Business Overview

Resins

Coating Resins

Manufacture and distribution of resins used as inputs for the production of a broad range of industrial and consumer products, particularly paints, adhesives, inks, textiles and construction materials.

Distribution of complementary functional additives for the same end market.

A global business segment with manufacturing in the US, Netherlands, UK, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and China – and sales worldwide.

End Markets

• Technical coatings for
  • automotive
  • specialty plastics
  • aerospace
  • consumer electronics
  • timber flooring, furniture and cabinetry
  • marine
  • infrastructure
  • packaging
  • coil
  • general metal protection and decoration
  • window frames
• Architectural coatings for
  • DIY use
  • trade painters
  • construction
  • decorative
• Adhesives for
  • woodworking
  • packaging
  • construction
  • pressure sensitive
• Printing inks for
  • newspaper
  • packaging
• Textiles
  • printing

Strengths

• History of service, reliability and fair dealing
• Broad range of solvent, water and powder-based products
• Global supply capability from manufacturing plants in 10 countries and four continents
• Deep understanding of customer needs based on long-term relationships and strong in-house application technology capability; a solution provider
• Substantial research and development capability from diverse global technical facilities. Owners of key patents and unique technologies

Strategy

• Seek service leadership by providing a secure, reliable and quality raw material source to customers in the focus markets
• Be a global leader in providing technology solutions to a broad range of customers in the focus markets
• Achieve the strategy
  • a network of strategically located and well protected manufacturing plants
  • investment in technology development and support
    • Innovation
    • Development
    • Technical Service
    • Application support
  • a broad product and technology portfolio

Paper

Manufacture and distribution of resins used to provide functionality to paper products.

Distributor of process chemicals used in the manufacture of paper products.

A supplier to the Australasian market with manufacturing facilities in Australia and New Zealand.

The end applications for these products are within the paper manufacturing industry and include:

End Markets

• Sizing to improve strength and printability
• Coating for high quality print acceptance
• Impregnation to provide wet strength in tissue
• Foam control
• Bioactivity control
• Product solutions for paper machine hygiene control

Strengths

• World leading technology
• Highly skilled service technicians with extensive industry knowledge to provide optimum product support
• Broad and comprehensive product offering
• Focused only on Australia and New Zealand

Strategy

• Be perceived as the principal provider of technical service and reliability while focusing on making Australasian customers cost competitive in global markets through supply of best in class products, technology and service
• Broaden market for proprietary coating binder technology
• Drive for increased operational and capital efficiency

Composite Resins

Manufacture and distribution of resins and gelcoats and related products used predominantly as inputs for the manufacture of glass reinforced composite materials.

Distribution of a comprehensive range of complementary products and auxiliaries to the same end markets.

Provision of specialist composite engineering design services.

The principal supplier to the Australasian market with a growing presence in Asia.

Typical end use applications for these materials and services include:

End Markets

• yachts and powerboats
• spas and pools
• surfboards and watercraft
• showers, baths, vanities
• water tanks
• fuel and chemical tanks
• automotive components
• transportation vehicles
• mining products
• potable water pipes

Strengths

• “One stop shop” offer in Australasia with ability to provide 100% of customer requirements
• National presence in Australia and New Zealand
• Supply from multiple plants providing flexibility
• Manufacture and provision of technical service in South East Asia
• Strong technical skills enabling rapid customisation to meet sophisticated customer demands
• Industry skilled professionals with deep understanding of customer processes who add real value

Strategy

• Maintain market and technical leadership through a multi-channel distribution and technology strategy for Australasia to provide choice to customers
• Extend the use of the well-proven FGI brand to complementary products
• Add value to the engineering design services business by providing “ready-for-use” packs of complementary products
• Broaden the Asian business base with investment in additional manufacturing and application specialists

Specialties

Agency & Distribution

Warehousing and distribution of products under agency agreements with international manufacturers of products for diverse industries under the classifications of:

• chemicals
• plastics

Specialty warehousing and distribution of regulated materials to the Life Sciences market. A major supplier to the Australasian markets.

End Markets

End markets for chemicals include general industry with particular focus on key segments of:

• coatings
• adhesive
• agriculture
• textiles
• rubber
• personal care

Typical end markets include:

• packaging
• engineering
• moulding
• carpets
• Masterbatch

Typical Life Sciences markets are:

• food
• nutrition
• pharmaceutical
• neutraceutical
• veterinary

Strengths

• Many long-term agency relationships providing supply reliability
• Professional sales team across Australia and New Zealand with broad market and product knowledge enables superior application support
• National servicing within Australia and New Zealand
• Access to in-house laboratory facilities to support customers’ technical efforts
• In-house professional services supporting regulatory requirements
• Long-term experience with compliant warehousing and transportation

Strategy

• Build on the current human experience and skill base to broaden the range of raw materials offered to customers from a larger principal base with good supply security
• Focus most particularly on proprietary products where value adding opportunities are greatest for both the supplier and customer
• Improve capital efficiency with a low cost supply chain to provide superior service

Masterbatch

Manufacture and distribution of colour and additive Masterbatch for plastic moulding and fabrication industry. A substantial service provider in Australasia and Vietnam.

End Markets

• Principal end markets include:
  • plastic packaging
  • engineering plastics
  • synthetic textile fibres

Strengths

• Rapid Masterbatch colour match service supports changing demands of industry and assists inventory control
• National servicing within Australia and New Zealand from multiple manufacturing plants

Strategy

• Maintain leadership in a service and value oriented offer of Masterbatch to customers in Australasia and build on this to increase share
• Use existing Nuplex operations within Asia to support regional growth

Strategy

Construction Products

Manufacture and distribution of a range of products used both prior and post-construction. A largely New Zealand focussed business supporting niche segments of the Australian market.

End Markets

• Principal end markets include:
  • waterproofing
  • resilient flooring
  • functional floor topping
  • lightweight cladding
  • plastics
  • lightweight masonry cladding

Strengths

• More than 50 years of proven product performance in New Zealand and the people to support it
• Contractors fully trained and certified to meet company quality standards. Joint warranty system
• Extensive product range for focussed applications
• In-house technical capability for innovative solutions and new product development
• Is a significant customer of the Resins business

Strategy

• Build on strength of brand to reposition the cladding business into growth market segments
• Broaden product range in focus markets to provide a full product offering and “one-stop-shop” concept for contractors
• Leverage Nuplex’s proprietary resin technologies to provide solutions to industrial and commercial flooring needs