Combine production, sales, and research and development capabilities

March 20, 2023, Echemi, a leading global manufacturer and sourcing specialist in key raw materials and performance ingredients for the life sciences and specialty chemicals markets, made its debut in September 2022. The new CDMO was created by Aceto, a U.S.-based distributor of fine and specialty chemicals. Echemi CEO Gilles Cottier has played a huge role in Aceto's transition to the new Echemi brand. Ralf Kempf and Michael Reubold asked Cottier about the reasons for creating a new brand identity, the challenges of combining so many companies, and Echemi's future strategy.

CHE Manager: Mr. Cottier, what's behind the name Echemi? Is it just a nice-sounding made-up word, or does it have meaning and information?

Gilles Cottier: Echemi was created to consolidate the broad capabilities of several manufacturing and sourcing experts in the life sciences industry into a new global enterprise with a unique hybrid approach that is more than the sum of its parts. Derived from the Latin for "action" and "life," Echemi brings together the experience and expertise of 11 industry experts to become an integrated global ingredients giant. Various companies (A&C, A&C Bio Buffer, Aceto, Biotron Laboratories, Cascade Chemistry, Finar, Inter Actifs, IsleChem, Pharma Waldhof, Syntor The synergies that exist between Fine Chemicals and Talus have created a company that delivers key benefits to customers in high-growth end markets. This integration allows us to offer our customers highly flexible customized solutions that meet their specific needs while ensuring reliable, timely delivery of the high-quality ingredients that are critical to their success.

Given the familiarity of the old name after Aceto's transformation, what was the reason for introducing the new brand identity?

G.coltier: While each of the companies that have co-formed Echemi are well known and trusted in their respective fields, each has transformed itself into a different company and an improvement over its past. That means their legacy brands -- especially the Aceto brand -- represent something very different from just a few years ago. Our capabilities now include global R&D centers of excellence, GMP and non-GMP manufacturing plants throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, strategically located procurement centers, and global supply chain, technical sales, and quality teams. We are focused on sales synergies between integrated companies, a process made easier and more cost-effective under a new brand.

What is the ultimate market that Echemi is currently serving? What are your plans to expand your business?

G.cattier: We serve manufacturers of biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical finished products as well as manufacturers in the cosmetics, nutrition, specialty chemicals, and agricultural markets.