Synthos S.A., one of Europe's leading Synthetic Rubber Manufacturers teams up with Akron-based Harwick Standard Distribution Corporation

AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 19, 2013 /CNW/ - Synthos S.A., (www.synthosgroup.com) one of Europe's largest manufacturers of synthetic rubber has announced a strategic sales alliance with Ohio based Harwick Standard Distribution Corporation to distribute Synthos styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and butadiene rubber (BR) products in the United States and Canada.

"The selection of a key partner for our SBR products in North America was a very important decision for Synthos and we did a lot of investigation of various distributors before choosing Harwick Standard Distribution," says Sim Elman, Sales Director of Synthetic Rubber for Synthos. Elman went on to say that, "we are very excited about this relationship. Harwick's excellent reputation in the rubber industry as well as its distribution model was a perfect fit for Synthos' needs."

Synthos is the largest European producer of SBR, with a capacity of 280,000 metric tons per year of emulsion-based styrene-butadiene rubber (E-SBR) with plants in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Synthos also has an 80,000 metric ton neodymium-catalysed butadiene rubber (NdBR) plant in the Czech Republic, as well as a Nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and high styrene rubber (HSR) manufacturing facility in Poland.

The company will open its first solution styrene-butadiene rubber (S-SBR) plant, which will add an additional 90,000 metric tons a year of capacity. The facility is currently being built in Poland near Krakow and will be fully operational in 2015.

Synthos is backward integrated to monomer raw materials, as well as being Europe's largest manufacturer of emulsion-based rubbers and the fourth largest manufacturer of polystyrene for foaming applications. The company is known worldwide for supplying advanced technological products of the highest quality.

Harwick Standard (www.harwickstandard.com) has over 80 years of service to the rubber, thermoplastics and other polymer-related industries. Harwick Standard is a management-owned and operated sales and marketing organization headquartered in Akron, Ohio. The ISO 9001 registered company operates a nationwide distribution network supplying products from more than 30 blue chip manufacturers. Harwick Standard is a proud member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) and practices the NACD's Responsible Distribution Process^SM.

Commenting on the alliance agreement between the two companies, Synthos CEO Tomasz Kalwat said, "Synthos has long recognized the growth potential in the US market and has teamed up with Harwick Standard to market and distribute the full portfolio of Synthos' E-SBR, NdBR and S-SBR products to non-tyre and selected tyre accounts. We see North America as an extremely important market for our growth. The fact that we are vertically integrated to our monomer sourcing allows us to ensure an uninterrupted supply of products to our customers. Synthos will take advantage of Harwick Standard's extensive network of warehouses. Further, our size allows us to build customer confidence and loyalty and cement our position as a worldwide, strategic polymer supplier."

Harwick Standard CEO, Ernie Pouttu said, "Harwick is excited about partnering with Synthos. Synthos is known throughout the world as a leader in the production of superior quality, high value polymers and is a natural fit for Harwick Standard. Like our name says, we set the industry Standard through our distribution model, focusing on our customers in order to provide them with the highest quality products and support, as effectively as possible. Our partnership with Synthos will help us accomplish just that."

Media Contacts:
Mrs. Agata Koscielnik
Synthos S.A.
Ul. Chemikow 1, 32-600 Oswiecim
[email protected]

Mr. Kurt Nygaard
Harwick Standard Distribution Corporation
330-798-9300
[email protected]

SOURCE: Harwick Standard Distribution Corporation

http://www.harwickstandard.com