A leading international distributor of plastics and additives, Biesterfeld Plastic is adapting its business unit structure. To drive forward its strategic transformation with a focus on consultancy-intensive specialties, the business – a division of the Biesterfeld Group – was subdivided at the beginning of the year. From now on, Biesterfeld Plastic will have five instead of the previous three globally oriented business units: Advanced Polymers, Engineering Polymers, High Performance Polymers, Performance Elastomers and Sustainable Polymer Solutions
As part of the adjustment, the existing Engineering Polymers has now become three independent business units, Engineering Polymers, High Performance Polymers and Performance Elastomers. “This subdivision will enable us to make even better use of synergies within the business units and hone our segment depth. We will also be even more agile in the high-performance plastics market and be able to respond even more effectively to the growing needs of our partners and customers on a global level,” says Carsten Harms, management spokesperson for Biesterfeld Plastic and member of the Executive Board of Biesterfeld AG.
High Performance Polymers and Performance Elastomers will be headed by Dietmar Zinkand, who was responsible for the original Engineering Polymers business unit prior to the reorganisation. The role of Business Manager for the new Engineering Polymers unit was filled internally with the appointment of Martin Rathke. “Martin Rathke has extensive product and market know-how,” says Carsten Harms. “So we’re delighted that he will be taking the reins in the highly responsible role of developing the Engineering Polymers business.”
Advanced Polymers, under Business Manager Wilhelm Postel, will bring together styrene copolymers, transparent technical plastics, PC blends and compounds, and styrene-butadiene block copolymers. The new business unit, Sustainable Polymer Solutions, has also been set up to focus on sustainability. “Sustainable plastic solutions are a key market trend,” says Martin Umbach, Managing Director of Biesterfeld Plastic and Business Manager for Sustainable Polymer Solutions. “Together with our innovative principals, we develop application-oriented solutions. Thanks to a comprehensive material portfolio, we are able to work with our customers to create sustainable and recyclable end products.” The division’s portfolio includes technical polyolefins, products to modify polymers and sustainable compounds.
“Through this anticyclical investment in business and product management and our technically specialised sales operations, we are opening up additional growth potential for our entire organisation on a national and international level. Meanwhile, we are preparing for further successful geographical expansion into strategically important growth markets and also boosting personal support for our long-term partners worldwide,” says Carsten Harms. “The new business unit structure has already been successfully implemented,” adds Martin Umbach. “All the new and newly vacant roles internally and externally have been filled with the right people.”
About Biesterfeld Plastic Biesterfeld Plastic is a leading international distributor in the plastics industry with long-term sales partnerships in over 40 countries. Major plastics producers such as DuPont, ExxonMobil Chemical, INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe, BASF Polyurethanes, Solvay, Chi Mei and LG Chem rely on the efficient performance offered by Biesterfeld Plastic and have accompanied their growth for many years. Biesterfeld Plastic is part of the Biesterfeld Group, which has been operating as a trading and service company for more than 114 years. The Group is one of the leading companies in the chemical and plastics distribution sector with around 40 locations worldwide in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. The majority-owned company relies on continued growth in its four business units Biesterfeld Plastic, Biesterfeld Performance Rubber, Biesterfeld Spezialchemie and Biesterfeld International.
Press Contact Biesterfeld Plastic Stephanie Stöber Ferdinandstrasse 41 20095 Hamburg Phone: +49 40 32008-374 s.stoeber@biesterfeld.com www.biesterfeld.com
