Hamburg, October 2, 2026 – Biesterfeld, one of the internationally leading distribution and service companies in the field of polymers, rubber, specialty chemicals and ingredients, has expanded its long-standing collaboration with Eastman, a global specialty materials company. Effective immediately, Biesterfeld, through its local presence Aerontec, is authorized to distribute Eastman’s coatings and inks product portfolio in Southern Africa. The distribution agreement covers South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Eswatini, Namibia, Malawi and Botswana.
The portfolio includes Eastman Texanol™ ester alcohol, Eastman Advantex™ neutralizing amine additive, Eastman Solus™ performance additive, Eastman Tetrashield™ protective resin system and Eastman Optifilm™ enhancers. It also comprises Eastman™ Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB), Eastman™ Chlorinated Polyolefins (CPO), Eastman™ Methyl Isoamyl Ketone (MIAK) and Eastman™ Methyl n-Amyl Ketone (MAK).
Through Aerontec, customers in the region will benefit from Biesterfeld’s formulation expertise, technical support, local presence and warehousing capabilities. The products are used across a wide range of applications, including architectural, automotive and industrial coatings as well as commercial and packaging inks. Depending on the specific product, they are suitable for formulations ranging from paints and automotive clear coats to printing inks and other graphic arts applications.
“This new appointment builds on the 30-year collaboration between Eastman and Biesterfeld across several European countries and takes our business relationship to the next level. We are very proud to become Eastman’s authorized distributor for coatings and inks solutions in the region and are fully committed to delivering great value and dedicated support to our customers,” says Joachim Diem, Global Business Manager CASE at Biesterfeld.
“Southern Africa is an important and growing region for Eastman’s coatings and inks solutions, and this appointment ensures our customers continue to receive the technical expertise, quality, and innovation they expect from us. Biesterfeld, through Aerontec, shares our commitment to supporting customers with sustainable, high-performance solutions and dedicated local service,” says Stavroula Liakopoulou, Regional Sales Leader at Eastman.
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About Biesterfeld SE
Biesterfeld SE is the holding company of the Biesterfeld Group, one of the internationally leading distribution and service companies in the field of polymers, rubber, specialty chemicals and ingredients. Founded in 1906 in Hamburg, Germany, today the group has more than 1200 employees across more than 50 locations in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa and generates an annual revenue of 1.2 billion EUR (FY 2025). The fully family-owned company focuses on specialized market know-how, application-based technical advice and services and offers comprehensive product portfolios across numerous industries in the business units Standard Polymers, Engineered Polymers, Performance Polymers, LifeSciences, Industrial and Rubber.
About Eastman
Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive company, Eastman employs approximately 13,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2025 revenue of approximately $8.8 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.
