Brussels --- Solvay said 13 Jan 2013 that it has redesigned its organisation, simplifying and decentralising its management structure.
The Belgian chemicals group claims the move makes it "more agile and better positioned to seize growth opportunities."
It's business is now in five segments, with its blowing agents for polyurethanes in a global business unit called Special Chemicals, within Solvay's Advanced Materials segment.
"Today's Solvay is the result of the successful integration of Solvay and Rhodia and an extensive transformation," converting the two into one of the ten largest chemical companies worldwide, said Solvay chairman Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, in Solvay's announcement.
The new Advanced Materials segment covers ultra-high performance applications addressing the needs of industries such as advanced transport, healthcare, energy-efficient tyres, automotive emission control, smart devices or hybrid vehicles batteries.
The other operating segments are: Consumer Chemicals; Performance Chemicals; Functional Polymers (chloro-vinyls and polyamide activities); and Corporate Business and Services.
