This is the remarkable story of an entrepreneurial firm that helped to create the petrochemical industry as we know it today. The author also highlights the important role chemical engineers played in developing and commercializing new technologies based on the conversion of hydrocarbons into petrochemicals, which also led to the transfer of technological dominance from Germany to the United States. These developments are illustrated by the participants' personal histories, in the form of interviews and recorded oral histories. In addition, the book presents a highly relevant case study for engineers and managers in the chemical industry.

Peter Spitz has spent his entire career in the chemical and energy industries. Holding a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from MIT, he has worked for a large oil company, for a petrochemical research and engineering company, and as a consultant to the global chemical industry. Peter has a broad background in areas ranging from R&D and process development to corporate strategy and financial analysis. He was the founder and president of a respected international consulting firm, Chem Systems Inc., which was acquired by IBM in 1998. Peter is the author of two books, 'Petrochemicals. The Rise of an Industry', and 'The Chemical Industry at the Millennium'. He has written numerous articles on industry trends and is one of the founders of the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia. He has been a keynote speaker at important industry meetings and is an early founder and overseer of the Chemical Heritage Foundation (now Science History Institute).