Rohm & Haas Penicillin Papers

Rohm & Haas is an American company specializing in chemical manufacturing. Founded in Esslingen, Germany by Otto Röhm and Otto Haas, the company’s first major product was Oropon, which was used in leather tanning. Previously, dog feces were used a dye fixative, but Rohm and Haas were able to sanitize the process by using animal pancreas enzymes instead. Oropon was a success and the need for leather products during World War I lead to rapid growth for the manufacturer.

While developing Oropon, Otto Haas opened an American branch of the Rohm & Haas Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, he worked directly with leather manufacturers to make Oropon a staple in American leather manufacturing. During World War II, the company again saw rapid growth due to their production of Plexiglas, which was used for plane canopies. After WWII, Plexiglas became an indispensable product for the auto industry. Throughout the later 20th century, Rohm & Haas experimented with other industries, such as pharmaceuticals, but Plexiglass remained their livelihood. In 2008, Rohm & Haas was purchased by Dow Chemical but remains in operation in Philadelphia.