DSM today announced, following an extensive strategic study for its resins businesses - part of DSM's performance materials cluster - that it will expand its innovation activities in the area of formulated coatings and composites with the formation of a DSM Functional Materials Business Unit. The activities of its current DSM Desotech Business Unit will be integrated into this new structure.
DSM Desotech is a world leader in the development of high-performance UV-curable materials including the top-selling brands of DeSolite® optical fiber coatings and Cablelite® inks for the telecommunication industry, and Somos® stereolithography additive fabrication materials. In 2008, this UV-curable portfolio was expanded to include UVolve® Instant Floor Coatings and UVaCorr® anti-corrosion coatings for tube & pipe.
Founded on DSM's four global growth drivers - High-Growth Economies, Innovation, Sustainability, and Acquisitions & Partnerships, DSM Functional Materials will focus on market trends pointing toward more environmentally friendly and lighter-weight materials. It will continue its leadership in UV-curable materials with a strong focus on Asia and other high-growth economies, while also targeting additional high-growth areas for its innovation efforts, including:
· Functional coatings and materials for solar applications
· Functional wood coatings
· Composite materials
"This development fits perfectly with all four growth drivers of the strategy 'DSM in motion: driving focused growth.' Sustainability will continue to be our innovation driver and our portfolio will strongly reflect DSM's commitment to the 'triple-p' bottom line approach-people, planet, profit," said Henk-Jan Koenen, Business Unit Director DSM Functional Materials and previous Business Unit Director DSM Desotech. "For starters, we will aim for a major portion of sales to fall under the DSM ECO+ definition1 by 2015. Secondly, much more than in the past, we will actively pursue partnerships and venturing to grow our efforts beyond what could traditionally be accomplished in our own strength. It will be exciting times for our new Business Unit!"
DSM - Bright Science. Brighter Living.™
Royal DSM N.V. is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. By connecting its unique competences in Life Sciences and Materials Sciences DSM is driving economic prosperity, environmental progress and social advances to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials. DSM's 22,000 employees deliver annual net sales of about € 9 billion. The company is listed on NYSE Euronext. More information can be found at www.dsm.com
DSM Functional Materials
DSM Functional Materials is a leading developer of high-performance functional coatings and composite materials. Our Functional Coatings portfolio includes DeSolite® and Cablelite® UV-curable coatings, inks and matrix materials for the manufacture of optical fiber and cable, Somos® stereolithography additive fabrication materials, UVolve® Instant Floor Coatings for the protection of concrete floors, and UVaCorr® anti-corrosion coatings for tube and pipe applications. Our Composite Materials portfolio will include light-weight products for air-cargo containers, as well as materials for solar applications.
DSM Functional Materials operates as a Business Unit within the Performance Materials cluster of Royal DSM N.V. and is dedicated to material innovations that contribute to a more sustainable world. DSM Functional Materials is currently headquartered in Elgin, IL (USA) and operates research and manufacturing facilities in the USA, Europe and Asia Pacific, as well as a joint venture with JSR in Japan. More information can be found at: www.dsmfunctionalmaterials.com.
