DuPont and Ciba Specialty Chemicals to Expand Global Alliance -Industry leaders combine expertise to provide innovation to apparel and textile segments

Furniture World Magazine

DuPont Textiles and Interiors (DTI), a wholly owned subsidiary being formed by DuPont, and Ciba Specialty Chemicals announced a global business alliance to develop new combined offerings for the DTI portfolio of brands, which now includes DuPont Stainmaster® and DuPont Teflon® brand fabric protector. Ciba Specialty Chemicals and DuPont have been cooperating for several years on stain release and repellent finishes. This new joint development and marketing agreement enables both companies to share intellectual and technical resources and serve the increasingly sophisticated needs of the consumer. "We sought to expand the alliance with Ciba to help meet our vision of meeting consumer needs and to strengthen the differentiation capabilities of our trade partners," said Steve McCracken, Group Vice President, DuPont Textiles and Interiors. "We look forward to benefiting from each other’s innovations and introducing exciting new products with our customers that are desired by the consumer." The alliance is a direct result of the new DuPont Textiles and Interiors business model that assesses consumer needs first and then, working with customers, provides market-leading products to satisfy those needs. As part of the agreement, DuPont Textiles and Interiors will provide Ciba with access to the resources in its strategic business units, including strengths in the apparel and home textile markets, consumer marketing and brand management. In turn, Ciba offers a broad textile effects portfolio, as well as a wealth of expertise in textile chemical formulation, mill sales, technical application and quality assurance. "This alliance will leverage our innovative textile effects portfolio designed to provide integrated solutions throughout the textile value chain," said Christoph Biedermann, Global Head of Ciba Specialty Chemicals’ Textile Effects Segment. "Our effect chemicals meet modern lifestyle requirements, answering consumers demand for textiles and apparel that combine easy-care and high function." As part of the alliance, the Teflon® marketing team, led by Teresa Kleinhans, global business manager, will be integrated into the DuPont Textiles and Interiors strategic business unit and continue the responsibility for the Teflon® FABRIC PROTECTION business. Work is already underway on new branded offerings that will reinforce a broader easy care positioning. DuPont Apparel and Home & Industrial Textiles (HIT) segments will drive the global marketing initiatives and will continue to manage overall segment strategies.