Attention to Customers, Diversification Keys to Success in Tough Economic Times According to Chem-Trend

Chem-Trend’s Thermoplastic Business experiences double-digit year-over-year growth in North America through diversification, customer-focused product development

HOWELL, Mich., June 3, 2009 – Chem-Trend, a global manufacturer of release agents and other process chemical specialties, announced today that it has achieved a double-digit year-over-year growth in its Thermoplastic Business in North America. The company attributed the growth to customer-focused product development that provides added value, along with recently introduced products to its Lusin® (pronounced Loo-SEEN) brand of purging compounds, lubricants, mold maintenance products and release agents that address specific challenges faced by customers.

As part of a newly implemented business strategy, Chem-Trend also expanded its marketing and product development efforts beyond the automotive industry, traditionally the largest consumer of purging compounds. Chem-Trend has utilized its process improvement experience, honed through mutually beneficial collaboration with the automotive industry, to explore various industries that could benefit from its technologies, such as the medical, wire and cable, defense, and rigid and flexible packaging industries.

“Along with a new product and business strategy that we recently implemented, we realize that, especially now, our customers expect solutions that add value to their process” said René Graewe, Chem-Trend’s recently named global business development director for Thermoplastic. “We cannot change the market, but we can continue to establish intimate relationships with our customers that allow us to truly integrate our product into their process for improved productivity. By diversifying into other market segments we create a balance for our business, allowing us to serve our longtime customers and applying what we have learned to those new markets.”

Product development in direct conjunction with customers’ requirements has been a core competency of Chem-Trend since its founding. Chem-Trend has been able to leverage its global presence by taking that experience and applying it to the development of products that can be used in each market it serves.

Its global presence also allows Chem-Trend to anticipate future industry needs, such as the development of green products. As thermoplastic manufacturers move to more environmentally friendly materials for production, Chem-Trend is able to adjust the chemistry of its purging compounds, lubricants, mold maintenance products and release agents to react effectively with these new materials. This successful approach stems from the company’s dedication to working with manufacturers throughout the production process.

This business model also helps Chem-Trend demonstrate the cost savings realized by addressing the process, giving value to product performance characteristics. And by being customer-focused, the company has been able to address the logistical and packaging needs of customers.

Growth has also spurred Chem-Trend to strengthen its distributor network, particularly in North America. Since September, 2008, the company has added five new distributors, including:

• Sedlock Companies
• Uniplas
• CRC Polymers
• KC America
• Jemmco

Chem-Trend is painstaking in identifying distributor partners, according to John Hoskins, Chem-Trend’s new Thermoplastic field sales manager. A 20+ year veteran of the thermoplastic industry, Hoskins brings special insight to the selection process.

“There are certain universal traits that we look for, of course,” said Hoskins. “Geography, core markets, and current resin lines that they carry are all important. The determining factor, though, is the potential partner’s level of technical expertise. Since our business is really process-driven, we look for companies that understand that process, not just the materials.”

About Chem-Trend: Chem-Trend is a global organization with sales offices in 17 countries and distributors in more than 50 countries that are supported by their headquarters in Michigan, USA and manufacturing sites on five continents. Chem-Trend has a singular focus of formulating and manufacturing innovative chemical specialties for use in the die casting, rotational molding, general rubber, polyurethane, tire, thermoplastic and composite industries. By becoming directly involved in the customer's process Chem-Trend applies its knowledge and development expertise to provide the customer with customized solutions to problems and to improve productivity.  At the core of its business are industry-standard mold release agents, die lubricants, tire paints and purging compounds engineered to maximize productivity while delivering high-quality finished parts.