ICI Forms Specialty Chemical Business With $30.8 Million R&D Budget

ICI PLC (Wilmington, DE), has formed a new global specialty chemicals business comprising several members of the ICI group including Unichema International, ICI Lubricants, ICI Surfactants, Mona Industries and Solaveil. Named Uniqema, the new business will become fully operational Jan. 1, 1999.

Uniqema will provide a broad portfolio of specialty chemical product solutions. The combined business has current annual sales of $1.2 billion and an R&D expenditure of $30.8 million. Headquartered in London, Uniqema will operate from 33 operational sites around the world and will employ 3,200 people. The American headquarters will be in Wilmington.

"The purchase of Unichema in July 1997 and Mona Industries in May 1998 has strengthened our global portfolio and enabled many new synergies," says David MacLeod, vice chairman of Uniqema. "Uniqema is all about creating innovation that adds value for the customer. This does not just mean innovative R&D but also innovations in business efficiency. There will be a single point of contact for each of Uniqema's customers. This will maximize effective delivery of skills and knowledge to customers."

Uniqema will offer approximately 10,000 different products in over 90 countries to a growing customer base of 10,000. The company will operate in a wide range of markets via 20 strategic business units including construction, crop-protection additives, cleaning, food, coatings, health care, lubricants, oleochemicals, paper, polymers, rubber, textiles, and tobacco.

"Our goal is to be the strongest and most innovative supplier in the specialty chemicals market," says Richard Stillwell, the new company's executive chairman. "Uniqema has ambitious targets for growth."

For more information, call 800-822-8215.