Michelman & Maruyoshi form JV to offer WB polyolefin emulsions

Michelman has established a joint venture (JV) with Maruyoshi Chemical Co Ltd, a developer and manufacturer of speciality waterborne polyolefin emulsions and chemical trading company, based in Gifu, Japan.
Maruyoshi has separated its manufacturing business from the chemical trading business with the JV involving only the manufacturing business and has taken a majority position in the JV, which is named Maruyoshi Michelman Co Ltd.
Mr Nobuyuki Hashizume, President of Maruyoshi Chemical Co, has been appointed Director and President and Mr Steven Wong, Michelman’s Asia Pacific MD, has been named the Director and Managing Officer. Michelman will support the JV through strategic market development.
The JV will be located in Gifu and customers will have access to innovative waterborne emulsion technology, state-of-the-art manufacturing, an experienced technical sales and support team, deep knowledge of Japanese as well as global chemical regulatory issues and emulsion technology experience across numerous industries.
Products offered through the JV will be available globally through a combination of channels. Existing customers for JV products will continue to be handled by Maruyoshi Chemical’s trading business. New customers will be served by Maruyoshi Chemical, or through Michelman’s global sales and support teams.
According to Mr Steve Shifman, President and CEO at Michelman, "We have long admired Maruyoshi for the innovative solutions they bring to the market. They listen closely to their customer’s needs, they’re agile and responsive, and focus on developing deep, collaborative relationships that result in custom, technically superior formulations”.