Solvay Solexis: Birth of a Global Leader in Fluorinated Materials
The Solvay Group is merging its fluoropolymers activities with those of Ausimont into a new company, which will be officially launched under the name SOLVAY SOLEXIS on January 1, 2003. This new company will be one of the world leaders for the production and marketing of fluorinated materials used for technologically advanced applications.
The EUR 1.3 billion acquisition of Ausimont, completed in May 2002, was the largest operation in Solvay's history, lifting the Group to the rank of second-largest producer of fluorinated specialties in the world.
SOLVAY SOLEXIS, whose headquarters will be located in Bollate (Italy), will be headed by Chief Executive Officers Bernard de Laguiche and Carlo Cogliati. The company will generate a turnover of approximately EUR 600 million with 1,800 employees, including 250 researchers. It will operate production sites and commercial branches in 5 countries: Bollate, Bussi, Porto Marghera and Spinetta Marengo in Italy; Thorofare (NJ), Marshallton (DE), Belle Mead (NJ) and Orange (TX) in the United States; Tavaux in France, Tokyo in Japan and San Paulo in Brazil. Its global market coverage will be supplemented by an extensive network of agents and distributors as well as by the Solvay group's commercial structure.
SOLVAY SOLEXIS' activities are focused on a wide range of markets and applications including automotive, aerospace, electronics and semiconductors, telecommunications, construction and cosmetics. The company's strategy aims at the development of the fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers and fluorinated fluids businesses.
An illustration of this strategy is the recent inauguration of the new Tecnoflonâ fluoroelastomers production plant at Thorofare (USA) with an investment of some USD 20 million, and the development of Fluorolinkâ functional fluids capable of improving product surface characteristics in many industrial sectors such as the treatment of leather, ceramics and paper. The latter application has recently won the approval of the United States Food & Drug Administration for food contact.
The company will keep all previously commercial trade names used by Solvay and Ausimont.
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