DSM: FUTURE NOW
[EDIT: Urmond, September 27] We already knew that DSM’s performance materials were behind bulletproof cockpit doors and bulletproof vests and now we were to discover that it made sutures stronger than a spider’s web (the strongest); Lego-like composite bridge structures, twelve times lighter than concrete; performance material slings that can replace your average crane, but that was by no means all. It looked after the inner man and woman too, with enriched rice for the Chinese; food solutions enabling self-management of pre-diabetes and diabetes, actively lowering postprandial glucose peaks. Its special tea reduces body fat and Fabuless™ triggers the natural appetite control mechanism. It would be possible to fill this short article with a series of such sound bites on the range of new products coming from DSM, which are leading the company to achieve its growth targets as specified in vision 2010 before time. DSM is moving faster in its transformation into a life science and material science company than predicted. The organized sales growth target is up to above 5% per year. It’s committed to deliver EUR1bn additional sales from innovation by 2010 and a dividend increase of 20% per share will be recommended at the AGM in March 2008. Interestingly, the appearance of the management team seemed to epitomize this new message. They were all wearing double Windsor knots in their neckties; and, whether this was to provide a cutting-edge delta wing, or simply to represent the first letter of the company’s name, we do not know. Dynamism was there though, symbolized too, by top man Feike Sijbesma’s sleek new appearance. He had clearly left the world of bulk behind him. The only niggling doubt was: how can they link all of these new products to the brand (DSM). The figures point to the way it’s going, with an annual autonomous growth of revenues of more than 5%. Appropriately enough, the information session at Urmond concluded with DSM’s latest victory. This is the development of a new polymer which extends the portfolio for high performance engineering thermoplastics. Called PA4T, it has been developed by DSM Engineering Plastics with Stanyl® 46, and is the first new polymer in 10 years. PA4T will meet market trends for miniaturization and convergence in electronic devices like cell phones and computers. It will assist automakers in their ongoing weight reduction efforts for better fuel efficiency and lower costs. PA4T exhibits an exciting and unique balance of properties including excellent dimensional stability, compatibility with lead-free soldering, high stiffness and mechanical strength at elevated temperatures, high melting point, and excellent processability in terms of flow and processing window; it points to the future.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Dynamic Strategic Modulation, which is surely what DSM must stand for. The company is accelerating away from a past, wreathed in the noxious emissions of bulk chemicals, to a future as a provider of the key attributes of a modern lifestyle in nutrition and performance materials. The company recently revealed its updated plan for innovation and transformation and almost every product came with its own sound bite.
http://www.dsm.com/