9 Sept 2003
Proven range of high quality products now available from a distribution network with comprehensive geographic coverage and extensive market knowledge
Univar forms partnership with Huntsman Performance Products to supply surfactants to the construction industry in the Nordic region
The construction industry in the Nordic countries is poised to benefit from a new agreement between Huntsman’s Performance Products division and Univar AB that will see Huntsman’s full range of surfactants being distributed throughout the region by Univar for the first time. The two partners have sampled successfully a number of potential customers with concrete additives and are now in negotiation over long term contracts.
Univar Nordic and Huntsman’s surrfactants business formed their partnership in October 2001 and since then have been consolidating and developing further their businesses in the detergent and personal care markets. Now they will bring a structured approach to the supply of surfactants to the building and construction industry, with Huntsman’s extensive product range supported in the market by Univar’s market knowledge and geographic strength.
“Univar is an established presence in the Nordic region and can provide total coverage of the market,” explains Nordic Product Manager Johan Frohagen. “We already distribute a complementary selection of products to the construction market and have established long term relationships with many of the potential clients for Huntsman’s surfactants.”
Univar will distribute the Huntsman surfactants from its existing warehouses in Sweden (Malmo, Stockholm and Gothenburg), Denmark (Copenhagen), Norway (Moss) and Finland (Rauma). Univar has staff dedicated to the Huntsman range and is able to provide full customer service support.
“Univar has helped develop our detergent and personal care businesses over the last 18 months,” says Sören Oxböll, Huntsman’s sales manager with responsibility for the Nordic countries. “Now we expect their geographic and marketing strengths to be effective in the support of our comprehensive range of high quality surfactants dedicated to the construction market.”
The primary Huntsman products for the construction market are concrete additives such as water retention aids and air entrainers. Prominent in the company’s portfolio are the DEHSCOFIX® NSF (naphthalene sulphonate formaldehyde) condensates for water retention applications, EMPICOL® lauryl sulphate and NANSA® sulphonate ranges of air entrainers.
Future possibilities for the Univar - Huntsman partnership in the Nordic region include the supply and distribution of surfactants to the mining and pulp and paper industries.
Reader enquiries
Univar EMEA
Thames House, Gogmore Lane
Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 9AP
United Kingdom
Notes for editors
About Univar
Univar is the leading independent chemical distributor in the world. Univar is engaged in the chemical distribution business throughout both North America and Europe. Univar sells and delivers chemical, polymer and food ingredients products, the majority of which are “specialities”, to some 250,000 industrial end-users. In addition, Univar provides a number of related services to its customers, such as blending, managing customer inventories, providing technical support and packaging and labelling.
Univar operates a network of 195 distribution centres, spread across the United States, Canada and 14 European countries. In 2001, Univar generated net sales of EUR 4.8 billion and group operating income (including income from equity participations) of EUR 81.6 million. Univar has approximately 7,000 employees based throughout North America and Europe. The company is headquartered in The Netherlands, with North American offices in Bellevue, Washington. For more information: www.univarcorp.com
Editorial enquiries
Bengt-Hugo Larsson
Univar EMEA
bengt.hugo.larsson@univareurope.com
Peter Ibes
EMG
Also available in