standards in our industry in
the field of sustainability as
well. These excellent rating
results confirm our efforts in
continuously developing our sustain-
ability strategy. This good performance
sets Brenntag apart from competitors
as sustainability plays an increasingly
important role in the supply chain of
the chemical industry.”
EcoVadis evaluates companies’ sus-
tainability performance in terms of
the following four categories: environ-
ment, labour practices, fair business
practices and sustainable procurement.
With its current score of 66 points,
Brenntag is significantly above aver-
age in the industrial sector in which
EcoVadis categorizes the company
( 42.2 in October 2016), and is among
the top 2 percent of all the companies
assessed in around 150 categories
Since October 2014, Brenntag
has been involved in “Together for
Sustainability” (TfS), and with this
result has met all of the admissibility
criteria to become a full member of the
industry initiative – so far only chemi-
cal distributor. TfS is aiming to develop
and implement a global audit program
to assess and improve sustainability
practices within the supply chains of
the chemical industry.
“In line with our corporate claim
ConnectingChemistry, we want to contribute towards greater sustainability
in the chemical industry’s supply chain,
and to improve our own supplier management in this regard. As a joint platform and international network, TfS
offers significant efficiency advantages
and opportunities for exchange from
which both Brenntag and our suppliers
can benefit”, adds Karsten Beckmann.
Azelis Americas CASE
Combines GMZ/EW
Kaufmann Divisions
Azelis Americas CASE market segment
has announced the merger of GMZ and
EW Kaufmann into one entity, GMZ, to
be led by Tom Wells, president, GMZ.
“The newly formed GMZ will allow
Azelis Americas CASE to better serve
our customers, our principals and our
employees,” said Frank Bergonzi, CEO
and president of Azelis Americas.
“The combination of these two entities makes sense strategically, and
allows us to have one brand encompassing the entire geography (Midwest,
Ohio Valley and North East Regions),”
said Dan Gruber, president CASE market segment. We will continue to operate the CASE market segment via a
North American business strategy, executed by three regional brands; GMZ,
Ribelin Sales and PT Hutchins. Ribelin
Sales and PT Hutchins will continue to
operate in the SEast/SWest and West
regions, respectively.
The newly optimized CASE channel demonstrates the commitment to
remain the leading CASE specialty distribution channel in the Americas. It is
comprised of a team of highly trained,
dedicated technical sales representatives, supported by application labs
with degreed chemists, and best in class
customer service. It will continue to
bring tangible value and accelerated
growth to our principal partners and to
our over 4,000 customers across the US.
The planned integration is scheduled
for completion by January 1, 2017.
“We stand committed to fulfilling
our mission of delivering exceptional
value to our customers and principals
in every transaction. We strive to ex-
ceed expectations every single day,”
said Tom Wells, president of GMZ.
“The synergies and additional custom-
er -facing resources this merger brings,
creates an exceptional opportunity for
us. I could not be more excited about
the immense opportunity this affords
to our employees, as well as the en-
hanced growth platform it will offer
our principals, Our ability to provide
a superior technical and customer ser-
vice experience to our customers will
be enhanced.”
Ted Burke, currently president of
EW Kaufmann, will take on a new role
of VP of Operations for the CASE mar-
ket segment. In his new role, Ted will
focus on our supply chain and ware-
house operations, with an emphasis on
further enhancing our ability to service
our customers and principals. Shaun
Julian will continue as VP of Sales for
GMZ’s eastern region, reporting to
Rocky Prior, who has been promoted
to the new role of Senior Vice President
of Sales, GMZ.
Emerald Performance
Materials Completes Sale of
Specialties Business Group
to DyStar LP
Emerald Performance Materials, LLC
completed the sale of its Emerald
Specialties business group to DyStar
LP. Emerald Specialties includes
Emerald Hilton Davis, Emerald
Carolina Chemical and Emerald Foam
Control with sites in Cincinnati, OH,
Charlotte, NC and Cheyenne, WY, respectively. Terms of the transaction
were not disclosed.
Thomas M. Holleran, executive
director at Emerald Performance
Materials said, “We are pleased that the
sale has been completed and appreci-
ate the dedication of all our employees
throughout this process. We are also ex-
tremely proud of the accomplishments
of Emerald Specialties in developing
new technologies and delivering value
to our customers and organization over
the last 10 years. The Specialties busi-
ness is well-positioned for continued
success as part of DyStar.”
Emerald Performance Materials con-
tinues to focus on exciting growth oppor-
tunities in its Kalama Chemical and CVC
Thermoset Specialties business groups, as
well as support of its Polymer Additives
and Nitriles business group, and has
made significant investments to expand
its capacity, product offerings and global
reach. In accordance with a previous
announcement, the company expects to
conclude the sale of its Polymer Additives
and Nitriles business unit as a separate
transaction in the future.
PPG Marks Completion of
Silica Capacity Expansion at
Delfzijl, Netherlands Plant
PPG held a ceremony marking the
completion of a project to increase precipitated silica production capacity at
its Delfzijl, Netherlands, manufacturing
location. The expansion, which came
