February 4, 2021

ITASCA, IL. AND PRESCOTT, WIS. — Interfacial Consultants (“Interfacial”), a Wisconsin-based innovator in advanced materials, has recently released two disruptive, highly filled masterbatch technologies, to be distributed by its sister company Nagase Specialty Materials (“NSM”).

These novel, proprietary composites—one biofiber-based, the other carbon nanotube-based—are engineered to enable greater filler dispersion for the production of high-performance compounds. As a result, companies within a wide range of industries, ranging from automotive manufacturing to household goods, will be able to rapidly formulate sustainable and electrostatic discharge (ESD)-safe polymers, while achieving lightweighting, strength, stiffness, productivity and processing objectives.

Both Interfacial and NSM specialize in connecting their customers with unique material solutions, and both are part of Japan-based NAGASE Group. This partnership represents the first instance in which Interfacial will leverage NSM’s distribution capabilities to bring its differentiated products to a wider market.

"Interfacial is ecstatic about launching our disruptive, highly filled masterbatch technology with Nagase Specialty Materials,” said Interfacial Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jeff Cernohous. “It provides compounders with the ability to easily process difficult-to-handle materials, like natural fibers and carbon nanotubes. This allows them to create compounds with improved manufacturing output, dispersion and ultimate performance. We expect this to be the first of many new product launches with our NSM partners.”

Mark Miller, President and COO at NSM, also anticipates substantial benefits for the market. “I am very excited about this extension of our value chain at NSM and its positive ramifications for the productivity and sustainability requirements desired by our customers,” Miller said. “Nagase Specialty Materials is committed to servicing customer needs through representation of excellent suppliers and the marketing of Nagase manufactured solutions. The representation of our sister company, Interfacial, bringing highly filled masterbatches to market which leverage our existing supplier base, allows us to do both.”

Interfacial’s new highly filled masterbatches are available now—in quantities ranging from samples to truckloads for full-scale production.

About Nagase Specialty Materials - NAGASE Specialty Materials is a leading distributor of specialty chemicals and manufacturer of chemical products, serving industries that impact everyday life—ranging from plastics and coatings, to pharmaceuticals and personal care. NAGASE Specialty Materials is committed to adding value to customers’ product development and manufacturing processes with extensive resources to fulfill that commitment.

NAGASE Specialty Materials is part of NAGASE Group, a public company with $8 billion in annual revenue. Founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1832 as a specialized purveyor of dyes and chemicals, NAGASE now has 100+ group companies and more than 6,000 team members. Spanning 27 countries and regions, NAGASE connects the world with high-end materials and technologies.

Additional information about NAGASE Specialty Materials can be found at https://www.fitzchem.com/.

About Interfacial Consultants- Interfacial Consultants (IFC) is focused on the development and commercialization  of technology platforms relating to advanced materials and manufacturing processes for the plastics, building and  construction, electronics, automotive, recycling and specialty chemicals markets. Founded in 2015, IFC has achieved a CAGR of over 100%, has revenues approaching $10 million and currently employs a staff of 45.

For more information, see www.ifllc.com.

ITASCA, IL & LOVELAND, OH, December 10, 2020 – NAGASE Specialty Materials NA LLC (“NSM”) and Sirrus, Inc. (“Sirrus”) announced today that they have entered into a partnership agreement to market and sell Sirrus’ CHEMILIAN™ and FORZA™ lines of methylene malonate monomers and oligomers.  The partnership will initially focus on developing applications and markets for these groundbreaking materials but will then concentrate on sales and distribution of these products as production assets come online.

Sirrus is an Ohio-based technology leader in the field of methylene malonate chemistry and holds significant intellectual property focused on the design, production, and use of methylene malonate monomers and oligomeric crosslinkers that can undergo both radical and anionic polymerization at ambient temperatures.  For example, when combined with methacrylates, methylene malonates have been shown to accelerate and improve cure speed and performance.  

The partnership represents a significant addition to NSM’s already robust portfolio of specialty chemical solutions for its customers.  The Illinois-based NAGASE Group company anticipates Sirrus’ products will appeal strongly to its customers in energy-curable, 3D printing, and CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, and Elastomers) markets.

Both Parties See a Good Fit

“Nagase Specialty Materials is driven by the commitment to give its customers access to the most advanced and innovative technologies,” says JP Masson, Business Development Director, NSM.  “We are excited to enter into this partnership with Sirrus as their team has developed a technology that is truly groundbreaking and will allow a new direction in UV-cured, 3D Printing, and CASE applications”.

Alan Brewer, Vice President of Commercial Strategy, Sirrus commented: “This partnership is a great opportunity to expand our methylene malonates into new and target markets. I’m excited to work with NAGASE on taking our commercialization efforts to the next level.”

About Nagase Specialty Materials

NAGASE Specialty Materials is a leading distributor of specialty chemicals and manufacturer of chemical products, serving industries that impact everyday life—ranging from plastics and coatings, to pharmaceuticals and personal care. NAGASE Specialty Materials is committed to adding value to customers’ product development and manufacturing processes with extensive resources to fulfill that commitment.

NAGASE Specialty Materials is part of NAGASE Group, a public company with $8 billion in annual revenue. Founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1832 as a specialized purveyor of dyes and chemicals, NAGASE now has 100+ group companies and more than 6,000 team members. Spanning 27 countries and regions, NAGASE connects the world with high-end materials and technologies.

Additional information about NAGASE Specialty Materials can be found at https://www.nagaseamerica.com/.

About Sirrus

Sirrus was founded in 2009 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Shokubai, a global chemical company based in Japan and leading supplier of monomers, functional chemicals, and polymer catalysts.

Read more about Sirrus, Inc. on the company’s website at https://www.sirruschemistry.com.

https://nagaseamerica.com/news_release/nagase-specialty-materials-announces-partnership-agreement-for-revolutionary-methylene-malonate-product-line/

ITASCA, Ill., November 3, 2020 --- NAGASE Specialty Materials NA LLC (NSM), a leading distributor of specialty chemicals today announced a new strategic distributor partnership with Huber Engineered Materials (HEM), a global leader in chemical manufacturing.

This partnership focuses on growing Huber's Ground Calcium Carbonate business throughout the Midwest with NAGASE Specialty Materials’ integrated supply chain and strong customer-centric sales force, as well as its global customer base. This partnership reiterates the strategy of both companies to drive growth and build relationships with customers in the midwestern United States.

HEM prides itself on superior customer and technical service, while focusing on creating, developing, and manufacturing superior engineered specialty ingredients. All of their industrial chemical manufacturing is executed to enhance the performance, appeal and processing of a broad range of products used in industrial, agricultural, and consumer-based applications.

“For over thirty years, NSM has established itself as a premier supplier of Calcium Carbonates to the industrial chemicals market sector. Our new relationship with Huber Carbonates allows us to offer our customers a robust portfolio of superlative Calcium Carbonate solutions with technical and logistic advantages we have not been able to offer in the past” said Robert Milano, Director of Supplier Management for NSM.  “We are excited about Huber and NAGASE working together as a cohesive team with common goals in providing enhanced value to our customers.”

About NAGASE Specialty Materials

NAGASE Specialty Materials aims to drive value for market innovators as a leading distributor of specialty chemicals and manufacturer of chemical products. The company serves industries impacting everyday life around the world: textiles; coatings; inks; plastics; packaging; automotive; aerospace; personal care; household, industrial and institutional; pharmaceutical; and electronics. NAGASE Specialty Materials is committed to adding value to customers’ product development and manufacturing processes with extensive resources to fulfill that commitment. For instance, the Itasca Innovation Lab supports R&D and application testing, an expansive supplier network enables unmatched access to materials.

NAGASE Specialty Materials is part of NAGASE Group, a public company with $8 billion in annual revenue. Founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1832 as a specialized purveyor of dyes and chemicals, NAGASE now has 100+ group companies and more than 6,000 team members. Spanning 27 countries and regions, NAGASE connects the world with high-end Japanese technologies.

About Huber Engineered Materials
Huber Engineered Materials, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (US), is a global business focused on engineered specialty ingredients that enhance the performance, appeal and processing of a broad range of products used in industrial, agricultural and consumer applications. It has a portfolio of high value products: industrial, food and USP grade calcium carbonate; specialty alumina trihydrate, magnesium hydroxide, molybdate compounds and agricultural nutrients and adjuvants.

ITASCA, Ill., Oct. 27, 2020 --- NAGASE Specialty Materials NA LLC (NSM) is proud to announce our partnership with ASAHI KASEI as the authorized distributor for Duranate™ isocyanates for polymerization and cross-linking of high weatherability polyurethanes. NSM’s Technical Account Managers will serve customers in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Duranate™ is Asahi Kasei’s line of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) based polyisocyanate curing agents. Duranate™ is offered as several types:  biuret, trimer with low and extra-low viscosity, multi-functional with fast drying characteristics, blocked with low temperature curing, and adduct which offer high flexibility.  Duranate™ provides excellent weatherability and color retention, good chemical and abrasion resistance, as well as good compatibility and drying properties. Suitable applications are coatings for automotive, architectural, industrial and consumer electronics products, adhesives, gravure, offset and screen inks. Duranate™ low viscosity grades are suitable for polyaspartic coatings that enable fast drying and zero or low VOCs.

“NAGASE Group has had a historically deep relationship with Asahi Kasei for Duranate™ sales & marketing in Japan and Asian countries. We know well that Asahi Kasei is an excellent and trustworthy company. We are so excited to have a new partnership with Asahi Kasei here in North America and to provide their innovative products and technologies to our customers” said Toshio Kondo, Director of Asian Business Development.

“We are very pleased to announce this new partnership. Nagase Specialty Materials has great sales & marketing resources, supported by its excellent professionals in the coating industry. We are delighted that this partnership will enable exceptional service with Duranate™’s remarkable technology as an environmentally friendly product to customers,” said Toshio Yamasaki, General Manager of Duranate™ Sales and Marketing, Asahi Kasei, Japan.  

About NAGASE Specialty Materials

NAGASE Specialty Materials aims to drive value for market innovators as a leading distributor of specialty chemicals and manufacturer of chemical products. The company serves industries impacting everyday life around the world: textiles; coatings; inks; plastics; packaging; automotive; aerospace; personal care; household, industrial and institutional; pharmaceutical; and electronics. NAGASE Specialty Materials is committed to adding value to customers’ product development and manufacturing processes with extensive resources to fulfill that commitment. For instance, the Itasca Innovation Lab supports R&D and application testing, an expansive supplier network enables unmatched access to materials.

NAGASE Specialty Materials is part of NAGASE Group, a public company with $8 billion in annual revenue. Founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1832 as a specialized purveyor of dyes and chemicals, NAGASE now has 100+ group companies and more than 6,000 team members. Spanning 27 countries and regions, NAGASE connects the world with high-end Japanese technologies.

About Asahi Kasei Group

The Asahi Kasei Group contributes to life and living for people around the world. Since its foundation in 1922 with ammonia and cellulose fiber business, Asahi Kasei has consistently grown through the proactive transformation of its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age. With more than 40,000 employees around the world, the company contributes to sustainable society by providing solutions to the world’s challenges through its three business sectors of Material, Homes, and Health Care.

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NAGASE Specialty Materials Inaugurated on Day One

Commitment to its North American Headquarters in Illinois

ITASCA, Ill., Sept. 1, 2020 --- Nagase America LLC announces the achievement of “Day One” for Nagase Specialty Materials NA LLC (“NSM”), a new company borne from the integration of its NY Chemicals Division and its Illinois Fitz Chem LLC into one company.

This successful integration strengthens NAGASE Specialty Materials’ position in North America through demonstrated leadership in the provision of specialty materials and solutions, continued excellence in distribution, and a strategic business development focus. Moreover, the unification combines the legacies of two organizations focused on customer satisfaction, technology deployment and the representation of the finest suppliers in North America. The integration of the sales, business development, customer service and operations teams has now been successfully completed.

Although today is officially Day One, it represents the culmination of a long-gestating transition. “Our teams have worked tirelessly this year to ensure a seamless transition for our customers, suppliers and business partners into our new organization and I’m very proud of them and their effort, especially given the constraints imposed during the pandemic,” said Laura Mack, chief financial officer and integration head for NSM.

Now, NAGASE Specialty Materials launches a new era as a future-forward distributor of specialty chemicals, a manufacturer of chemical ingredients and an innovative business development partner. The materials and ingredients sold by NSM can be found in consumer and industrial products enhancing lives around the world: from household products such as paints, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and electronics, to cutting edge technologies like 3D printing. NSM is committed to adding value to customers’ product development and manufacturing processes to serve these markets.

NAGASE Specialty Materials is bringing innovative materials and technologies to customers, as well as jobs and opportunity to the area. NSM is growing, having increased its North American team by 20% in the past few months, half in business development and half in its corporate offices in Itasca. The Itasca Innovation Center, located at the Norther American headquarters, pairs chemical manufacturers with formulators to test performance and generate new products and formulations to serve leading brands.

“Many chemists from name-brand beauty and personal care products spend time in our lab formulating better products for everyday use,” said Mark Miller, president and chief operating officer of NAGASE Specialty Materials NA. “We are a growing company, excited to be bringing more jobs to Illinois.”

NAGASE Specialty Materials is a member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors and adheres to its guidelines for sustainability, safe distribution of products through transactions, warehousing and sales. “We are proud stewards of our products, from cradle to grave, by lessening environmental impact and advocating the safe treatment of the products we distribute,” said Miller.

NAGASE Specialty Materials plans to have a footprint covering all North America by 2025.

About NAGASE Specialty Materials

NAGASE Specialty Materials aims to drive value for market innovators as a leading distributor of specialty chemicals and manufacturer of chemical products. The company serves industries impacting everyday life around the world: textiles; coatings; inks; plastics; packaging; automotive; aerospace; personal care; household, industrial and institutional; pharmaceutical; and electronics. NAGASE Specialty Materials is committed to adding value to customers’ product development and manufacturing processes with extensive resources to fulfill that commitment. For instance, the Itasca Innovation Lab supports R&D and application testing, an expansive supplier network enables unmatched access to materials.

NAGASE Specialty Materials is part of NAGASE Group, a public company with $8 billion in annual revenue. Founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1832 as a specialized purveyor of dyes and chemicals, NAGASE now has 100+ group companies and more than 6,000 team members. Spanning 27 countries and regions, NAGASE connects the world with high-end Japanese technologies.

Nagase America LLC proudly announces the integration of its NY Division and Fitz Chem LLC into one, unified company on September 1^st, 2020 under the name Nagase Specialty Materials NA LLC (“NSM”).  This integration will further strengthen our position in North America through demonstrated leadership in the provision of specialty materials and solutions, continued excellence in distribution, and a strengthened business development focus.

Nagase Specialty Materials NA LLC will be headquartered in Itasca, IL (United States) and will be led by Takuya Tonomura (CEO) and the existing Officers, Mark Miller (President & COO) and Laura Mack (CFO).  Fitz Chem LLC will change its name and consolidate with Nagase America’s New York division as of September 1^st.  At that time operations will be consolidated into the Itasca HQ.  The integration of the Sales, Business Development, Customer Service and Operations Teams will occur over the next three months and until then, each entity will continue to handle inquiries and orders individually.

“Joining these two established Nagase organizations represents an exciting combination of mission, talent and infrastructure that will result in greater efficiencies and technology access for our Customers”, explained Mr. Tonomura, CEO.

Mark Miller further elaborated, “I’m excited to lead our NSM organization in North America which provides a unique value proposition to its Customers, Suppliers and Business Partners as a hybrid – continued representation of the finest chemical and material Suppliers combined with access to our complementary manufactured Nagase technologies in our markets, all within the context of NA geographic expansion.”

Nagase America and Fitz Chem LLC are committed to a seamless transition into the unified NSM and continued supply of materials – additional communication related to the specific points of contact will be forthcoming in early July.  In the interim, if you have any questions or require more information about Nagase Specialty Materials NA LLC, please feel free to contact Mark Miller (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or JP Masson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) directly.