The polyolefin industry’s recovery from one of its worst downturns ever continues to build momentum. Accompanying this positive trend is the increasing prominence of marketing and selling polypropylene and polyethylene online.

“In an increasingly commoditised polyolefins business, simplification is the norm,” said Basell CEO Volker Trautz.  “Simplified work processes give speed to decision-making and improved costs, and this is what Basell’s new Alastian business model is delivering to customers who purchase standard polyolefin grades.”

Alastian, the world’s first no-frills polyolefins business, was launched in May of this year and has proved to be an immediate success, according to Niels Nielsen, Alastian’s general manager. “The Alastian customer base already includes several hundred companies and the list is constantly growing,” said Nielsen. “And the high rate of return visits by customers suggests that the Alastian purchasing experience is positive.”

Alastian will be prominently featured in the Basell stand at the world’s largest plastics trade fair, K2004, in Düsseldorf, Germany October 20-27.

“To heighten awareness of Alastian we have developed a special promotion in conjunction with K2004 for customers who want to purchase polyolefins the no-frills way,” said Fulco van Geuns, head of Alastian business development & marketing. “We’re giving away DVD gift certificates that can be redeemed on Amazon.com. One lucky participant will even walk away with a home theatre/business projector - a genuine no-frills cinema!” To obtain a gift certificate, visit www.alastian.com/k2004 and provide your name and e-mail address.

“Everyone is welcome to visit our stand at K2004 and experience Alastian on their own,” said Van Geuns. “There will be many workstations and knowledgeable staff available to answer questions and provide demonstrations.”

One of the Alastian advantages is the way it strips out many of the extras (such as technical support and some freight costs) that are normally “bundled” with traditional polyolefin sales. Alastian allows highly competitive pricing and enables customers to avoid paying for the “extras” they do not value or need.

Of course, customer support over the telephone and by e-mail remains free of charge. By shifting resources away from routine tasks – like taking orders – and putting them where they can really add value – dealing with customer inquiries – Alastian has successfully created a lean, low-cost business channel that delivers a high-quality customer experience.

“We believe our no-frills polyolefin business, like the no-frills airlines business, has a big future,” commented Van Geuns, reinforcing Basell CEO Volker Trautz’ recent statement:  ‘Alastian is one of Basell’s most promising assets.’ ”

Basell is the world’s largest producer of polypropylene and advanced polyolefin products, a leading supplier of polyethylene and catalysts, and a global leader in the development and licensing of polypropylene and polyethylene processes. Basell, together with its joint ventures, has manufacturing facilities around the world and sells products in more than 120 countries. Additional information about Basell is available at www.basell.com. Alastian’s web address is www.alastian.com.
 
For additional information, contact:
Michelle Talmo, Basell Corporate Communications, at +1 302 438 6574,
+1 410 996 1366 or michelle.talmo@basell.com.