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[January 2008]
Almatis Forms Dedicated Business Units for Refractories and Ceramics Markets
Following its stated strategy of delivering superior product performance and technical support to its customers, Almatis has created two dedicated commercial units with enhanced focus on their respective industries.
The new Ceramics business unit, which includes Polishing and Other non-Refractory (CPO) markets, emphasises Almatis’ commitment to this growing and strategic market and its dedication to supporting and serving this industry's customers.
The technical ceramics industry is very diverse, divided into a number of sub-segments with key applications including wear resistant ceramics for use in grinding media and linings, environmental ceramic applications like catalyst carriers and substrates for automotive filters, electronic substrates, electrical insulators such as spark plugs and high voltage insulators. The new CPO business is a spin-off from the former Refractories, Ceramics, and Polishing (RCP) unit.
The Refractories unit will exclusively focus on the growing and globalising refractory industry, further expanding its technical support, particularly in key growth markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China.
"The creation of highly industry focused commercial teams will further enhance our ability to understand the diverse needs of our customers. This is key to the development of innovative products tailored to specific applications and our ability to support our customers with expert technical service anywhere in the world. Our ultimate goal is to constantly offer our customers premium products with a decisive performance edge," said Martin Laudenbach, CEO of Almatis.
Marcelo Zocchi has been appointed as the new Vice President Commercial Ceramics, Polishing, and Others (CPO). Mr Zocchi joined Almatis in June 2005 as the General Manager of the Specialty Hydrates business unit and assumed the position of Americas Leader for RCP in January 2006. "Almatis will be investing in both additional capacity and technical resources to support the new CPO business unit and its customers," Mr Zocchi revealed, "especially in the fast growing Asian markets."
Dr Lutz Figge joins Almatis as Vice President, Commercial Refractories, bringing more than 20 years of experience in global sales, marketing and senior management in the chemical industry. He comes to Almatis following 10 years with the Degussa Group, where he most recently served as Vice President Americas for the Degussa Corporation in the USA.
Both Mr Zocchi and Dr Figge report to Martin Laudenbach, Almatis CEO.
ENDS