Meet The Team: Blaine Wiles

Soltex is so pleased to have Blaine Wiles as a member of our Customer Service team.

Blaine brings several years of logistics and customer service experience to Soltex, which benefits our overall operations. Blaine has been in the customer service industry since 17 years of age. He started in the food industry working his way up from a bus boy, to a waiter, then becoming a snow technician at Bahama bucks finding himself entering the logistics field. He enjoys the daily challenges of working through and discovering efficient ways to help the team. He believes in maintaining standards and going beyond the expectations of customers.

These are the comments from, Alicia Baltazar, our current Customer Service Manager, “In getting to know Blaine better, we have learned that he really enjoys, and has tremendous talent in, computer coding. In the short three months that he has been with Soltex, he has made suggestions both inside and outside of his department to increase efficiencies in our workflow. Customers appreciate his can-do attitude, and he is always willing to lend a helping hand to other team members. When serving our customers, Blaine intuitively takes steps to go above and beyond to help make their experience with Soltex as pleasant as possible.”

Blaine’s current hobbies are health and soccer. His devotion to the sport of soccer, starting at age three, has been a lifelong passion. He actively engages in video games such as FIFA and is involved in his community church.

We are happy to have Blaine on our team!

Soltex in the Sunshine State for STLE

Soltex recently made a visit to the sunshine state to attend the STLE (Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers) annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. STLE attracts members of the tribology community from around the world. This year saw more than 1,350 industry professionals from 30 countries come together for five days of technical presentations, professional development, and business networking. As one of the 90 exhibitors displaying the latest products and services at the trade show, we were thrilled to travel to Florida with eight knowledgeable and accomplished members of our team to share our work and explore the future of the industry.

 

Senior account manager at Soltex, Chic Degler, describes his experience at STLE, saying, “The mixture of academia, technical professionals, and of course people like us on the commercial side is the most dynamic I have seen in quite some time.” He also added, “The opportunities for networking were also robust as attendees were hungry for connection after the last couple of years without conferences because of COVID.” Degler explains that he reconnected with seasoned relationships, and established new ones. Potential suppliers with Soltex presented a genuine desire to engage. These touch points are important drivers for future business, creating overall energy of encouragement and hope in the industry.

 

Discussion of the predominant tightness of supply in the industry arose which allowed for conversation forecasting the future supply chain in tribology. Another rising concern was electric vehicles. With companies solely focused on electric vehicles gaining popularity and other more established brands also branching into electric vehicle production and sales, there is concern surrounding chemicals previously relied upon in the automotive industry becoming obsolete in the distant future.

 

While the location of the Soltex booth was not ideal at STLE, the general open floor plan proved beneficial alongside the sheer volume of traffic at the conference. The seminars also allowed our team to learn from other industry leaders. Over the course of the conference, we were able to hold important meetings about collaborations between Soltex and other companies in the lubricants industry.

 

Overall, STLE 2022 proved to be a successful undertaking for the Soltex team and we look forward to returning again next year to continue strengthening our partnerships and connecting with other industry leaders.

 

 

Strong Showing for Soltex at IEEE 2022

Soltex employees recently exhibited at the IEEE conference in New Orleans where power and energy professionals gathered to learn about the new technologies and products shaping their industry. Collectively, the Soltex team was exceptionally satisfied with their maximum visibility booth location which they believe helped with consistent traffic. The results showed as networking and reconnecting with customers and colleagues in person again became a highlight of IEEE 2022. Throughout the conference, attendees demonstrated interest in new products, concern for product delivery logistics, and optimism for growth.

 

One of the new products generating buzz was Ergon Esters. Multiple attendees met with Soltex representatives to ask questions and learn more about this much anticipated product about to enter the market. While the industry is clearly eager for Ergon to be available, Soltex has set the expectation that prior to launch it will have to go through a highly rigorous qualification process, which is pending.

 

According to attendees, it appeared that there were concerns across the board with the ability to deliver products on time. Challenges in the supply chain have caused multiple delays for many vendors, thus lengthening the delivery times for products. Clearly, those suppliers who can guarantee on time deliveries will have an advantage in this market. [How Soltex is resolving delivery logistics issues]

 

Despite the concern over delivery logistics, the general sentiment around the IEEE 2022 tradeshow was this industry is ready for growth. Not only did exhibitors present numerous new technologies and products, but attendees seemed particularly interested in the ability by Soltex to supply core products such as dielectric fluids (DF), resulting in many new connections made in the DF market for Soltex. Another theme was the desire for vendors to develop new partnerships to collaborate on the creation and delivery of new solutions, poising the industry for future growth.

 

The Soltex team enjoyed the opportunity to participate in IEEE 2022 and look forward to exhibiting again in 2024 when the conference will be held in Anaheim, CA.

COVID Supply Chain Limitations Impact on Chemical Distribution

The modern supply chain crisis brought about due to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact numerous companies and industries around the globe. From shipping to trucking, rail and infrastructure, nearly every aspect of the supply chain is affected. As a provider of high-quality base components, chemical intermediates, chemical additives and functional fluids, our commitment to each customer remains solid even as we face our own ongoing challenges as a supply chain partner. We are nimble to solve problems that arise and confident in the strength of our partnerships to deliver the care to our customers that we stand by.

 

Supply Chain Disruption

 

It’s important to understand that there are numerous parts to the overarching issue within the supply chain over the past two years. Corporations’ product processes have recently been exposed to new risks and vulnerabilities resulting in global factory closures and manufacturing slowdowns. With numerous reports of low or no stock on products also dramatically impacting the overall supply chains, issues in transportation to both suppliers and consumers have arisen as the globe appears to be stuck in “undersupply.” These conditions require all market participants, including us, to be ever more flexible on budgets and expectations, and committed to finding creative solutions.

 

The US has seen a record number of container ships sitting idle waiting to dock at various ports.  was an average increase of delays among NACD members (National Association of Corporate Directors) of over 11 days in summer 2021 alone with delays only getting longer from there. There was simply not enough global ship capacity to handle the demand for existing space. The trucking industry has continued to face a driver shortage with vaccine mandates and the CA AB-5 (California Assembly Bill) precluding carriers from using independent drivers unless classified as employees. Issues within the railways also picked up speed with declining service and pricing issues alongside failure of the proposed merger of key providers; Kansas City Southern and Canadian National Railway.

 

Logistics Costs

 

Although the precise supply chain issues of 2020 and 2021 are likely to fade, there will still be new challenges. The costs associated with the supply chain are growing rapidly across chemical sectors due to the aforementioned factors and the recent rise in oil prices. Global logistic costs face additional increases too, including never-before-seen surcharges being applied by container shipowners to oceangoing containers at the time of loading. In response to these various challenges, Soltex is focusing on our strong partnerships who understand and are able to accommodate customer needs. We are also staying informed so as to anticipate, plan for and get ahead of such issues.

 

Soltex’s Partnerships

 

As a company, we are focused on taking action along with our team of partners, to alleviate and ultimately entirely diminish negative impacts of global supply chain issues. It’s essential in forging future success that we sustain our level of customer service commitment throughout. Diverse Trucking, out of Chicago, for example, is an incredibly reliable and important partner to Soltex as they work with us to assist customers with potential short lead times. Their ability to get product from point A to the customer is especially noteworthy in this current age. Maintaining a dependable carrier like Diverse Trucking has allowed our team to respond in a timely manner and has kept our grid functional. Our production plant in Belleville, Ontario also continues to be a key player in providing the highest quality and efficient care to our customers. There are no scenarios in which their product is not precisely what needs to be delivered.

 

Things are additionally looking up nationally as The Bipartisan Infrastructure bill, which in large part is focused on the efficient transport of goods and produce across the country, was also passed last fall. While the impacts of this bill have yet to be felt, it bodes well for necessary changes in national supply chain issues. And though the reality of the situation has not been largely promising, Soltex is committed to working hard to deliver value to our customers and remain a superior, reliable supplier and partner.

The Soltex Philosophy: 32 Years of Adding Value to Your Formulations

Since 1990, Soltex, a privately held Houston-based chemical company, has been offering high-quality base components, chemical intermediates, chemical additives, and functional fluids that improve the performance of products used in industrial, automotive, and consumer applications.  Initially called Synthetic Oils and Lubricants of Texas, then a few years later changed to Soltex, the company was founded with the purchase of Chevron’s RF & DF, and has seen multiple expansions since.  Exporting and selling products to South America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, the Soltex philosophy to provide high-quality products, exceptional customer support, and innovative problem solving over the last 30+ years remains a guiding force behind our continued success as a company.

 

Acquisitions Spur Growth of Quality Products

 

From additional services offered to new markets and products, our momentum has been strong and steady. In 1986, Soltex began selling refrigeration fluid (RF) for compressor lubrication, dielectric fluid (DF) for power transmission cables and specialty branched alkylbenzene (BAB) for agricultural emulsifiers. Just a few years later starting in the 1990’s Soltex began sales and marketing on behalf of Chevron Chemical for its polybutene plant in Brazil. As the polybutene product continued to show strong sales, Soltex purchased Chevron Phillips Chemical’s (CPC) Shawinigan Black business in 2004. Later this product became known as Soltex’s Acetylene Black (AB) as CPC pursued more profitable returns on direct sale of their acetylene gas. Although Soltex had never sold a product in powder version, the team met the new challenge of storage issues and significant new inventories all while identifying alternate sources and working on new product approvals. Recognizing that AB had synergies with other core Soltex lines of products, it became a very strategic product for overall company growth.

 

Two years later in 2006, Soltex purchased a major competitor in North America, H&R (heritage Dussel Campbell), leaving only two competitors of DF in North America. This opened doors for new customer relationships, particularly in Canada. H&R manufactured products in Belleville, ON, and as a result, they had a majority of the business in that area. Building on these acquisitions, Soltex saw consistent growth, and in 2012 expanded its product line to include synthetic base oils, refrigeration fluids, base components, and chemical and performance additives for industrial and consumer applications. This added another slate of products to offer existing accounts while also targeting new business.

 

A big milestone was reached in 2015 when Soltex Canada was established through the purchase of OMG Belleville, putting Soltex in ideal proximity to the major market of the Northeast thus shortening transit times and reducing logistics costs. After the acquisition of OMG Belleville, Soltex acquired Petroleum Chemicals expanding its Chemical Additives/PCA line. Following the Petroleum Chemicals buy, Soltex secured an opportunity to purchase Tabler in 2018, giving Soltex additional products that were primarily directed to the paint and coating business.

 

Exceptional Company-wide Customer Support

 

Manufacturing for Soltex occurs in the US and Canada. Specifically, most of the performance chemical additives (PCA) are produced in the US. Made in Canada are dielectric fluids, refrigeration fluids, cable flood, fill and gels, metal carboxylates as well as some of the performance additives.

 

Soltex manages and operates warehouses and packaging operations in Houston, TX, along with toll manufacturers in Canada and US. With high quality products and a fair price, customer service is among the highest of priorities. Soltex employees are driven by their desire to support and connect with their customers and prospects. From initial sampling to formulating and logistics, you’ll encounter the utmost responsiveness and agility from all of our staff. By bringing knowledge about the chemical supply chain and an eagerness to share that knowledge, Soltex employees are able to help customers with their chemical product and application needs in a thorough, professional and highly personal manner. As a supply chain partner, our logistics and distribution resources enable our team to also provide efficiencies in warehousing and transporting products worldwide.

 

Innovative Problem Solving

 

Soltex exports and sells products to South America, Europe and Southeast Asia. Our wide range of products serve numerous customers, each with different needs and goals. We want to be our customers’ first call and even if it isn’t our area of expertise, we find a way to help solve the issue. Equipped with an in-house laboratory and expertise, we are able to provide reliable technical support and jump in to serve unique needs as they arise. Our close relationships with carriers coupled with a strong supply chain group make our logistics stand out above competitors. Distribution resources at Soltex also enable efficiencies in warehousing and transporting products worldwide via our primary sites of distribution including multiple domestic locations in the US and Canada.

 

With business acquisitions and product expansions over the years, Soltex remains committed to the philosophy of providing high-quality products, exceptional customer support, and innovative problem-solving. Our sights continue to be set on additional growth through continuous product portfolio expansion and new business partnerships.

Connecting with Soltex: Trade Shows In the Coming Weeks

We’re back! After an extended hiatus due to the pandemic, Soltex is excited to be a part of numerous in-person trade shows throughout 2022. These shows serve as valuable opportunities to connect with both companies and individuals across industries and spaces Soltex participates. Here’s a preview of the upcoming trade shows we are looking forward to attending with more to come later this year.

IEEE PES T&D

When: April 25-28

Where: New Orleans/Ernest N Morial Convention Center

 

Designed to “drive the future design and development of a reliable, resilient grid,” IEEE PES T&D returns this year in New Orleans. Along with the technical program, numerous exhibitors, and special features new this year like the smart cities pavilion, which will feature a variety of case study exhibits showcasing effective collaboration to make smarter cities a reality.

 

Learn more: IEEE PES T&D

 

STLE Exhibition

When: May 15-19

Where: Lake Buena Vista/Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort

 

The tribology and lubricants community will come together for the 76th STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition this year in Orlando, FL. There will be industry-specific education courses offered, as well as application-based case studies, best practice reports, and discussion panels on technical and market trends that occur throughout the trade show.

 

Learn more: STLE 2022 Annual Meeting & Exhibition

 

Soltex is looking forward to attending each of the aforementioned trade shows this spring. Not only do they serve as an enormous opportunity for connection with other industry professionals, they also act as inspiration for our team to seek additional innovative solutions to better serve our customers. If you’re planning to attend any of these trade shows, we’d love to connect! Let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

 

 

 

Meet the Team: Inside Sales

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Soltex did not have an Inside Sales model. Now, just a few years later, Inside Sales has become an integral part of Soltex’s continued growth and success in the chemical industry. Our Inside Sales team spend their days selling and promoting our innovative offerings as a chemical supplier remotely. This includes over the phone, online, or via video call, among other methods. The success of inside sales ultimately boils down to building relationships while delivering helpful and important information.

 

In our first employee profile blog, we introduce Celina Desvard and Matthew Massoud who both work in Inside Sales. Celina is an International Sales Rep who has worked at Soltex for 11 years. Matthew is an Account Manager and IT Software Development Manager and has been at Soltex for seven years.

 

Celina has been connected to the chemical industry since the very beginning of her career. Her role on the team directly manages and develops new business with international customers. Describing herself as service-oriented, Celina additionally spearheads maintaining and building upon relationships with existing customers and prospects through consistent communication including timely inquiry responses and order follow-ups. She mentions that developing an international presence for Soltex has been challenging but also equally rewarding, she has enjoyed being a part of the creation and growth of a new market for the company. Fluent in both English and Spanish, her language skills have been an asset in the international market. Describing her work experience with Soltex, she says it is “such a positive and open work environment with helpful employees from the bottom to the top of the company.” Based in Argentina, Celina has two young children, and credits her long-term partner Gaston for his unwavering support. In her spare time, she enjoys playing card games and cooking.

 

Like Celina, Matthew wears many hats within Soltex and shares the same passion for customer service and continuous improvement. A large part of his time goes to managing online inquiries and operating the website Live Chat. He also maintains multiple inside sales accounts and Software R&D and optimization. He explains that “Inside Sales gives us an edge when it comes to providing better service. Our Outside Sales Team is covering the majority of Soltex’s main accounts, so it helps having an Inside Sales team to focus on what can be managed in house.” Outside of work, Matthew enjoys fitness and sports (go Astros!) and dreams of one day exploring Norway. He also has two children, Maya (4) and Maddox (2).

Meet Our Team: Strong Operations Under Tough Conditions

During the winter ice storm our Soltex Warehouse team worked beyond the call of duty with our sales, customer service, technical to operation teams, we all pulled together in unison to ensure that this period would go over as smoothly as possible. Constant communication, critical thinking, gathering online, and listening to all departments created a very efficient and successful rebound.

When you lose a week of production during what is one of the busiest times of the year for Soltex it can cause a large number of product delays. With our team, we knew the task at hand and worked 7-day weeks for a month to help to get our production schedules back in line, have our inventories reach a healthy status, and in turn were able to service our customers sooner than many could.

“I struggle determining what our failures were during the winter storm, we have a strong team of talented individuals who understand what it takes to perform under pressure and under less-than-ideal circumstances. I would say our biggest success was in preparation. With all the site preparation that took place leading up to the winter storm, it kept nearly all our processes intact. We experienced minor damage relative to what we were hearing in the market and were fully operational within 2 days after the storm. We are very proud of the hard work and dedication our team put forth to persevere through such a difficult time.” – Bryan De La Rosa, VP of Operations

 

Meet Our Newest Team Member, Matthew Rayburn!

Soltex is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Rayburn as Assistant Controller. Matthew’s experience in the oil & gas field will allow him to make an impact immediately, and for years to come. Matthew is a highly motivated and hardworking individual, gaining his experience at some of the largest companies in the world, including Baker Hughes. He graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and completed his Master’s Degree in Accounting from University of Houston-Downtown.

As the Assistant Controller, Matthew will oversee all day to day activities within the Accounting and Finance Department in our Corporate office and report to Ryan Davies, our Controller.

Welcome Matthew!

Reflections on Three Decades with Soltex

As Soltex celebrates our 30-year anniversary, we asked one of our longest-tenured team members to share her thoughts. These comments are from Susan Kovacs, Vice President of Sales.

 

“Thirty years ago, I embarked on my Soltex journey. To put it mildly, the early years were challenging. I remember a customer I had known for 12 years saying, ‘Susan, do you mean you want me to buy product from Soltex when you are only four people and a phone?’ When I told him we had TWO phones, his fears subsided. But with persistence, we survived. Today his company remains one of my largest accounts.

 

“I cherish time. Wasting it is not an option, so I wanted to focus my work on what I am passionate about. This was especially true when I spent much of my career traveling and missing time with my wonderful family. Soltex has been a labor of love and I have always been proud to be part of the organization. Our priorities are right where they should be—customer-centric but also placing great value on dedicated employees. This combination sets us above many larger companies who are inflexible in their rules. I will put our service up against anyone and we will outperform them any time.

 

“These successes don’t happen by chance but through the efforts of an owner who has always had a vision for the company. Tony Massoud [Soltex founder and Chief Executive Officer] has been a great leader and friend since 1980. I value this relationship. Many other talented professionals have contributed along the way, including Osvaldo Desvard, Dave Brandt, Ellie MacNair, Paul Spillman and Lynda Davies, to name a few. Soltex is thriving today because of all these people and I know we have a bright future with Glenn Bohny [Soltex President] at the helm. As for my career, I would not change a thing. Not many people can say that.”