Ferro South Africa subsidiaries restructure to pursue unified growth
Ferro Coating Resins (Pty) Ltd, Ferro Dispersions (Pty) Ltd and NCS Resins (Pty) Ltd, all Bud Group companies have taken the strategic decision to merge and form a unified business entity under the NCS South Africa banner. Based in KZN, NCS South Africa is now one of the largest manufacturers servicing the composites, coatings and dispersions industries in Africa.
In 2021, Ferro South Africa undertook a comprehensive review of their operations to ensure the business was futureproofing for growth in the key strategic areas of asset use, operational efficiency, employee development and the streamlining of shared services.
The renewed focus on human capital growth (training, development and succession planning) presents significant opportunity to attract quality staff and provide leading service excellence to customers.
The consolidation has allowed for investment into research & development for all product technologies that will focus in providing more sustainable offerings on the foundation of its commitment to the environment through the company’s Earthkind platform, as well as expand the business internationally, which intended volume growth will result in greater supplier relevance and ultimately greater purchasing power.
Trevor I’Ons, who has played an integral role in the Ferro business over many years, will assume the role as managing director of the new NCS South Africa entity. Daniel Souchon, a highly respected leader in the business, will take on the role as executive deputy chairman to ensure a smooth transition, with emphasis on key areas of stakeholder relationships and internal change management.
NCS was first established by Hunt Leuchars & Hepburn (HL&H) in 1906 as the Natal Chemical Syndicate to manufacture methylated and rectified spirits for the tanning industry. In 1960, NCS started producing unsaturated polyester products under license from Scott Bader (UK) and later through the development of its own products supplemented with a technology, license from Reichhold (US). Following a series of ownership changes, the company was acquired by Ferro South Africa in 2012.
Coating Resins’ history started with the Coates family in the UK, where a resin production facility manufactured products for the printing ink industry. The business, called Cray Valley, opened a resin facility in Durban in 1969. The Coates/Cray Valley group was later acquired by Total in the mid 1980’s, by Arkema in 2011 and finally Ferro South Africa in 2014.
Dispersions’ history dates back to Revertex Chemicals which was established in Durban in 1957 as a joint venture with Alco (later Akzo Nobel) that was finalized in 1982. Revertex Chemicals changed its name to Synthomer in 2007, before the company was acquired by Ferro South Africa, in 2016.
In 2016 Ferro South Africa went on to merge into Synthesis Chemical Holdings and later into Bud Group in 2018.
The change now marks a significant milestone for the three entities with a long rich history in their field of chemistry.