Pure Chemistry: ChemEdge 2015

Sponsored by the NACD (National Association of Chemical Distributors) ChemEdge is a conference and trade show tailored for the chemical distribution channel. The show offers training and education on issues important to chemical distributors, manufacturers, warehouses and service support companies. This year, ChemEdge hosted more than 60 exhibitors and more than 400 industry professionals.

EGD Mary Faye ChemEdge

The trade show has been an annual event since 1985. The NACD cited a few impressive facts on the efficacy of their organization:

$32.2 billion in sales
Creating 175,000 jobs
150.5 million miles logged in 2014
Safely delivered products every 7.2 seconds

This year’s event also featured an impressive line-up of guest speakers, including best-selling author and former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, Tom Daschle, Former U.S. Senator (D-SD) and Senate Majority Leader; Trent Lott, Former U.S. Senator (R-MS) and Senate Majority Leader.

ChemEdge Committee Chair Greg Roop of HORN with Electric Guard Dog CEO Jack DeMao

NACD also took time out to honor two exceptional companies: Southeastern Freight won Logistics Magazine’s “Quest for Quality” award. As Southeastern are good friends and great customers of ours, it came as no surprise to us to learn they have actually won the award every year since 1989. KIC Chemicals Inc. also won the Responsible Distribution Excellence Award in recognition of demonstrating best practices, continuous improvement, management commitment and site verification. Congrats to both!

EGD Mary Faye and Dwayne Kerr
Electric Guard Dog's Mary Faye with Dwayne Kerr of DHS/Infrastructure Security

Security was on everyone’s mind at ChemEdge, largely due to a terrorist chemical attack on a petrochemical plant in southern France that took place in July. The attack raised new questions about what defines ample security for chemical production facilities and warehouses, as well as for the logistics companies that transport those products. As a result, Homeland Security’s CFATS (Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards) was discussed in depth.

According to the Homeland Security website, “CFATS a dynamic multi-tiered risk assessment process and requires facilities identified as high-risk to meet and maintain performance-based security standards appropriate to the facilities and the risks they pose. DHS chemical security inspectors work in all 50 states to help ensure facilities have security measures in place to meet CFATS requirements.” To date, more than 45,000 companies have submitted info to Homeland Security since C-FATS was ratified by congress in 2007. Of those 45,000 companies, 3,500 sites are monitored by 100 representatives nationwide.

EGD Team-Mary Faye, Jason and Shara
Electric Guard Dog Team: Mary Faye Hooker, Jason Reed and Shara Turley

There’s still much to do. More companies in the American chemical supply chain will likely be reviewing their CFATS compliance in the coming months, and we’d encourage them to include perimeter security in that discussion. Feel free to contact us at Electric Guard Dog if you need assistance.

Pure Chemistry: ChemEdge 2015

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