Major US distributor Azelis Americas (formerly known as KODA Distribution Group) is merging its GMZ and EW Kaufmann regional businesses for the coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers (CASE) segment into one organization under the GMZ name. Dan Gruber, president of the CASE market segment, said combining GMZ and EW Kaufmannn mkes strategic sense, providing one brand to service the area comprising the Midwest, Ohio Valley and northeast regions.

GMZ’s president, Tom Wells, added that the synergies and additional customer-facing resources that the merger brings will create an exceptional opportunity for the company. The Stamford, Connecticut-headquartered distributor explained that it will operate its North American CASE business through three regional brands: GMZ, Ribelin Sales and PT Hutchins. Ribelin Sales will operate in the southeastern and southwestern regions while PT Hutchins will operate in the western states.

Azelis Americas said it believes the move will provide accelerated growth to its principal partners and to its customers across the US, who number more than 4,000. Ted Burke, currently president of EW Kaufmann, will take on a new role of vice president of operations for the CASE market. Based in Bristol, Pennsylvania, EW Kaufmann was acquired by Azelis Americas (as KODA) in May 2013.

Azelis’ acquisition of KODA Distribution Group in December 2015 has given the Luxembourg-headquartered group its first presence in the Americas, as well as creating a leading global specialty chemical distributor with annual sales of approximately €1.5 billion.