In 1909, German entrepreneur Otto Haas came to Philadelphia to sell Oropon, an
invention of his friend and business partner, Dr. Otto Rohm, for use in
transforming goatskins into kid leather. A century later, Rohm and Haas is a
global leader in providing advanced chemicals that enhance the performance of
consumer goods, from fast-drying water-based paints to sunscreens with greater
SPF functionality and more powerful semiconductor chips.In "Rohm and Haas: A
Century of Innovation," business historian Regina Lee Blaszczyk examines the
100-year history of this Philadelphia-based chemical company which has long
stressed the importance of connecting with the customer. Based on interviews
with top executives and research in