Communications central to Distrupol’s Nordic region customer relations

Each year Distrupol, a leading European polymer distributor, technical service and solutions provider, brings together key Swedish customers for an update seminar on new product additions to its portfolio and developments that exert an influence on business in the Nordic arena.

At this year’s event, held October 16 in Jönköping, Sweden, and co-hosted by DuPont, the Distrupol seminar included a guest speaker from Nova Chemicals and drew an audience of around 50 of the distributor’s customers.

Central to the seminar was an insight into Nordic market dynamics provided by Thomas Andersson, commercial director of Distrupol Nordic. In a presentation entitled ‘What’s Happening?’ Andersson dealt with an issue that is giving customers concern over the long-term continuity of product supply and technical support.

He observed that the problem stems from the confusion caused in the market when one supplier announces its purchase of another supplier. When these companies’ products have previously been available through two different distributors it’s often unclear as to whether that will continue to be the case or whether, as often happens, supply will be consolidated through one distributor. When this consolidation takes place it can results in a reduction of the technical support available to processors.

Moreover, support is further compromised by suppliers refocusing their resources away from the Nordic market. Some have decided, for example, that the Swedish automotive industry is too small to justify investment in the region and are concentrating their efforts elsewhere in mainland Europe. Because of this, Andersson stressed the need for processors to align their businesses with strong distributors that have solid relationships with suppliers, provide comprehensive technical support and that have people on the ground to give assistance locally.

Customers heard from Ulf Bruder, marketing manager DuPont Nordic, of the company’s latest developments, namely Thermx® PCT polymer and new modified, carbon fibre reinforced Delrin, platable Delrin®, as well as Zytel® HTN high-tech nylon®. The presentation included a virtual tour of plastics.dupont.com to bring customers up to speed with the company’s web-based product information service.

Also during the day’s programme, Nova Chemicals’ Jack van Osterbusch, technical manager Nova Polystyrene, gave an overview of Styrosun® UV resistant high impact polystyrene and introduced FX 550, an innovative high gloss, high impact PS material.

To conclude the day’s quick-fire schedule, all participants were able to engage in some post-seminar relaxation at an ice-hockey match played between the number one and number two teams in the Swedish league; HV71 and Färjestad.