Omni-Chem136, the world's largest alliance of regional independent chemical distributors with 18 member companies in North America, South America and Europe, more than 145 facilities and $3.0 B of combined sales has announced that Harke Group of Germany has joined the alliance effective February 1, 2015.

Harke Group, headquartered at Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, is a leading chemical distributor and a wholly owned private company.

"The addition of Harke Group to our alliance is another significant step forward in our strategy to build a global chemical distribution alliance", says Fred A. Buehler, Managing Director Omni-Chem136. "Harke Group is a world class distribution company with operations that adhere to the highest standards of responsible distribution. We are delighted to have HARKE GROUP as part of our alliance and are excited about the continued global expansion of Omni-Chem136."

As an international distributor with subsidiaries and sales offices throughout Europe, Harke Group opens industrial sourcing and sales markets for its customers and suppliers in Europe and around the world. The product portfolio of the group includes industrial, specialty and high purity chemicals, plastic additives, plastic raw materials and plastic products, high quality pharmaceutical excipients, food additives and ingredients, dietary supplements and ingredients for the personal care and clean care industries. In addition, HARKE GROUP offers related services such as contract packing, mixing and blending, legal consulting and representative services concerning EU chemical (REACH), pharmaceutical and food legislation.

Founded in 1965 as Syntana, Harke Group has evolved through steady growth and consistent expansion into a diversified business group with a contract packing, mixing and blending facility in Bochum, subsidiaries in Brussels, Budapest, Bucharest, Istanbul, Milan, Moscow and Warsaw and liaison offices in Nanjing, Nuremberg and Paris.

"Our membership in Omni-Chem136 extends our network in the chemical manufacturing and chemical distribution industries, opening new sourcing and sales channels that will benefit both - our customers and suppliers", says Thorsten Harke, President Harke Group. "We are excited to be a member of Omni-Chem136's prestigious global alliance of regional independent chemical distributors."