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| Solvay Solexis CEO Pierre Joris |
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A result of the acquisition of major chemical group Ausimont in 2002 and its merger with existing activities, Milan-based Solvay Solexis has consolidated its worldwide position in the industry and raised its value within the structure of parent company Solvay Group.
“During the last decade, there has been a very significant growth in demand for fluoro-materials. These are very sophisticated products that are well suited to address the increasing requirements of modern technologies and industries,” says CEO Pierre Joris.
Solvay Solexis supplies technical fluoro-materials mainly to the semiconductor, automotive, chemical process, oil and gas, and to construction industries around the world, with Japan remaining a major market that accounts for around 12 percent of sales, according to Joris.
“The semiconductor and automotive industries are world renowned in Japan. We like to be active in these markets as they are at the forefront of the global industry. If you can perform up to the quality and performance requirements of Japanese players, you can be sure your product will meet or surpass requirements anywhere,” he says.
In an industry where innovation is vital, Solvay Solexis has been pushing the boundaries.
With its heavy investment in research and development (which accounts for over 6 percent of sales), it enjoys one of the leadership positions in the fluoro-materials industry and is determined to keep it in the foreseeable future.
“It is part of our strategy to constantly bring new products and new solutions to the market. The only way we can grow, and grow faster than the market is to excel at listening to customer needs and materializing innovative offerings through very efficient R&D,” he says.
“Renewable energies are one area in which we are furthering our expertise. Beyond developments we make for photovoltaics or high-performance batteries, we have a sizeable R&D investment in fuel cells. We are determined to play a major role in this industry worldwide,” he also says.
By maintaining a strong presence in Italy, Solvay Solexis intends to capitalize on the strong expertise built by former Ausimont but also tap into a deeply ingrained culture of innovation in the country and its highly educated professionals “Not being Italian myself, I must say that one of the great points about being located in Italy is precisely the creativity the Italians are known for,” he adds.
“Having a company that is focused on R&D, I can testify that having people who are flexible and ready to address tough technical challenges is something that is irreplaceable,” he adds.
It is then up to management to channel and turn this creativity into innovation.
www.solvaysolexis.com |