I believe it is by using our collective expertise to develop value-added processes and products that meet the needs of the global market. At the same time, we must build our bottom line profitability faster than our top line, increase efficiency, control costs and grow where it is strategically sound to do so. Aggressive research and development is an important component of this process. Our Technical Center is a nucleus for product development and information sharing across all companies.
Enthusiastic teamwork is also vital to our success.
The Chemdal team, for example, is working diligently to differentiate its portfolio, and has promising developments in new technologies and products. Challenges in expanding our global footprint continue. Certainly, there were disappointments in 1998 that profoundly impacted our results. Our experience with Volclay Ltd., the U.K. minerals operation, was problematic and caused us to reassess our approach to acquisitions. We have used this knowledge to create a new system for integrating businesses.