Examples range from Carboline and Tremco’s collaboration on the Nelson Mandela Bridge in South Africa to Fibergrate and Dryvit’s aesthetically pleasing solution to cell phone tower interference. In each case, partnerships like these yield benefits for customers and for RPM’s exceptional brands.


LEVERAGING A WORLD-CLASS TECHNOLOGY

RPM’s Wood Finishes Group traditionally serves industrial customers, producing stains and finishes for North America’s most prestigious wood furniture manufacturers. With help from the group’s strong technology and expertise, as well as Varathane’s trusted brand name, Rust-Oleum introduced a premium, oil-based wood stain line for consumers in 2004. This new product line is an example of RPM’s ability to put leading-edge industrial technology in consumers’ hands.

WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES

Many of our companies are cooperating in the pursuit of growth in new markets. For example, the Carboline Company, with its manufacturing base in Dubai, has long had a presence in the Middle East. With its strong customer base and distribution network, Carboline has now become a growth catalyst in this region for a number of its sister companies, including Stonhard, Fibergrate and Tremco Sealants. Not only has Carboline opened new doors for these companies; it has saved them each millions of dollars and years of development had they pursued an independent market expansion strategy.

Underpinning this highly interactive and collaborative work environment are a number of cooperative initiatives, none more notable than our Purchasing Action Group, which coordinates our major raw material purchases on a global basis. Given our $2 billion base of business, we are able to dramatically reduce material costs for our companies. Doing so not only enables us to drive strong results to the bottom line; it frees capital for future growth investments.

By collaborating and complementing one another’s strengths, the RPM companies are realizing synergies within the organization and sustaining a heritage of practical, customer-focused solutions. They also are stimulating the growth that allows us to deliver for our employees, customers and stockholders. We believe we have just begun to harvest the opportunities.