EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J.—One of the world's largest suppliers of silicone materials has entered into a partnership with a global distributor of specialty chemicals and food ingredients.
The pact calls for IMCD N.V., based in the Netherlands, to market and distribute silicone materials for Elkem Silicones in North America. A unit of Elkem A.S.A., Elkem Silicones is based in Lyon, France, and has its North American headquarters in East Brunswick, along with other manufacturing facilities in Asia and Europe.
"We are excited to extend our silicone solutions with a personal touch in North America through IMCD's commercial knowledge and market formulation expertise," said Chris York, president of Elkem Silicones Americas. "We are proud to partner with IMCD, an industry leader, to provide North American customers with Elkem's high quality silicone materials and convenient access to IMCD's comprehensive and complementary product portfolio."
Specific silicone materials to be marketed and sold by IMCD include cyclosiloxanes D4 and D5, polydimethylsiloxane oils, silanol fluids, functional fluids, emulsions, antifoams, gels and sealants, according to Elkem.
These materials typically are used in the coatings, construction, industrial, home care, cosmetics, personal care, plastics, rubber, lubricants and food industries, Elkem said in a news release. IMCD's core markets include the industrial and life sciences industries, according to Marcus Jordan, IMCD Americas president.
"With an established national team positioned in Canada, and the launch of a single IMCD brand in the U.S. last year, IMCD provides our principal suppliers with market-focused sales teams that deliver the technical expertise and local market knowledge to expand business opportunities and solutions for both our suppliers and valued customers," Jordan said.
Elkem Silicones, the largest division of parent company Elkem A.S.A., has more than 3,100 employees worldwide. The division serves the aerospace, automotive, construction, consumer goods, energy, health care, paper, personal care and textiles industries.