Koppers adds $40 million in new business
Koppers Performance Chemicals Inc (PC)., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koppers Holdings Inc., has announced a significant expansion of market share in industrial and commercial wood preservation technology markets.
The Pittsburgh, Pa.-baed company is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds, today
Earlier this year, the manufacturer realigned its sales functions into three distinct channels serving residential, industrial, and commercial markets to provide greater leadership, customer focus, and product development for each sector.
Recent regulatory actions in both the United States and Canada have resulted in the phase out of pentachlorophenol (penta), a longstanding oil-borne preservative (never produced by Koppers) that made up approximately 40% of the industrial wood preservative market for treating utility poles.
Through strategic market engagement, PC assisted treaters with transitioning from penta to either its legacy K-33 CCA water-borne preservative or its newest entry into the oil-borne preservative field, InPro 23 and InPro 50 DCOI, which Koppers began offering in mid-2022.
In a few short months, PC said it has secured approximately $40 million of annualized new industrial business, adding 14 new customers across 18 locations for its CCA and DCOI products.
“Over the past 24 months, we have been diligent in targeting growth and delivering impressive returns in the industrial chemical sector. The market has responded favorably to our strategy, which is indicative of the progress that we have made,” said Tommy Kyzer, vice president, PC Industrial Division.
Meanwhile, in the commercial market, PC has seen annual sales of its fire-retardant products increase from nearly $1 million in 2018 to an estimated $24 million currently, growing from three treated wood plants to 20 locations in North America now producing treated wood with an advanced version of its fire retardant brand FlamePro.
“Looking ahead, we plan to expand into additional locations in 2023 and beyond,” added J.R. Virnich, vice president, PC Commercial Division. “This reflects our expectation of continued market penetration and expansion for FlamePro and our other fire-retardant products.”
Doug Fenwick, president, Performance Chemicals, commented, "Building on the legacy of success achieved by our PC segment in the residential market, Koppers has allocated considerable R&D, engineering, and marketing resources toward our industrial and commercial businesses, with very positive results. As always, we plan to maintain a strong customer focus as PC continues to grow within these new markets.”
Koppers is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds.
Its products and services are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end markets, including the railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber, and construction industries.