Reichhold makes organizational moves

triangle.bizjournals.com 17:40 EST Friday 

Research Triangle Park-based Reichhold on Friday announced three organizational changes with the naming of Ashok Mendiratta as vice president of global technology, Eric Carlier as director of technology, Europe and Alberto Piccinotti as director of European sales.

Based at RTP, Mendiratta will have global responsibility for all of Reichhold's technology functions and will report to Senior Vice President Julia Harp. He comes to Reichhold from PolyOne, the $3.5 billion plastics compounder that was formed following the merger of Geon and M.A. Hanna. At PolyOne, Ashok had served as director of corporate business development.

Carlier will replace Raj Patel as Reichhold's director of technology of Europe. Patel will retire March 31 after 35 years of service to Reichhold. Carlier will move into his new job March 24.

Carlier comes to Reichhold from Owens Corning in Belgium, where he served as European research and development director.

Effective Feb. 15, Piccinotti will become director of European sales for Reichhold. Piccinotti has been with Reichhold one year, serving as director of master planning for Europe. Prior to joining Reichhold, Piccinotti was with Owens Corning for more than 15 years.

Also Friday, Reichhold said that a recently announced price increase on its unsaturated polyester resins in North America has been revised to 4 cents per pound instead of the 3 cents per pound increase that was announced earlier in January.

This revised pricing increase is effective for all North American orders placed on or after Feb. 7.

"This upward adjustment of the increase we announced earlier this month is necessary due to the continuing strength in styrene, benzene and natural gas prices," said Reichhold VP Harp. "The uncertainty in oil-producing nations such as Venezuela and in the Middle East is generating increased market volatility and driving an increase in styrene monomer costs."

"The price of natural gas has doubled since March 2002, and crude oil has traded above $ 25 per barrel since March as well, and is currently about $ 30 per barrel. As a result of these significant and continuing conditions, we are required to take this action."

Reichhold is the world's largest manufacturer of unsaturated polyester resins and a leading coating and performance resins for the automotive, appliances, coatings, plastics, textile, construction, transportation, marine and graphic arts markets.

Reichhold has manufacturing operations throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Founded in 1927, Reichhold is owned by Tokyo-based Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, the world's largest producer of printing inks and polyester resins.