AkzoNobel completes acquisition of Chinese surfactants producer

AkzoNobel has completed its acquisition of China’s leading specialty surfactant producer, Boxing Oleochemicals. Boxing is a supplier of nitrile amines and derivatives, which are used in a variety of industrial and consumer applications including fabric softeners, asphalt additives, and hair conditioners.

Based in the province of Shandong, Boxing had revenues of approximately €100 million in 2010. Its activities will be integrated into AkzoNobel’s Surface Chemistry business unit, a global company providing specialty surfactants, synthetic polymers and bio-polymers used as formulation ingredients and process aids in many applications ranging from home and personal care to agrochemicals, oilfield and asphalt road paving.

“The acquisition of Boxing quickly positions us to respond to the increasing demand for amines and derivatives, with a third of the Asian demand coming from China alone,” says Bob Margevich, Managing Director of AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry. “It also reaffirms our commitment to locate production closer to our customers.”

Over the next three years, AkzoNobel plans to enhance the process capabilities and increase capacity at the Boxing site by introducing state of the art manufacturing technology and implementing AkzoNobel health, safety and environmental standards.

Boxing’s product portfolio will complement AkzoNobel’s amines product lines, which include Arquad, Ethoquad, Armid, Armeen, Armosoft, Redicote, Berol, Aromox, Duomeen, Triameen, Armac, Duomac and Ethomeen.

AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel’s portfolio includes brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International and Eka. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, they are a Global Fortune 500 company and are consistently ranked as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability. The company has operations in more than 80 countries and 55,000 people committed to delivering Tomorrow’s Answers Today.

AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry

Surface Chemistry, a business unit of AkzoNobel, operates in 50 countries, employing over 1500 people. Based in Chicago, IL, United States, with regional marketing centers and R&D facilities in United States, Brazil, Singapore, China and Sweden, the company is a supplier of specialty surfactants and synthetic and bio-polymers additives. They service a wide range of industries including agro, asphalt, cleaning, fabric care, mining, personal care and petroleum.