The European Association of Chemical Distributors (FECC) has held their virtual general assembly in late May. Due to the corona pandemic the FECC Annual Meeting initially scheduled to take place in Milan, Italy, had to be cancelled. Instead, FECC president Neville Prior and vice-president Frank Schneider discussed the sector’s opportunities and challenges during a fireside chat moderated by Katrina Sichel prior to the members’ meeting.

Looking at the Covid-19 pandemic, Neville Prior (above right) said that “Things like a pandemic provide an opportunity for those who embrace them. If you are innovative and look after your people you will come out of crises like these even stronger.”

Talking about the digital transformation of the industry, Neville Prior stated that “digitalization is an enabler in terms of allowing people to do what they do best.”

Frank Schneider (bottom left) added that “digitalization as well as sustainability”, another mega trend affecting the sector’s business models, “have a lot to do with science and engineering.” And speaking about the chemical industry’s attractiveness for young talents, he went on: There is some fanciness in science and in engineering, and we have to further create this fanciness to make people join us.”

FECC is the voice of the chemical distribution industry in Europe. So, Neville Prior called his colleagues to action by saying: “Let organizations like the FECC tell the young talents that the chemical industry is an innovative, exciting place that embraces technology.”