Eliokem

Activity

Created in 2001, Eliokem is the former specialty chemicals division (Europe & USA) of Goodyear. The group was enlarged in February 2008, under the ownership of AXA Private Equity, with the acquisition in India of the polymer division from Apar Industries.

Eliokem is a specialty chemicals group with headquarters in Villejust (near Paris, France). The group employs around 670 people around the world and owns 4 production facilities located at Le Havre (France), Akron (Ohio, USA), Ningbo (China) and Valia (Gujarat, India) as well as 6 representative offices in Europe, Asia and The Americas, and a network of 86 distributors and agents strategically located around the world. Eliokem sales in 2008 amounted to €200m.

The company has leading positions in a broad range of niche applications with the following trademarks and associated product lines:

• Coatings Resins: Pliolite®, Plioway®, Pliotec® and Hydro Pliolite®, resins used in decorative & intumescent paints and oilfield chemicals, Pliotone® for electrographic toners;
• Latex: Pliocord® and Chemigum®, tire cord dipping and reinforcing fabrics, carpet backing and dipped gloves;
• Elastomeric Modifiers: Chemigum® and Sunigum®, elastomeric modifiers for plastics;
• Antioxidants: Wingstay®, non-staining antioxidants used in natural rubber latex articles, carpet backing and for the protection of ABS plastic and synthetic rubber;
• Nitrile rubbers: Chemigum® and Pliolite®, polymers used notably for auto parts and industrial rubber goods (rice-rollers). 

Strategy

Eliokem is recognized as the leading company on its high value-added niche markets boosted by the experience of its staff, the reputation of its products, the image of its brands, its recognized R&D skills and its excellent relations with its distributors and suppliers.

Having successfully won independence from Goodyear, the objective of both AXA Private Equity and management is that Eliokem should become a platform for international growth, both by organic growth and by accompanying its traditional customers, and by acquisitions on high-growth markets with a view to bolstering its positions on various market segments and regions including Asia, USA and Eastern Europe.