An interview with Marco Cagliari, Chief Operating Officer at ddchem
ddchem was founded in 2003 but with the strength of over 40 years of know-how in production of hardeners for epoxy resins, hot melt polyamides and REACH compliant epoxy systems. It is commited to positively combine the quality and performance standards of large companies with the attention to detail, care for relationships and flexibility typical of small and medium-sized enterprises.
ddchem believes in a 360 degree quality approach, where the production of high level products is accompanied by a research and development laboratory oriented towards constant innovation and supported by customer care that truly takes care of every relationship.
Let us hear from Marco Cagliari as he shares insights about their market positioning, innovative solutions and newer materials reinforcing their sustainability goals.
#1 - What is ddchem's positioning in the world of epoxy resins and hardeners?
We know from the voices of our customers, who are our partners, that ddchem is positioned in their perception as a reliable company and producer of quality. This makes us particularly proud because these are two of our core values, which we have in fact tried to summarise in our pay-off 'chemistry you can trust'.
#2 - How is ddchem unique and why is this relevant?
The uniqueness of ddchem lies in its ability to combine the production capacity, and therefore the performance of its products, typical of large companies with the care for detail, attention to partner needs and flexibility that characterise smaller companies.
#3 - What are the most critical challenges customers are facing nowadays and how your innovative solutions are helping them?
The international context of recent years has forced market players to review attitudes and procedures, and has made certain aspects that were previously taken for granted of fundamental importance.
Thanks to the relationship we build with our customers, we know that the challenge today is to
ensure reliable product availability and consistent performance, while at the same time
guaranteeing the health of the planet and its people. This is why we are implementing our production plant which will have doubled its capacity in the next years, and we have put in place an
extensive international distribution network (strengthening proven partnerships and forging new ones in some strategic areas) capable of precisely managing our exports, which currently account for 70% of our turnover.
ddchem’s extensive international distribution network
#4 - What are the current and future market trends / shifts and how ddchem is leading them?
These days, the focus of the industries we work with is rightly shifting more and more to caring for the
environment around us, and the health of people, both in terms of workers and end users of the products they put on the market.
What a company like ddchem can and must do is invest in research to
find products, raw materials and solutions always more bio-based oriented. ddchem has always been committed to implementing and complying with current regulations. For this reason it now has 5 substances, including 3 adducts, registered under EC Regulation 1907/2006 (REACH). Guided by its client-centred approach, ddchem also evaluates the possibility of registering additional substances, based on projects and related customer needs.
As part of its committement to environmental sustainability and it has taken several steps in this regard:
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Responsible production: to reduce the creation of waste promoting circular economy dynamics
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Developing new products using more raw materials that are not hazardous to human health or harmful to the environment
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Continuously analyzing the emissions of their production plants
#5 - Can you further detail this green revolution across industries and your contribution?
As mentioned, there is an increasing demand from our partner companies, who in turn are picking up the need from their customers, for products that contain
fewer and fewer substances that are hazardous to the environment and to people.
That's why we have developed a product segment of water-based curing agents and the
ITAPOX WATER (earlier known as ACQUAPOX) family of waterborne epoxy resins namely
ITAPOX WATER 110,
ITAPOX WATER 120,
ITAPOX WATER 201. We are continuing in the meantime to work on new bio-based and solvent-free products that maintain the same high performance.
ddchem’s Complete Product Range at SpecialChem
About Marco Cagliari
Marco completed his education with a master's degree in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Padua, Italy. He began his more than ten-year career at ddchem dealing with R&D project development as a laboratory technician.
He then holds the position of R&D manager at ddchem, personally managing product development strategies and strengthening the laboratory team, which becomes increasingly focal for the company.
He has been Chief Operating Officer of ddchem since 2022, handling all R&D, commercial, purchasing, and production operations with a 360-degree view of the company's daily operations and future developments.