The international printing ink manufacturer hubergroup is repositioning itself. Effective immediately, the Chemicals Division will handle the production and marketing of raw materials for printing inks and coatings. The chemicals manufacturer is focusing on substances such as PU resins and UV oligomers, among others. With its extensive product portfolio, it is primarily aimed at the printing and packaging industry as well as the paint and coatings industry and chemical companies.
To diversify and divide the business into two divisions — Print Solutions and Chemicals — is a strategic corporate decision. hubergroup is thus pursuing the goal of making its technological expertise available to a wider range of customers.
Since hubergroup already produces about 75% of the raw and intermediate materials for its own ink manufacture, selling these materials to other manufacturers is not new for the company. The setting up of the new Chemical Division seems a way of leveraging the company’s knowhow and manufacturing capacity by increasing the focus and sales volumes of this opportunity.
Taner Bicer, president-Chemicals Division hubergroup, comments on the new division’s launch, “I am pleased that we have taken this step. As a printing ink manufacturer with over 255 years of history, we know what is important in the production of printing inks and the raw materials required for them. We not only want to incorporate this know-how into our own products but are also happy to pass it on.”
Joint R&D
The raw material manufacturer with a reactor capacity of over 250 kilo tons per year produces mainly PU resins, UV oligomers, various polyesters, color pigments, and pigment preparations, as well as auxiliaries in its own plants in Vapi and Daman in India. The portfolio is to be successively expanded in the coming years. Research & Development is managed from India and Europe. The hubergroup’s extensive global network enables the Chemicals Division to maintain a decentralized service and sales structure that is close to its customers.
Heiner Klokkers, chief executive officer, hubergroup, adds, “Diversification is an important and correct signal both internally to the workforce and externally to the market. We expect the Chemicals Division to make a significant contribution to the company’s growth in the short to medium term. The Chemicals Division thus represents an important pillar in our long-term strategic market positioning alongside the Print Solutions Division.”
hubergroup is one of the world’s leading printing ink manufacturers. Headquartered in Kirchheim near Munich (Germany), the company has made a name for itself worldwide as a specialist in innovative solutions and technology for printing inks, printing aids, and raw materials. The chemicals group is constantly developing its business model and opening up new markets and target groups.
