DuPont 2015 Annual Report Download - page 8

Part I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS, continued
7
Safety & Protection
Safety & Protection businesses, DuPont Protection Technologies (Protection Technologies), DuPont Building Innovations
(Building Innovations) and DuPont Sustainable Solutions (Sustainable Solutions), satisfy the growing global needs of businesses,
governments and consumers for solutions that make life safer, healthier and more secure. By uniting market-driven science with
the strength of highly regarded brands, the segment delivers products and services to a large number of markets, including
construction, transportation, communications, industrial chemicals, oil and gas, electric utilities, automotive, manufacturing,
defense, homeland security and safety consulting.
Protection Technologies is focused on scientifically engineered products and systems to protect people and the environment. With
highly recognized brands like DuPont™ Kevlar® high strength material, Nomex® thermal resistant material and Tyvek® protective
material, the business has a broad portfolio with strong positions in many diverse global markets which include: aerospace, life
protection, automotive, energy, personal protection, medical, graphics, packaging and other industrial markets.
Building Innovations is committed to the science behind increasing the performance of building systems, helping reduce operating
costs and creating more sustainable structures. The business is a market leader of solid surfaces through its DuPontTM Corian®
and Montelli® lines of products which offer durable and versatile materials for residential and commercial purposes. DuPont™
Tyvek® offers industry leading solutions for the protection and energy efficiency of buildings and the business also offers Geotextiles
for Professional Landscaping applications.
Sustainable Solutions continues to help organizations worldwide reduce workplace injuries and fatalities while improving operating
costs, productivity and quality. Sustainable Solutions is a leader in the safety consulting field, selling training products, as well
as consulting services. Additionally, Sustainable Solutions is dedicated to clean air, clean fuel and clean water with offerings that
help reduce sulfur and other emissions, formulate cleaner fuels, or dispose of liquid waste. Its goal is to help maintain business
continuity and environmental compliance for companies in the refining and petrochemical industries, as well as for government
entities. In addition, the business is a leading global provider of process technology, proprietary specialty equipment and technical
services to the sulfuric acid industry.
The major commodities, raw materials and supplies for the Safety & Protection segment include: alumina trihydrate, benzene,
high density polyethylene, isophthaloyl chloride, metaphenylenediamine, methyl methacrylate, paraphenylenediamine, polyester
resin, terephthaloyl chloride and quartz.
Safety & Protection net sales outside the U.S. accounted for 59 percent of the segment's total sales in 2015.
Backlog
In general, the company does not manufacture its products against a backlog of orders and does not consider backlog to be a
significant indicator of the level of future sales activity. Production and inventory levels are based on the level of incoming orders
as well as projections of future demand. Therefore, the company believes that backlog information is not material to understanding
its overall business and should not be considered a reliable indicator of the company's ability to achieve any particular level of
revenue or financial performance.
Intellectual Property
As a science and technology based company, DuPont believes that securing intellectual property is an important part of protecting
its research. Some DuPont businesses operate in environments in which the availability and protection of intellectual property
rights affect competition. (Information on the importance of intellectual property rights to Pioneer is included in Item 1 Agriculture
business discussion beginning on page 4 of this report.)
Trade secrets are an important element of the company's intellectual property. Many of the processes used to make DuPont products
are kept as trade secrets which, from time to time, may be licensed to third parties. DuPont vigilantly protects all of its intellectual
property including its trade secrets. When the company discovers that its trade secrets have been unlawfully taken, it reports the
matter to governmental authorities for investigation and potential criminal action, as appropriate. In addition, the company takes
measures to mitigate any potential impact, which may include civil actions seeking redress, restitution and/or damages based on
loss to the company and/or unjust enrichment.