What happens when students stop watching science…and start becoming part of it?

That’s what made this year’s STEAM Lab experience at Monument Chemical feel so special.

For the second year, Monument Brandenburg team members partnered with local students for a hands-on day of experiments, simulations, and real-world chemistry connections designed to make science feel interactive, approachable, and fun. From liquid nitrogen demonstrations and molecule dances to life-sized reaction models, students weren’t just observing concepts—they were actively participating in them.

Sweder van Rijckevorsel has spent his career navigating global markets, from trading offices in Amsterdam to complex operations across the Caribbean and the U.S. Today, he’s leading Monument’s European business at a time when the market is shifting – and new opportunities are emerging.

In this Q&A, Sweder reflects on the experiences that shaped his path, what it took to build Monument’s presence in Europe, and how he’s thinking about growth, partnership, and what comes next.

In specialty chemicals, the gap between development and commercialization is where momentum is often lost. Monument’s pilot-to-production (P2P) model is designed to keep that momentum going—connecting development, scale-up, and manufacturing in one place. Learn how we’re helping customers bring products to market faster.

Monument Chemical recently became the first U.S. manufacturer to produce polyols from captured carbon, launching a new product line called Poly-CO₂® at our Brandenburg, Kentucky facility. Built on Econic Technologies’ renewable carbon platform, this breakthrough replaces fossil-based feedstocks with CO₂ – reducing global warming potential by up to 30% while delivering the same (or better) performance customers expect.

We sat down with Monument Oxides business leaders, Don Phillips, Vice President, Rob Einterz, Business Development Manager, and Deb Schofner, Sales Director, to talk about what this launch means for the polyurethane industry, how the partnership with Econic came to life, and what’s next for this innovative new product line.

If you’ve spent any time around Monument, you’ve likely crossed paths with Sarves Peri, maybe in a meeting, or during a plant visit, or in a conversation about where we’re headed next. While Sarves recently stepped into the role of President, his story at Monument — and his leadership style — have been shaped over many years and many moments. We sat down with Sarves to talk about Monument’s culture, the road ahead, and what helps teams grow stronger together.

Monument Chemical announced today that Sarves Peri has been appointed President of Monument Chemical, effective January 1, 2026. Sarves will succeed current President Paul Raymond, who will retire in July 2026 after leading the company through a period of significant growth, operational strength, and market expansion.

This fall, Monument once again joined forces with Meade County Schools in Kentucky to spark curiosity and open doors for the next generation of engineers, technicians, and innovators. Through two hands-on events – the Manufacturing Expo and Tech Connect – Monument team members helped local students see that exciting, rewarding careers in advanced manufacturing are not just possible, but happening right here in their own community.

Monument has begun the first US-based production of polyols from renewable carbon this month at its manufacturing facility in Brandenburg, KY. The new product line of polycarbonate ether (PCE) polyols is based on a process from Econic Technologies that replaces fossil-based feedstocks with captured CO2 and reduces global warming potential by 20-30%.

When sparks fly in the Meade County Skills Welding Program, they’re symbols of opportunity, growth, and craftsmanship. For nearly 50 years, this hands-on program has helped students turn classroom learning into real-world skills. Thanks to the support of Monument Chemical’s Community Partnership Initiative (CPI) grant at the Brandenburg, Kentucky site, that legacy is getting an exciting upgrade.

Over the past three decades, Adam has worn a lot of hats – in and outside of Monument. He’s served in the Navy, worked as an engineer, led teams at both our Houston, TX and Brandenburg, KY sites, and now serves as Vice President of Operations for Monument Chemical. But if you ask him, each experience – from painting a naval ship by flashlight to mentoring future engineers – taught him something new about leadership, people, and perspective.

We recently sat down with Adam to talk about his roots, his lessons learned, and what still fuels him today.