Solvay is manufacturer of speciality and bulk chemicals, polymers and processed plastics, and pharmaceuticals. It has three business sectors; Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals and Plastics. 
The company is now strategically focussed on the following three areas: growth in pharmaceuticals, chemicals and selected plastic areas; innovation; and increasing its presence in Asia, the Americas and eastern Europe.
Solvay says it is benefiting from the results of a group-wide innovation initiative, which is bringing new product, processes and applications, as well as improvements at all levels across the company.
The company says that it needs to act faster to position itself in growth markets, in particular in Asia. It also believes that it needs to be ‘fearless in divesting and investing’ where it can.
In September 2009, Solvay sold its pharmaceutical business to Abbott Laboratories. For more on this please see Belgium's Solvay sells pharmaceutical business for €5.2bn on ICIS news. The transaction is expected to be closed in the first quarter of 2010.
With headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Solvay employs some 28,300 people in 50 countries and had consolidated sales of €9.5bn in 2008.
ICIS Chemical Business magazine has unveiled the ICIS Top 100 Chemical Companies, with rankings based on 2008 sales.
A PDF of the ICIS Top 100 Chemical Companies is available for download on ICIS connect.
See the article and analysis of the ICIS Top 100 on ICIS news.
Key Personnel
Chairman: Alois Michielsen
Director: Christian Jourquin
Director: Bernard de Laguiche
Director: Baron Hubert de Wangen
Director: Jean-Marie Solvay
Director: Chevalier Guy de Selliers de Moranville
Director: Nicolas Boel
Director: Whitson Sadler
Director: Jean van Zeebroeck
Director: Jean-Martin Folz
Director: Karel Van Miert
Director: Uwe-Ernst Bufe
Director: Bernhard Scheuble
Director: Anton van Rossum
Director: Charles Casimir-Lambert
(Updated July 2009)
Contacts
Solvay SA
Rue du Prince Albert 33
B-1050 Bruxelles
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 509 6111
Fax: +32 2 509 6617
Email: marie-jeanne.marchal@solvay.com
www.solvay.com
Solvay
Company Structure
Solvay operates in pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics. In 1861, Ernest Solvay developed a revolutionary ammonia-soda process for producing sodium carbonate. The Solvay group was founded in 1863 to exploit this process.
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Solvay
Strategy & Financial Highlights
The “change strategy” that was first launched in 1998 focused on two major elements: strengthening the company’s leadership in all of its activities and accelerating the development of the pharmaceuticals sector and its specialties products. These objectives are said to have been met and the company will now strategically focus on the following three areas: growth in pharmaceuticals, chemicals and selected plastic areas; innovation; and increasing its presence in Asia, the Americas and Eastern Europe. (Edited from annual report and company website). ICIS also provides you with key financial data listed in table form.
More about Solvay Strategy & Financial Highlights
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