Topic of the month

November 2008

November månads ämne berör om äffärsenhet Life Sciences. Månadens ämne finns endast tillgänglig på engelska

SBU Life Sciences business is focused on serving the Food-, Beverage- and Health Food- and Pharma manufacturers. The product range includes safe and high quality ingredients, additivies and raw materials for the dairy -, meat and convenience food-, confectionary-and beverage.

«Ingredients Russia 2008»

The 11th Moscow International Exhibition «Ingredients Russia 2008» will take place from the 25th to the 28th November 2008 in Crocus Expo, Moscow, Russia. Crocus Expo will host the exhibition for the third time. In 2008, Ingredients Russia will be attended by about 350 companies from 27 countries.

Bang&Bonsomer has attended to Ingredients Russia already since year 2000. By visiting Bang&Bonsomer’s booth visitors will have the possibility to receive the latest info on products of the following suppliers;

ORAFTI Group is the world market leader in the development and production of food ingredients derived from natural chicory and rice which add value through the delivery of health benefits. Orafti is focused and committed to product innovation, helping manufacturers develop balanced and nutritional food products with a FeelGood factor that consumers are increasingly demanding. Since year 2000 Orafti and Bang&Bonsomer, being the company´s exclusive distributor, have helped food manufacturers develop balanced, healthy and functional food products.

FMC BioPolymer is the market leader in microcrystalline cellulose and carrageenan and is a major supplier of alginate for the food, pharmaceutical and industrial markets. The company’s plants in the United States, Ireland, Norway and the Philippines are ISO certified, reaffirming the company’s commitment to providing an assured supply of the highest quality products and delivering innovative and cost effective solutions. Over the past six years, FMC BioPolymer has expanded its global technical capabilities and breadth of product offerings to deliver the best and innovative solutions to food, pharmaceutical and industrial manufacturers. FMC BioPolymer will feature newest innovations in cooking and whipping creams, beverages, processed cheese, dairy deserts and , specially focused, restructured meat.

TATE&LYLE PLC is a world leading manufacturer of renewable food and industrial ingredients. It uses innovative technology to transform corn and sugar into value-added ingredients for customers in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The company is a leader in cereal sweeteners and starches, sugar refining, citric acid and value added food and industrial ingredients.

Furthermore, Bang&Bonsomer Life Sciences is also happy to introduce its new partners KEMIN FOODS INGREDIENTS, KERRY INGREDIENTS and HYDRITE CHEMICAL Co and their products as well as all the other products for Healthy Food producers.

For more information, please contact Bang & Bonsomer’s Life Sciences team. They are happy to help you and answer all the questions you may have. You can contact our regional Bang & Bonsomer offices; the contact information is found under the heading Sales Offices .

Oktober 2008

Oktober månads ämne berör om äffärsenhet Industrikemikalier. Månadens ämne finns endast tillgänglig på engelska

SBU Industrial Chemicals is focused on selling and sourcing of basic and specialty chemicals used in a variety of different applications and industries. Our customer may operate in fields such as water treatment, food industry, feed industry, mining industry, metal manufacturing and processing, electronics,chemical processing, leather, textile and fur industry, power plants, fat, oil and lubricant industries or site maintenance / cleaning services. We rely on local producers in our geographical markets of Finland, Baltic countries, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan but we also import chemicals from Western Europe, China and USA.

Bang & Bonsomer is distributing the Chlor-alkali products of Finnish Chemicals. Finnish Chemicals is a global supplier of chemical solutions and intermediates to broad range of customers including those in the Pulp and Paper, Life Sciences, Chemical, Crop Protection and Water Treatment industries. Kemira has 100% ownership of Finnish Chemicals since 2005.

Finnish Chemicals utilizes the membrane electrolysis technology, 'Best Available Technique' (BAT), to manufacture its mercury-free Chlor-alkali products of chlorine, caustic soda, sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloric acid at the Joutseno plant in Eastern Finland. Bang & Bonsomer has caustic soda, sodium hypochlorite and hydrochloride acid available in bulk, returnable IBC containers and returnable 30 L canisters. Your need may vary from a few canisters to thousands of tons, we are interested to help.

For more information, please contact Sales Director Leo Partanen, GSM +358 40 530 3220, leo.partanen@bangbonsomer.fi.

September 2008

September månads ämne berör om ny business division organisation. Månadens ämne finns endast tillgänglig på engelska.

Strengthening our business organization

In order to support the business driven organization Bang & Bonsomer has decided to add one more Business Division. We believe that this change will ensure maximum business focus and allow the business leaders more time to manage and develop their respective areas.

The four Divisions will look as follows:

Business Division Plastics & Packaging

The business division will be headed by Business Division Vice President Stefan Tallqvist. Mr. Ari Halmi (Business Unit Manager, Plastics) will report to Stefan Tallqvist. Stefan Tallqvist has started in our Helsinki office on September 1. Stefan has a long and impressing experience from the chemical business. He has been working with AWL, IMCD and latest with Telko Group, where he was in the management team.

Business Division Performance Specialties

The business division will be headed by Business Division Vice President Jerker Gräsbeck. Mrs. Olga Halme (Business Unit Manager, Life Sciences), Mrs.Aet Jässi (Business Unit Manager, Personal & Home Care) and Mr. Jens Lindahl ( Sales Team Coordinator, Performance Products ) will report to Jerker Gräsbeck.

Business Division Construction & Ceramics, Industrial Chemicals, Tyre & Rubber

The division will be headed by Business Division Vice President Eero Kangaslahti. Andrei Nikiforov ( Business Unit Manager, Tyre & Rubber) and Leo Partanen (Sales Director, Industrial Chemicals) will report to Eero Kangaslahti.

Business Division Paint & Coatings

The division will be headed by Business Division Vice President Patrik Gallen.

The new structure has been effective from September 1st, 2008.

Augusti 2008

Augusti månads ämne berör om Affärsenhet Bygg och Keramik. Månadens ämne finns endast tillgänglig på engelska.

SBU Construction & Ceramics is focused on serving customers in the ceramics-, premix-, earth moist concrete, gypsum board and concrete industries. SBU Construction & Ceramics provides customers leading edge additives from leading suppliers from all around the World.

FOSROC

FOSROC concrete admixtures and surface treatment products are now available in various stock locations of Bang & Bonsomer Group.

FOSROC is a leading supplier of construction products with over 70 years of international experience. FOSROC operates over 18 manufacturing companies in Europe, the Middle East and Asia with over 1800 people worldwide.

FOSROC product range includes for example following concrete admixtures and concrete surface treatments:

Plasticisers

Super plasticisers

Air entrainers

Foaming agents

Integral waterproofing

Polycarboxylates for Precast and Self Compacting Concrete

Corrosion inhibitors

Curing compounds

Surface retarder

Mould release agents

Cleaning agents

For more details on Fosroc products, please contact local Bang & Bonsomer Group sales representative.

July 2008

July's Topic of the Month is concerned with news about Bang & Bonsomer's financial year 2007 and outlook for the year 2008

Bang & Bonsomer's financial year 2007 and outlook for the year 2008

Bang & Bonsomer Group continued its growth pattern also in 2007. The turn-over increased by 15% to 148 M€ and the total sales by 19% to 226 M€. The growth in basically all markets was fuelled by high demand as a result of the unusually strong economic situation. We especially wish to point out the good results achieved by our subsidiaries in Estonia. Also Banmark obtained a very good result. The development in Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus was positive. Sales in Russia increased drastically, but at the same time we had substantial investments in facilities and personnel, which adversely affected the result.

Increasing raw material prices, high cost inflation in emerging markets, IT investments and re-structuring costs, however, took its toll and weakened the group profit, which fell short of the preceding year’s level.

After a slow start during the first quarter of 2008 the business took off in April. Compared to last year’s performance we are performing better after the first five months. Thanks to strict cost control we have gained on the EBIT and favourable exchange rates have positively affected the profit level.

The business outlook is, however, becoming somewhat more conservative in the wake of the year. The outlook for some areas, such as construction and paint, is becoming gloomier in most of our markets, except Russia. Increasing interest rates are likely to curb new investments, also in the emerging markets and consumer confidence is likely to decline over the year.

The increasing prices of raw materials, particularly the oil based ones, pose a real challenge for the industry. The higher costs have, obviously, to be passed on along the chain. To pass on several consequential price increases to the customers is a tough task for the sales personnel.

Despite the less positive signs in the economy we still believe that no major slump in the economies will occur during 2008 and that the set targets can be achieved. During the first five months of 2008 we have followed our plan and we count on being able to achieve our goals for the whole year, even though they are challenging. Our main focus for 2008 is to improve the profitability.

I wish to thank all our customers and suppliers. Have a nice summer and relaxing vacation!

Johan von Knorring

President, CEO

June 2008

June månads ämne berör om startande av Bang & Bonsomer Technics Oy. Månadens ämne finns endast tillgänglig på engelska »

Bang & Bonsomer has decided to increase its efforts in the equipments and accessories business . Today, June 2, 2008, Bang & Bonsomer Technics Oy has officially started its activities.

SEK Group Oy’s managing director, Stefan Kevin, is the managing director of the new company, in which Bang & Bonsomer will have 80% of the shares and SEK Group the remaining 20%. Hannu Kinnunen is the sales manager. Kirsi Ojanen takes care of all the back office activities.

The company will operate in Bang & Bonsomer’s office facilities at Itälahdenkatu 18 in Helsinki and the primary market will be Finland and, in a later stage, the Baltic countries.

Maj 2008

Maj månads ämne berör om Business Unit Däck, gummi och förpackning. Månadens ämne finns endast tillgänglig på engelska

SBU Tyre, Rubber and Packaging is focused on raw material sales, marketing, technical support and distribution to the above mentioned industries in selected segments.

Tyre and Rubber Fair 2008 in Moscow

The 11th International Specialized Exhibition for Tyre and Rubber was taken place in the trade fair complex Expocenter in Krasnaya Presnya Fair Grounds, Moscow, Russia in March 2008. This is the biggest venue of the industry in the CIS countries. Some 9,000 visitors – specialists in the field of tyre and rubber visited the fair and 273 companies from 20 countries were present as exhibitors.

Bang & Bonsomer has already for many years participated as exhibitor in the Fair in Moscow. We value this important event in the industry very much. The Fair is a perfect platform to strengthen further relationships between us, our suppliers and of course our customers. As usual the Fair has proved to be a useful tool to have a high number of interesting discussions and meetings with high efficiency during short period of time. Russian tyre and rubber market is also very interesting; the growth pace in Russia is now 10-15%/year, in contrast with mature markets, where the growth pace is much lower.

Bang & Bonsomer’s business unit Tyre, Rubber and Packaging targets producers, producers of technical rubber goods and synthetic rubber manufacturers and offers a range of raw material from leading world wide manufacturers.

BU provides e.g. phenolic resins (Sumitomo Bakelite), resorcinol based resins (Indspec), release agents (Chemtrend), antioxidants and VP-latex (Eliokem), insoluble sulphur and a range of chemicals for rubbers, polyester cord (Kolon Insustries) and many other raw material.

Please contact us in order to find out more about SBU Tyre, Rubber and Packaging product range. The contact information of our regional Bang & Bonsomer offices is found under the heading Sales Offices.

April 2008

April månads ämne berör om Business Unit Glasfiber och Polyuretaner. Månadens ämne finns endast tillgänglig på engelska

The Performance Products business unit of Bang & Bonsomer is focusing on the Glass Reinforced Plastics (GRP)-sector such as the boat/vessel industry, plastic composites producers and moulders among others dealing with e.g. epoxy resins and multiaxial fabrics. Business Unit also focuses on the Polyurethane sector with segments as for example foam producers.

The cooperation between Bang & Bonsomer and Finngulf Yachts.

Bang & Bonsomer has been a supplier to Finngulf Yachts for several years. In the beginning of 2007, Bang & Bonsomer approached Finngulf Yachts with the target of a broader cooperation.

As a result of the discussions and intensive work (product testing, evaluating and measuring) the two companies mutually carried out an agreement to supply the well known Pro-Set Infusion Epoxy from Wessex Resins & Adhesives and custom made multiaxial fabrics from Devold AMT for the new model of Finngulf Yachts - the FG-43.

Devold AMT successfully produced a custom made quadriaxial glass fiber fabric, DBLT 1100, for the structural laminate of the FG-43. This product was specified by Farr Yacht Design and consequently produced for Finngulf Yachts. Wessex Resins is supplying the Pro-Set 117/229PF for the infusion lamination of both hulls and decks of this yacht. Both Devold AMT and Wessex Resins are Bang & Bonsomer’s co-operation partner in the field.

The FG-43 project with Finngulf Yachts lead to a mutual agreement of supplies but also technical support for Finngulf Yachts. The technical support has been provided by the Pro-Set people and the top target has been to find the optimal vacuum infusion strategy for infusing the FG-43 hull and deck in order to keep the quality of the laminate on the highest level and the weight to a minimum.

Now one year after we started the discussions of the FG-43 project with Finngulf Yachts , we all at Bang & Bonsomer are looking forward to next month when the first FG-43 will be presented to the world. The FG-43 is a real performance yacht, whose weight and performance is optimized based on, among others, vacuum infusion and epoxy techniques.

Please visit www.fg43.com to familiarize yourselves with the great FG-43.

For further information, please contact Mr. Jens Lindahl, Product Manager at Bang & Bonsomer Oy,

Tel +358 9 68108266 or jens.lindahl@bangbonsomer.fi

March 2008

March's Topic of the Month is concerned with news about the Business Unit Personal & Home Care

Bang & Bonsomer’s SBU Personal & Home Care has started cooperation with Evonik Degussa Household Care in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

New corporate brand Evonik Industries was introduced in September 2007. Evonik Degussa GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Evonik Industries AG, is aligned to specialty chemistry.

Evonik Degussa Household Care business line is a global leader in the manufacture and supply of raw materials and additives to the household, detergent, car care and industrial & institutional markets. The unique product portfolio combines a wide range of inorganic, organic and silicone based specialties to provide system solutions and tailor-made products for customer's needs. Business activities are supported by highly skilled technical professionals.

Evonik Degussa Household Care portfolio covers:

•    Car care- car wash, rinse, interior cleaning
•    Fabric care- textile wash, softening and special additives
•    Household and I&I care- cleaning, furniture care
•    Odour control- malodour absorbers for car, home, public areas, shoes, pets

Bang & Bonsomer welcomes new partner whose products complement our portfolio for Household Care. Please contact us to find out more about Evonik Degussa’s offering. The contact information of our regional Bang & Bonsomer offices is found under the heading Sales Offices.

We would also like to invite you to Interbythim 2008 in Moscow on March 03- 05 to learn about Bang & Bonsomer’s full offering for household and personal care. Evonik Degussa specialists will be available at our stand for your assistance.

Januari 2008

Januari månads ämne berör om Business Unit Plastics och Interplastica mässa i Russia. Månadens ämne finns endast tillgänglig på engelska.

Månadens ämne finns endast tillgänglig på engelska:

SBU Plastics is focused on sales, marketing and technical support of standard and technical thermoplastics, master batches, raw materials and processing aids for the plastics converting and manufacturing industry.

INTERPLASTICA 2008

The 11th International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber “Interplastica 2008” will take place from January 29th to February 1st, 2008 in the trade fair complex ZAO Expocentr in Krasnaya Presnya, Moscow, Russia. Last time 23,000 people visited the fair where 507 exhibitors from 27 countries were present.

Russia’s economy is growing and the affluence and consumer activity of the people is growing with it. Companions on this developing road to victory are the building industry, the automobile industry, the packaging industry and the producers of goods for daily consumption. They all have one thing in common: A great demand for plastics and rubber.

Since late 90’s Bang & Bonsomer has taken part as exhibitor in Interplastica. Visitors attending the fair this year and visiting our booth A7 at Hall 8.2 will have the possibility to receive the latest information on products and new innovations among others from the following suppliers:

SABIC Europe BV, a SABIC subsidiary that includes all SABIC’s activities in Europe. Bang & Bonsomer is promoting together with SABIC a new generation of PE-HD, the bimodal polyethylene PE100 for gas and potable water pipes. Market development especially in Russia is very promising. PE100 pipes are used to replace conventional materials (such as ductile iron for gas distribution and concrete for water). Greater safety for gas and reduced water losses are key drivers for suppliers especially at the developing market.

UBE Engineering Plastics S.A. is one of the worldwide leading manufacturers of polyamide resins used in a wide variety of applications, including clothing, food packaging, electrical appliances and automobiles. Bang & Bonsomer is promoting with UBE their NYLON 5000 series for sausage casing films. Excellent balance of mechanical and chemical properties with good cost performance result a steady growth of sales in Russian market.

ICL Industrial Products is the world’s largest producer of bromine, and a leader in the production and marketing of bromine and bromine compounds. Bang & Bonsomer offers together with ICL to the plastics industry the most effective flame retardants that help in enhancing consumer safety, while being committed to environmental concerns.

PAU TAI INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION is the leading PVC stabilizer manufacturer in Taiwan. Today they provide an extensive product portfolio targeted to the needs of the PVC industry. Bang & Bonsomer is promoting both calcium-zinc and dibasic lead phosphite one-pack stabilizers combined with impact modifiers and processing aids, all designed for rigid PVC profile production.

Please contact us in order to find out more about SBU Plastics’ product range. The contact information of our regional Bang & Bonsomer offices is found under the heading Sales Offices.

November 2007

November månads ämne berör om Business Unit Life Sciences och Ingredients Russia 20007 mässa.Månadens ämne finns endast tillgänglig på engelska.

SBU Life Sciences business is focused on serving the Food-, Beverage- and Health Food- and Pharma manufacturers. The product range includes safe and high quality ingredients, additivies and raw materials for the dairy -, meat and convenience food-, confectionary-and beverage industry.

Ingredients Russia 2007

The 10th Jubilee Moscow International Exhibition «Ingredients Russia 2007» will take place from the 4th to the 7th December 2007 in Crocus Expo, Moscow, Russia. Crocus Expo will host the exhibition for the second time. In 2007, Ingredients Russia will be attended by about 350 companies from 27 countries.

Since year 2000 Bang & Bonsomer has taken a part as exhibitor in Ingredients Russia. Visitors attending the exhibition this year and visiting Bang & Bonsomer’s booth No E27 will have the possibility to received the latest info on products of the following suppliers;

ORAFTI Group is the world market leader in the development and production of food ingredients derived from natural chicory and rice which add value through the delivery of health benefits. Orafti is focused and committed to product innovation, helping manufacturers and nutritional products with a FeelGood factor that consumers are increasingly demand. Since 2000 Orafti and 2000 Bang & Bonsomer, being the company´s exclusive distributor, have presented constantly new products and their nutritional benefits for healthy food producers.

FMC BioPolymer is the market leader in microcrystalline cellulose and carrageenan and is a major supplier of alginate for the food, pharmaceutical and industrial markets. The company’s plants in the United States, Ireland, Norway and the Philippines are ISO certified, reaffirming the company’s commitment to providing an assured supply of the highest quality products and delivering innovative and cost effective solutions. Over the past six years, FMC BioPolymer has expanded its global technical capabilities and breadth of product offerings to deliver the best and innovative solutions to food, pharmaceutical and industrial manufacturers. FMC BioPolymer will feature newest innovations in cooking and whipping creams, beverages, processed cheese, dairy deserts and , specially focused, restructured meat.

TATE&LYLE PLC is a world leading manufacturer of renewable food and industrial ingredients. It uses innovative technology to transform corn and sugar into value-added ingredients for customers in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The Company is a leader in cereal sweeteners and starches, sugar refining, value added food and industrial ingredients, and citric acid.

For more information, please contact Bang & Bonsomer’s Life Sciences team. They are happy to help you and answer all the questions you may have. You can contact our regional Bang & Bonsomer offices; the contact information is found under the heading Sales Offices .