RIM Polymers: Expansion Out Of Asia Gets Closer

RIM Polymers expects to buy or set up a company in the US by the end of 2019, according to Oei Han Tjing, executive vice president of the company’s owner, CEH Group. Speaking to UTECH-Polyurethane.com in late March, Tjing explained that the company is following a two-phase expansion strategy.

‘Phase one is to go to North America,’ he said. ‘We will acquire something or set up something and then expand from North to South America.’

CEH Group already has a company in Seattle, Washington that makes polyurethane transfer pumps. ‘It was a joint venture with Gusmer,’ Tjing explained. ‘But we have had 100% control since 1998. We can launch further from there.

He added: ‘We have a lot of customers in the Asia Pacific which used to export to the US. Now they have moved into the US. They are asking us to move with them.

CEH Group is talking to a few companies in North America, Tjing said. ‘We have not made a final decision. It is not easy to find the right company to acquire. We may set up our own operation. We are still searching,’

The second phase, which Tjing said could be complete by 2021, will involve acquisition or expansion into Europe. He claimed that this will be more of a challenge. ‘Europe is more difficult, as there are more players, all heavy duty,’ he explained.

‘Why not go global? We have hired an expert from Europe and some good people are joining us to expand our technology development. We are growing to a bigger scale and think we are ready to go global’.

For RIM Polymers, Tjing said: ‘2018 looks like it is going to be a growth year, but there is a lot of political turbulence. The year is full of uncertainty. Trump may change policy, and in Europe, there are a lot of changes with Brexit, for example.’

However, he remains optimistic.. ‘For us, as long as the major industries are growing, then we should be ok,’ he said.

The article published in the Urethanes Technology – April/May 2018.