Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

The word “chemistry” is derived, it is believed, from the Arab word kÄ“mia which signifies “small quantity”.  Kémias are what offerings of small quantities of food are called in the countries of North Africa and the Middle East, such as Lebanon.  They are the hors-d'oeuvres of the region.  Maurice Barakat, of Lebanese origins, operates NexKemia; hence, the name of his company.  For Mr. Barakat, the use of the word kÄ“mia is most appropriate, since the business produces seeds or beads of polystyrene.  Ingenious and descriptive really – one word marrying the chemical aspect of the product with the notion of a small quantity!  The above is according to Pierre Beaudry, manager of the Mansonville plant, which was once owned by Huntsman Chemical Corporation.

The history of chemical products in Potton began in 1958.  Albert Korman, Sr. and his sons Albert and Fred created Mansonville Plastics Ltd., specializing in the manufacture of polystyrene insulating tiles for ceilings and buildings.  Four years later, this factory employed forty persons and had added styrofoam molding and polyurethane loose fill to its production.  A fire on June 29, 1963 destroyed the establishment, which was immediately rebuilt.  Branch plants were established in Ontario and in British Columbia as well as warehousing in Alberta.  Albert Korman, the younger, assumed ownership of the business in 1968.  In 1971, Armand Russel acquired fifty percent of the shares.  Albert Korman then founded Potton Chemicals Limited in order to furnish Mansonville Plastics Ltd with the styrofoam beads necessary for its production.  A worldwide shortage of styrene monomer held up production of polystyrene until 1972.  The two companies merged in 1981.  Production ceased at Mansonville Plastics Ltd.  The new entity became known as Les Produits Chimiques Potton Ltée.  (Potton Chemicals)^[1]

The Company was then sold to Huntsman Chemical Corporation (Salt Lake City, Utah), one of the world's leaders in chemical compounds and pigments.  When Huntsman Chemicals was taken over by the Dutch based Basell in 2007, the decision was made to dispense with the Mansonville plant.  After a short period of closure, the plant was re-opened under the banner of NexKemia Pétrochimie Inc.