On February 22nd 2019, HARKE GROUP, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany acquired Chemlink Specialities Ltd and Addi-Tec Ltd, both formerly businesses within the Chemlink Group in Manchester, UK.
Chemlink Specialities Ltd and Addi-Tec Ltd are leaders in a technical, value added approach to the market, and their goals and aspirations closely match those of the HARKE GROUP. This acquisition will provide the HARKE GROUP with a strong UK base and will expand the portfolio of products and services offered to Chemlink Specialities Ltd and Addi-Tec Ltd customers.
Thorsten Harke, President of the HARKE GROUP is convinced: “The acquisition of Chemlink Specialities and Addi-Tec is another important step in our strategy to offer to our customers and principals an excellent, innovative commercial, logistical and technical service throughout Europe, Russia and Turkey. Customers and principals alike in various industries will profit from the increased knowhow and capabilities of a wider team, sharing technical knowledge. This is supported by additional lab resources which we plan to implement at the Chemlink Specialities head office in Manchester, UK.”
Jack Minister, Director of both Chemlink Specialities Ltd and Addi-Tec Ltd added, “I am excited with the future of Chemlink Specialities and Addi-Tec as part of the Harke family. We operate in similar markets and product ranges and share a common business culture. Along with Chemlink Specialities and Addi-Tec’s technical capabilities, with our laboratory in Manchester UK, the Chemlink Specialities/Addi-Tec family will not be changing, the people you have always interacted with will remain and this was key to the success of this acquisition. With HARKE and Chemlink Specialities/Addi-Tec working together, future possibilities are bright.”
About the HARKE GROUP
Founded in 1965 as internationally acting chemical distributor, the family owned HARKE GROUP will reach a total turnover of € 150 million in 2019, ranking among the top 50 Chemical Distributors in Europe. It has a network of subsidiaries all over Europe including Russia and Turkey.
Its product portfolio covers products for the life sciences industries such as pharma, food and cosmetics, as well as for the clean care and water treatment industry, raw materials for coatings, plastics and polymers, industrial chemicals and high purity chemicals for electronics. It furthermore comprises specialty plastic products such as specialty films and high purity containers up to complete packaging, graphics and gravure systems. Following its strategy as a full service and complete system provider, HARKE GROUP offers a full range of technical advice and services around those products, from regulatory advice, custom development and formulations, compatibility testing, tools, equipment and software to blending, contract filling and packing of finished products in its production sites in Germany and Hungary.
About Chemlink Specialities Ltd
Chemlink Specialities Ltd was established in 1994 by Peter Minister and operates as a speciality distributor of chemicals across UK and Eire. Based in Manchester, UK, Chemlink Specialities Ltd was formerly part of the Chemlink Group of five companies including Addi-Tec Limited. Offering more than a standard distributor, Chemlink Specialities Ltd has on-site lab facilities and is able to offer services such as: formulation development, reformulation, micro testing and performance testing, regulatory advice, sourcing and sample provision, as well as UK stock holding and warehouse to provide a fast turnaround. Their focus is on the UK and Eire personal care, household and industrial, and pharmaceutical industries in particular.
About Addi-Tec Ltd
Addi-Tec Ltd was established in 2005 by Brian Lancaster and Peter Minister to replicate the ideals of Chemlink Specialities’ chemical distribution to the paints, coatings, and plastic processing industries by offering an application and formulation led approach backed by a comprehensive product range from quality manufacturers. Addi-Tec’s value stems from that of Chemlink Specialities: formulation development, reformulation, regulatory advice, product sourcing, and UK stock holding and warehousing facilities.
