Univar strengthens French site and targets Slovakia
The company’s Genay site in Lyon will benefit from a €16m expansion project to be completed before 2011.
Univar plans to expand and reorganise the site in order to better serve industrial business sites in the Lyon region.
“This new warehouse for minerals, solvents and specialties will allow Univar to work in the best conditions of safety and environmental protection and to continue to improve the services it offers to its customers,” explained general manager of Univar France Nicolas Lehmann.
Univar’s European president John van Osch said the investment will bring advantages to the local community and bolster the economy in the Lyon region.
Slovakia’s euro attracts investment
Earlier this week the Brussels-based company announced plans to expand into Slovakia.
The Bratislava branch will add to the already existing industrial sites and offices in Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary.
Slovakia’s recent adoption of the euro and its growth potential within the Central and Eastern European region is the reason behind the move, according to Univar management.
“Our highly specialised distribution business serving the food, personal care and other chemical sectors requires local dedicated sales and professional technical service,” said Heinrich Klüwer, general manager of CE&E operations.
John van Osch added that the region is an important one for Univar, and the company needs a local presence in order to bring products from its global suppliers to new markets.
The company has distribution locations in 20 countries across Europe, including a personal care laboratory in its home base Brussels.
Presented at last year’s In-Cosmetics show, the laboratory was designed to help formulators overcome technical problems and develop new products
