Sherex Chemical

Sherex Chemical was a prominent manufacturer of specialty chemicals that served as a key supplier to the pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial sectors. Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, the company specialized in the production of fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and their derivatives, including surfactants and quaternary ammonium compounds used as excipients and intermediates. It was established in 1979 following the acquisition of Ashland Oil's chemical division by the German pharmaceutical giant Schering AG. Sherex operated as a core industrial unit for Schering AG for over a decade, providing essential raw materials for drug delivery and consumer health formulations. In 1992, Schering AG sold Sherex to Witco Corporation for approximately $440 million as part of a strategic shift to focus on its primary healthcare and biotechnology businesses. Today, the legacy of Sherex's operations is integrated into the specialty chemical portfolios of successor companies such as Evonik Industries.