Omya acquiring Distrupol, adding polymer distribution business

Oftringen, Switzerland – Omya AG, a Swiss producer of essential minerals and distributor of speciality materials, has launched a new business specialising in polymer distribution.

Omya Performance Polymer Distribution will combine the company’s existing global polymer distribution footprint with “strategic acquisitions” to serve the “rapidly evolving market,” Omya announced 4 Dec.

Such acquisitions include the recent purchase of Distrupol, an Omya partner in the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries which had recently expanded into continental Europe.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions and is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2025, Omya added.

To be headquartered in Switzerland, the new business will be led by Carsten Harms, a former executive board member of German distributor Biesterfeld Group.

At Biesterfeld, Harms held a number of leading positions, including head of Biesterfeld Plastic and Biesterfeld Performance Rubber divisions.

“This strategic acquisition enables us to deliver greater value to customers and principals,” said Harms.

The purchase, he went on to say, provides customers with “the stability, reliability, products and services they require in future.”

Among other products, Omya’s portfolio includes rubber and tire chemicals, namely its Multisperse-branded pre-dispersed chemical for rubber masterbatches.

Meanwhile, Distrupol offers a wide range of elastomers including styrenic block copolymers (SEBS), thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPVs) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs).