07-10-2013

Ashland Water Technologies and Dorf Ketal enter strategic distribution partnership

Ashland Water Technologies, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc, and Dorf Ketal Chemicals, LLC, a specialty chemicals company serving the downstream refining and petrochemical industries, today announced they have entered a strategic distribution agreement within North America and the Caribbean.

Under the terms of the agreement, Water Technologies will serve as Dorf Ketal's sole distributor in the assigned territory, initially North America and the Caribbean. Ashland Water Technologies and Dorf Ketal intend to accelerate the delivery of innovative products and services to the refining and chemical processing industries. Field engineers and applications specialists from both companies will work together to deliver highly differentiated process and water treatment solutions, as well as documented return on investment, to customers.

"With market-leading positions around the world, Dorf Ketal has demonstrated its ability to rapidly innovate and deliver sustainable solutions to the most difficult challenges facing refiners and chemical producers today," said Matt Knight, president and chief executive officer, Dorf Ketal Chemicals. "As a new entrant to the North American market, we have been looking for a partner that shares our commitment to innovation and service. We believe that Ashland Water Technologies is that partner and will help accelerate our rate of market penetration and growth."

"Our industrial water treatment team has a proven track record of delivering documented return on investment for more than 30 years across all major industries, including refining and petrochemical production," said John Schumann, vice president, industrial water, Ashland Water Technologies. "We take a proactive approach to working with our customers, who are increasingly asking to evaluate the process side of their operations and to deliver value-added solutions. Our partnership with Dorf Ketal will allow us to do just that."