing tax dollars and well paying professional jobs.

posted by Chris @ 11:54 AM