German chemical distributor Biesterfeld is creating a new business unit as part of its ongoing drive to focus on specific market segments.

The move is said to be “a logical continuation” of previous developments and follows the acquisition, on Aug. 1, 2016, of Hamburg-based Schütz & Co, a distributor of customized APIs and excipients.

The new unit will combine Schütz’s pharmaceutical activities and Biesterfeld’s current pharmaceutical and medical devices segments. It will be headed by Andreas Lekebusch, the current business manager for healthcare at Biesterfeld Spezialchemie.

“We understand the exceptionally stringent requirements in this segment and we have aligned our distribution business accordingly. Setting up this business unit is an important step in our strategy of delivering competent, intensive and highly focused service to very demanding market segments,” Lekebusch said.

Biesterfeld added that it plans to develop and expand its product and service portfolio in line with a targeted strategy. This strategy, it said, will continue to prioritize target markets in Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

The company’s existing healthcare portfolio includes elastomers and adhesives for manufacturing medical devices, high-purity silicones for coating syringes and cannulas, APIs, excipients and production aids such as silicone tubes.