ZURICH, Switzerland – DKSH Business Unit Performance Materials, a specialty chemicals distributor, announced new partnerships in the personal care industry in the United States and the expansion of its sales force.

Swiss-based specialty chemicals company Clariant and DKSH recently decided to expand their existing collaboration in Asia and join forces in the United States, where DKSH provides market expansion services for Clariant’s Industrial & Consumer Specialties business unit, which includes preservatives, surfactants, rheology modifiers and polymers. The products will be distributed by DKSH throughout the Midwest.

In addition, DKSH and Bluestar Silicones, a global silicones producer, have entered into a North American alliance that includes distribution to selected key accounts and regional distribution arrangements.

IBR, a producer of proprietary, natural active ingredients for cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical products, extended the existing relationship and appointed DKSH distributor to a selected key account in the United States.

In order to strengthen the U.S. operation, DKSH has invested in additional sales personnel.