We Conducted an Enjoyable Interview with Songül Yıldırım

An Engaging Interview with Songül Yıldırım Univar Solutions, established in the United States in the 1920s, provides solutions to numerous different industries. In our conversation, Songül Yıldırım, Sales Manager for Adhesives and Construction Chemicals at Univar Solutions, provided information about the products and technologies they offer in the adhesives and sealants sectors.

Could you briefly tell our readers about yourself, your education and professional background?

I was born in Istanbul in 1984. After completing my studies at Şehremini Anadolu High School, I graduated from the Chemistry Department at Trakya University. Following graduation, I started working in sales at Eral - Protek in 2009. After this company was acquired by Univar Solutions in 2010, I have continued my career at Univar Solutions as Sales Manager for Adhesives and Construction Chemicals.

Could you provide information about Univar Solutions' establishment and the stages it has gone through to reach its current position?

Univar Solutions was established in the United States in the 1920s and is a distributor providing international chemical raw material supply. It has reached its current structure through various acquisitions both in America and Europe. In 2010, it entered the Turkish market by acquiring local distributor Eral - Protek. The sectors in which we operate through chemical raw material supply are paints and coatings, construction, adhesives, cosmetics, food, rubber, plastics, pharmaceuticals, cleaning product chemicals and solvents.

What are the products, brands and services that Univar Solutions offers, particularly in the adhesives and sealants sectors? What types of products does Univar Solutions primarily supply to which sectors in these areas?

As Univar Solutions, we continuously provide a range of high-quality and sustainable products to the adhesives and sealants sectors by reaching our global network. Hydrocarbon resins, epoxy resins, rosin esters, PE wax, TPU, MDI, Indian oil, desiccants, acrylic resins, thickeners, pH regulators and various other additives are among our main focus products. Among our global suppliers for which we provide distribution of these products, we can mention Cabot, Olin, BASF, DOW, Braskem, Yuen Liang, Angus and Lotte Fine Chemicals. The sectors to which we supply these products include polyurethane adhesive, hotmelt, shoe sole adhesive, PIB-based adhesive and sealant manufacturers. In general, we provide various raw material supply to all water and solvent-based adhesive sectors.

Could you tell us about your domestic and international sales activities? What types of products do you sell to which regions domestically and internationally?

As Univar Solutions is a US-based international distributor, it operates as an authorized sales distributor of products from leading chemical raw material manufacturers in America, Canada, 20 countries in Europe and in the Middle East and Asia.

What kind of work do you undertake at Univar Solutions in the areas of technology, innovation and research and development?

Do you have projects developed within the scope of university-industry cooperation, and if so, what are they? Since chemistry is a sector that continuously develops itself, significant innovation investments are being made for the sectors we serve. The first priority is the production of sustainable, environmentally compatible materials, the second priority is the production of products that will provide cost advantages, and the third priority is the production and provision of products that keep pace with developing technology. In this context, as Univar Solutions, we are working on the transition from solvent-based products to water-based product manufacturing, and we are providing the necessary technical support from our 8-person technical team in Europe for the supply of raw materials we can provide in this field. Technology always plays an active role in our daily and professional lives. As an international company, the CRM system we use provides communication capabilities to all team members in our company regardless of where they are in the world. We are very satisfied with our field team and this digital platform we use supports us. We have a digital shopping platform actively used in the United States, and with the pandemic, its use has increased even further. We are continuing our efforts to expand this platform in Europe as well. In the coming days, the use of digital shopping and information sharing tools will increase. Currently, we have a digital payment system that we use in Turkey, and our customers can make their payments remotely and easily using their credit cards through their own phones or computers.

Could you provide information about Univar Solutions' environmental policy and sustainability approach? What can you say about your work related to occupational health and safety?

As Univar Solutions, in all our operations, our first priority when providing products and services is the environment, human health and occupational safety. Our company motto "Safety is first!" is a priority known and implemented by all our employees. Stopping incorrect work is the responsibility of every employee. With a proactive approach towards preventing work accidents, training and information are provided at every level. To protect our employees, business partners and the environment, we conduct relevant risk assessments and ensure that necessary actions are taken in a timely manner.

Univar Solutions - what criteria are given priority when creating investment plans? Does Univar Solutions have investment plans for the coming periods, and if so, what are they?

Univar Solutions is a company that grows through company acquisitions when entering new markets. We have a team that works specially in this area and projects opportunities. Our investment plans are shaped by customer needs in the market, identification of gaps and guidance from our business partners. We are working intensively to implement these plans both in countries where we already operate and in new countries.