US Zinc expands relationship with KODA Distribution Group

ERJ staff report (TP)

Houston, Texas – US Zinc officials announced on 16 June the expansion of its relationship with KODA Distribution Group (KDG) through the increase of Ribelin’s territory to include the US Southeast region.

This now provides US Zinc coast-to-coast coverage in the United States for the CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers) market by KDG companies, which include EW Kaufmann in the Northeast, GMZ in the Midwest, PT Hutchins on the West Coast and Ribelin in the Southwest and Southeast.

In 2013, US Zinc launched a new national distribution strategy, consolidating its distribution network to more effectively and efficiently serve its customers. Under this strategy, the firm aligned with KDG and HB Chemical as its two national partners, in addition to key specialty distributors, to serve the entire zinc oxide market.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, US Zinc is a worldwide manufacturer, recycler and supplier of zinc oxide, zinc dust, zinc metal and zinc fines. With plants in North America, South America and Asia, the company is an affiliate of Brazilian-based Votorantim Metais, one of the five largest zinc producers in the world.

KDG provides specialty chemical distribution in North America and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.

Zinc oxide is widely used as an additive in numerous materials and products including rubbers, plastics, adhesives and sealants. It occurs naturally as the mineral zincite, but most zinc oxide is produced synthetically.