Kolb Distribution AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK), acquired Elementis Specialties Netherlands (ESN), located in Delden, the Netherlands. A purchase price was not disclosed. As a result, Elementis Specialties Netherlands has been renamed to KLK Kolb Specialties B.V.. The intention to acquire this site from Elementis plc was announced in December 2017.


KLK Kolb Specialties B.V. manufactures surfactants and further specialties and will expand the existing Kolb business portfolio in terms of product range and market coverage. The use of the Delden site as another hub for KLK's market penetration strategy will further accelerate growth in the group's downstream chemical specialties business in Europe. Both Kolb and KLK Kolb Specialties are looking forward to the cooperation with each other, striving for positive synergies for the KLK Group’s Oleochemical operation in Europe. Kolb is a leading European producer of surfactants, paper process chemicals and chemical intermediates, such as fatty Alcohol ethoxylates, triglyceride ethoxylates, sorbitan esters and other chemistries that are used for wetting, emulsifying, low foaming, solubilising, viscosity modifying and viscosity stabilising. These chemicals are used to formulate products like detergents and shampoo. Kolb operates out of two production sites, in Switzerland and the Netherlands, and processes both natural and synthetic raw materials. It employs approximately 280 employees. Since 2007, Kolb has been a part of the dynamic KLK Group and has worked closely and successfully with KLK’s oleochemical division, KLK Oleo.