Dow Corning Transforms Business to Focus on Innovation, Sustainability, Efficiency

11-Jun-2009 - USA

Dow Corning is transforming its business strategy to help customers to be more innovative, sustainable, and efficient as they navigate dynamic economic, social and environmental megatrends, according to the company.

“As the global marketplace experiences significant changes, the needs of our customers are also changing markedly,” Dow Corning Chairman, President and CEO Stephanie A. Burns. “Now, more than ever, our customers say they want suppliers that can help them in areas such as the drive for efficiency, alternative energy and clean water, and the rapid urbanization in fast growing emerging geographies.”

Based on extensive research and analysis of customers’ needs, economic indicators, and future social and environmental trends, the company will focus on:

- Efficiency: Dow Corning is creating the world’s largest online marketplace for silicone materials through a significant expansion of its XIAMETER® business model. The XIAMETER brand is Dow Corning’s web-enabled business for selling standard silicone products at market-driven prices. Customers will now have access to more than double the current product choices, as well as new volume ordering options. Using an online business model makes efficient use of a customer’s time, allowing them to place an order when and where it’s convenient for them, with immediate confirmation of price, quantity, and ship date. In addition, for the first time customers will also be able to buy XIAMETER branded products through distributors, providing them with additional ordering options and local convenience. Dow Corning says the expansion of its innovative XIAMETER business model will help silicone purchasers who are impacted by the global economic recession but will also help them improve efficiency when the economy recovers.

- Innovation: The Dow Corning® brand will focus exclusively on serving differentiated solutions and new applications for customers who want innovation, customized services and technical support. The company will concentrate on innovating materials and solutions for critical industries such as electronics, construction, health and personal care, among others. Much of this innovation will be driven by the need to help customers develop unique and differentiated products - while helping them become more efficient. Dow Corning’s Research and Development centers of excellence and the Dow Corning Business & Technology Incubator will help continuously identify and pursue new trends and opportunities.

- Sustainability: Increasing demand for products, processes and technologies that meet environmental and societal needs will play a key role in Dow Corning’s innovation activities. The company anticipates more than 50 percent of its innovation portfolio will be on projects linked to sustainability. A significant area of focus will be solar power to help the solar industry move towards being economically competitive with conventional energy sources, and become a sustainable energy option. In the past five years, Dow Corning and its joint ventures at the Hemlock Semiconductor Group have announced investments of more than $4.5 billion to research and develop as well as to expand production of materials critical to the solar industry. Dow Corning has also announced the opening of two Solar Solutions Applications Centers in the past two years, one in the United States and one in Korea. Additionally the company will expand solutions to support the growing wind power sector and “green” construction materials.

“The Dow Corning and XIAMETER brands are positioned to meet customer needs, no matter what they’re looking for,” said XIAMETER Global Executive Director Shelley Bausch.. “We have always been known for innovation that transforms our industry and our customers’ businesses. In this challenging economic environment we have the global strength, resources and expertise to respond to changing customer needs with creativity and speed.”

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/101927/dow-corning-transforms-business-to-focus-on-innovation-sustainability-efficiency.html