A rash of takeovers of North American chemical suppliers to the pulp and paper industry in the past month highlights a strong trend to consolidation in this sector of specialty chemicals (table, p. 52). With W.R. Grace's (Boca Raton, FL) declared intention to consider selling its Dearborn (Lake Zurich, IL) subsidiary, as well as the continuing pressure on smaller suppliers, the trend looks set to continue.
"Everybody in the paper chemicals business is going through some kind of strategic assessment, on where they are, where they need to be, and how they'll get there," says Rick Burns, v.p. and general manager/paper chemicals for the Americas with Cytec (West Paterson, NJ).
Paper chemicals firms are reacting to a major shift in their customer base. Paper firms emerged from the last downcycle focused on cost reduction as well as facing new technology investments and the drive to globalization. "The cost squeeze is going down the ladder," says Rosemary Bradley, senior consultant for SRI (Menlo Park, CA). "Paper companies want to be able to point the finger at the chemical supplier--'you help make us more cost efficient [or you're out],'" she says.
"In the past two years, there has …
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