The expansion of an existing joint venture between Süd-Chemie AG, Munich and Ashland Inc., Covington, USA has been completed, following the approval of the European anti-trust authorities. This means that one of the world’s largest manufacturers for foundry chemicals has now been established. Headquartered in Hilden, the company will be known as ASK Chemicals throughout the world. Ashland and Süd-Chemie each have a 50% stake in the new joint venture. Stefan Sommer has been appointed CEO of the company.
ASK Chemicals consists of the following companies:
- Ashland-Südchemie-Kernfest GmbH, in Hilden, Germany, together with its subsidiaries, has been a successful business since 1970 with operations mainly in Europe.
- The global foundry chemicals business unit owned by Ashland Inc., Ashland Casting Solutions, Dublin/Ohio.
- Süd-Chemie’s other companies supplying to the foundry industry: SKW Giesserei GmbH, Unterneukirchen, Germany, WD-Giesserei-Technik GmbH, Fuldabrück, Germany, Tecpro Corporation Inc., Atlanta/USA, Süd-Chemie Hi-Tech Ceramics Inc., Alfred Station/USA, Ajay Metachem Süd-Chemie Pvt. Ltd., Pune/India and parts of Jiangsu Süd-Chemie Chemical Materials Co., Ltd., Zhenjiang/China. The Foundry Bentonites will remain with Süd-Chemie AG.
The new holding company as well as all businesses and subsidiaries incorporated into it will be known by the umbrella brand “ASK Chemicals”.
ASK Chemicals offers the entire range of foundry chemical products from the core shop, the molding line to the melt shop. The groups expertise is derived from world leading development facilities of the individual companies and experts in their respective fields. Some of these companies look back on a tradition of more than 100 years in their own specialist field.
Interdisciplinary teams with specialists from all areas in a foundry provide a holistic support and products rapidly, anywhere in the world. In technology centers distributed across three continents, teams of researchers and application specialists develop products and processes for the leading foundries in the world. The products are manufactured regionally in modern production plants in Europe, North and South America and Asia.
Stefan Sommer has been appointed CEO of the new joint venture. He has many years of experience in the chemicals industry, having worked for Hoechst, Celanese/Ticona and DSM, among others. Since 2009, he has been involved in the creation of ASK Chemicals. Dr. Thomas Oehmichen, COO, former CEO of Ashland-Südchemie Kernfest GmbH, Scott Hoertz, COO, former President of Ashland Casting Solutions and Thiemo Heinzen, CFO, former Head of Corporate Controlling of Süd-Chemie, complete the senior management team.
“Expansion and targeted innovations are the strategic key elements for our future growth”, says CEO Sommer with regard to the new challenges facing ASK Chemicals. Special focus will be given to future-oriented topics such as the environment and energy. In research and development centers, ASK Chemicals creates technologies and products. By means of sustainable, environmentally-friendly manufacturing methods, they provide support to foundries solving casting problems in a more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly manner.
“We are making a major contribution to balance the increasing demand for foundry products with the necessary reduction in emissions”, says CEO Sommer. “Naturally, this is also of particular relevance for the transfer into the most important new growth markets in which we already have a strong presence”.
From December onwards, the company will present itself globally under its new brand appearance in the foundry media and at trade fairs.
ASK Chemicals consists of the following companies:
- Ashland-Südchemie-Kernfest GmbH, in Hilden, Germany, together with its subsidiaries, has been a successful business since 1970 with operations mainly in Europe.
- The global foundry chemicals business unit owned by Ashland Inc., Ashland Casting Solutions, Dublin/Ohio.
- Süd-Chemie’s other companies supplying to the foundry industry: SKW Giesserei GmbH, Unterneukirchen, Germany, WD-Giesserei-Technik GmbH, Fuldabrück, Germany, Tecpro Corporation Inc., Atlanta/USA, Süd-Chemie Hi-Tech Ceramics Inc., Alfred Station/USA, Ajay Metachem Süd-Chemie Pvt. Ltd., Pune/India and parts of Jiangsu Süd-Chemie Chemical Materials Co., Ltd., Zhenjiang/China. The Foundry Bentonites will remain with Süd-Chemie AG.
The new holding company as well as all businesses and subsidiaries incorporated into it will be known by the umbrella brand “ASK Chemicals”.
ASK Chemicals offers the entire range of foundry chemical products from the core shop, the molding line to the melt shop. The groups expertise is derived from world leading development facilities of the individual companies and experts in their respective fields. Some of these companies look back on a tradition of more than 100 years in their own specialist field.
Interdisciplinary teams with specialists from all areas in a foundry provide a holistic support and products rapidly, anywhere in the world. In technology centers distributed across three continents, teams of researchers and application specialists develop products and processes for the leading foundries in the world. The products are manufactured regionally in modern production plants in Europe, North and South America and Asia.
Stefan Sommer has been appointed CEO of the new joint venture. He has many years of experience in the chemicals industry, having worked for Hoechst, Celanese/Ticona and DSM, among others. Since 2009, he has been involved in the creation of ASK Chemicals. Dr. Thomas Oehmichen, COO, former CEO of Ashland-Südchemie Kernfest GmbH, Scott Hoertz, COO, former President of Ashland Casting Solutions and Thiemo Heinzen, CFO, former Head of Corporate Controlling of Süd-Chemie, complete the senior management team.
“Expansion and targeted innovations are the strategic key elements for our future growth”, says CEO Sommer with regard to the new challenges facing ASK Chemicals. Special focus will be given to future-oriented topics such as the environment and energy. In research and development centers, ASK Chemicals creates technologies and products. By means of sustainable, environmentally-friendly manufacturing methods, they provide support to foundries solving casting problems in a more cost-effective and environmentally-friendly manner.
“We are making a major contribution to balance the increasing demand for foundry products with the necessary reduction in emissions”, says CEO Sommer. “Naturally, this is also of particular relevance for the transfer into the most important new growth markets in which we already have a strong presence”.
From December onwards, the company will present itself globally under its new brand appearance in the foundry media and at trade fairs.
