Where we came from
Dow Corning has its headquarters in Midland, Michigan. The Corporation was formed in 1943 as a joint venture between Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated) and The Dow Chemical Company. The Barry site (close to Cardiff) is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world.

We are also an important centre for research and development of new products that will help our customers achieve success well into the future.

Key products and processes
Our Core Products business produces large-volume chlorosilanes and silicon-based fluids, linear and cyclic polymers as the building blocks for our downstream processes.  Speciality Chemicals make emulsions and antifoams for paper coatings, textiles and other industries. The Elastomers business turns polymers from the core products business into silicone rubber for our automotive and electrical industry sectors.

Employee demographics
The Barry site employs some 600 people directly. The site operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Some 40% of our people work shifts and the other 60% are day-workers.

Our Customers, Products and Market Segments
Dow Corning provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the needs of more than 20,000 customers worldwide. We are a global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services.
Barry people make materials which facilitate production of products as diverse as car air bags, shampoos, paints, cosmetics, sealants, insulations, paper and textile coatings plus a host of other innovative applications that improve the quality of our everyday lives.

Barry customers operate around the globe. From fabric in China to electrical insulation in the Welsh valleys we supply the raw materials which help people develop new products and markets.