applications due to their liquid form. With
the method developed by Addcomp,
now liquid and powder, low-melting and
sticky products can be transformed into
a solid granulate that is easier for customers
to process. That expands its use in
the thermoplastic segment. Furthermore,
Addcomp’s plants can process existing
BYK additives even more precisely. Experts
call this compounding. For the more
unique the customer’s product or manufacturing
process is, the better an additive
has to be tailored to its requirements.
Profits Slated for Investment
in the Future
The acquisition shows once again how
ALTANA defines its consistent growth strategy.
The company’s ongoing aim is to
maintain and extend its leading position in
attractive specialty chemicals markets.
Therefore, ALTANA is investing in the future
– not only in its own research and
development or in new manufacturing
facilities, but also in companies that
complement
its existing product portfolio
or expand its expertise. “We continually
have our eyes on the current market development,
on technological progress, and
above all on the requirements of our customers,”
says Thorsten Kröller. “When
we see that we need to supplement our
portfolio, we do so.”
The acquisition also opens up excellent development
perspectives for Addcomp.
The company will benefit from the global
structures of the financially strong
ALTANA
Group, for example from its broad-based
research and development, application
technology, and worldwide sales net-
work. The bundling of BYK’s chemistry
and product competence with Addcomp’s
technological knowhow will lead to completely
new additives for customers around
the world.
The transition is running smoothly.
Thorsten Kröller and the managing director
of the Dutch sister company BYKCera
will integrate the new acquisition
into BYK’s structures. Right after the
contract
was signed, BYK’s management
called a staff meeting for the new colleagues.
What they had to say motivated
the new BYK employees:
The companies
that ALTANA
acquires are in excellent
shape usually within just a few years.
30 Sustainability Incorporated
Thorsten Kröller, the head of BYK’s plastics additives busi
ness line, was involved in the negotiations with Addcomp
from the very outset. It was the third acquisition for the
longtime BYK staff member. Yet each one places its own
requirements, says Kröller. In this case, the proximity
of the Dutch ALTANA company BYK-Cera to Addcomp facilitated
the talks with the acquisition candidate. Together
with BYK-Cera’s managing director, Dr. Wim de Blok, Kröller
became the interim head of Addcomp until it is completely
integrated in the BYK Additives & Instruments division.