JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #50 - July/August 2009 - 8

COMPANIES COMPANIES Innovation: the guiding principe at Huntsman JEC Composites Magazine met with André Genton, the new president of Huntsman Advanced Materials, to find out more about the company’s new organization and strategy for the next few years. lines you will be marketing in this division? A. G.: The Advanced Materials division has a rich and long (his)story that I am obviously part of, but this story did not start with my appointment as president! We will continue to develop our existing portfolio of specialty chemicals. This includes the development of our portfolio of building blocks (epoxy, benzoxazine, polyimide, cyanate esters chemistry), in order for us to serve the needs of formulators. This is also true for our ready-to-use formulations, mainly based on epoxy, polyurethanes and acrylics chemistry. JCM: What is your usual breakdown by application and/or market? A. G.: Our organisation can be described through a market/technology matrix. Our diversified technology platforms – which integrate adhesives, composites, encapsulation, surface engineering, rapid manufacturing, and more – enable us to serve aerospace, automotive, energy transportation and distribution, wind energy, electronics, construction and lacquer, sports and leisure, stereolithography markets, and also the DIY (do-it-yourself) market with our global brand, Araldite®. JCM: To judge by the many awards you have received in recent years, your R&D investments are paying off. Your project for fuel cell products that won an award at the Paris JEC Composites Show in March 2009 attracted a lot of attention. What percentage of your sales do you allocate for R&D, and how do you organize your R&D activities? A. G.: Globally, in 2008, we invested about 3% of our sales in R&D, covering four different activities which include technical support, product creation, process development and core research. About 20% of our R&D allocation was dedicated to our core research activities. Our technology organisation is structured around technology units such as synthesis, adhesives or composites, and platforms: radiation cure, nanotechnology, bio-derived materials. New product introduction is managed through a rigorous product creation process with stage gate to ensure timely delivery of valued innovation to our key markets. JCM: The global economic situation today is rather unsettling. Are you worried about your division for the 2009-2010 period? Do you think that composite-linked markets will be affected less by the crisis? A. G.: Steps must be taken to reduce costs and better balance supply in an environment of reduced demand. We think that the best way to pass the crisis is to strongly continue to invest in innovation. Composite solutions are linked to energy savings and cost savings. With this in mind, we are not worried, but we are taking significant measures on a daily basis to stay focussed on our deliverable and performance. More information: www.huntsman.com/ advanced_materials Araldite® is a registered trademark of Huntsman Corporation or an affiliate thereof (in one or more countries, but not all countries). AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDRÉ GENTON, PRESIDENT, HUNTSMAN ADVANCED MATERIALS JEC Composites Magazine: Hexion’s attempt to buy out Huntsman Corp. failed, earning Hexion a billion-dollar penalty. Huntsman Corp. is starting out again in 2009 on a new footing. Can you tell us more about your new organization into two divisions? What will their respective sizes be in terms of sales, number of employees and number of production sites? ANDRÉ GENTON: Huntsman took over Ciba’s Textile Chemicals business in 2006. Like Advanced Materials, Textile Chemicals was based in Basel, and both divisions shared a president, Paul Hulme. With sales of about a billion dollars and 3,400 employees, the Textile Effects (TE) business has become a full-fledged division and will be transferring its headquarters to Singapore to be closer to China, India and Southeast Asia, which are its main markets. Huntsman Advanced Materials has become an independent division, which I have had the pleasure of presiding over since the separation. With 2008 sales of $1.4 billion, Huntsman Advanced Materials has 2,300 employees at 11 different production sites scattered worldwide. JCM: André Genton, you were appointed as president of Huntsman Advanced Materials in February 2009. Can you tell us what main product 8 jec composites magazine / No50 July-August 2009

http://www.huntsman.com/advanced_materials

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #50 - July/August 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #50 - July/August 2009