10 Key Factors to Consider When Selecting a Specialty Chemicals Partner

The specialty chemicals landscape continues to evolve rapidly, making it more important than ever to have the right distribution partner by your side. Many businesses are not large enough to enjoy the benefit of purchasing specialty chemicals for their manufacturing operations straight from the source. Likewise, many can’t afford costly chemical management companies, or staff large buying departments.

Companies like 3M, Henkel, and AkzoNobel outsource most of their products for sale through local distributors, freeing up more resources to focus their efforts on product development, research, and manufacturing. This leaves businesses with several chemical distribution providers to choose from, and a tedious selection process.

As a leader in the specialty chemical distribution business for over 140 years, we wanted to 10 key factors that will make the selection process that much easier

1. Authorized distributorship of a wide range of product lines

Look for a distributor who has authorized distribution rights for a wide range of product lines. Authorized distributorship benefits include lower prices on products sold to the distributor, so they are likely to pass on their savings to the customer. Distributors also pass on discounts in the form of contract pricing for a specific item, or multiple items based on the amount of business you do together. Working with an authorized distributor saves you both time and money.

2. Expertise in the industry you serve

First and foremost, look for a distributor who has experience consulting and providing product support in the industry you serve. Be wary of the industrial distributor who claims they can serve your aerospace manufacturing needs, as the business models and criticality of accuracy and quality are vastly different. Likewise, consider distributors who have knowledge in advanced manufacturing industries, if you support a more complex market, and plan to diversify into others.

For instance, a distributor who specializes in the electronics industry will have the expertise and distribution portfolio to advise on solutions for the avionics or automotive markets too. Distributors who provide specialty materials for the composites industry will also be well-suited to provide aerospace industry solutions.

3. Location, location, location

Advanced engineered materials can’t be purchased in a big box retail store, so proper planning and order fulfillment is vital to your manufacturing line up-time. Do you remember the days before Amazon Prime when you had to cross your fingers and hope the product you purchased was shipping from a warehouse close by? It’s important that you search for a distributor with multiple locations across the United States, so product can be delivered on-time, efficiently, and cost-effectively from a stocking location close to you.

Additionally, the more locations a distributor has, the higher the probability the product is in stock. They simply have more resources available to them to serve your needs. Finally, search for a distributor based on the geography of the market you serve. As an aerospace-focused distributor, our customers benefit from our sites being located in five of the major aerospace hubs.

4. Technical Expertise

If you are in the business of advanced manufacturing, having a distribution partner with deep technical acumen is critical. You want to work with someone who can act as a consultant for you and educate you on why one product is better suited than another for your application, or introduce a solution that you may not have considered.

Exceptional Technical Account Managers are also essential to the manufacturer who is focusing their time on new product development and quality control in the manufacturing process. The more questions a distributor representative can answer for you on their own, the faster it is for you, and the more they allow the manufacturer to focus on their “day job.” Who doesn’t love that kind of service?