“I see every day as a new project. We start every morning as your partner to innovative chemicals!”
Faisal Mansur
CEO
Chemtrek Industries Bangladesh
What are your thoughts on the Chemical sector in Bangladesh? How have things improved since Chemtrek joined the industry?
We have a very positive outlook on the chemical sector for Bangladesh. It is a vast industry and there is always an opportunity to improve on any product no matter the sector. You think of finished goods you use on a day to day basis but to reach that finished good state; there is almost always reaction chemistry involved. You look at garments and the common thought process is that it is made of fabrics only but many do not look between the lines. For that fabric to reach the final stage it had to go through a long manufacturing process and throughout each process there is almost always some sort of chemical involved. Since Chemtrek started, we have always focused on marketing Bangladesh as the next big exporter of chemicals. For well over a decade, we have pushed our R&D to make manufacturing a reality. We were the first in our time to manufacture Ball Pen Inks, we were also one of the first ones to properly implement textile auxiliaries. We are proud to say we are the only company that can completely manufacture an entire line of consumer cleaning products in Bangladesh, and we are still the first and only certified manufacturer of Cationic Softener. I believe we are an inspiration to those who followed our journey to take the chance and delve into the chemical sector. If we are able to be used as an example for future projects; then we have achieved our vision.
What areas of this industry have you mostly focused on? When Chemtrek started producing Fabric Softeners, what made your company pursue this endeavor?
Currently, we have two different divisions:
i. Chemtrek Industries
ii. Chemtrek Consumers
Chemtrek Industries focuses on the RMG Sector. Since 2006 we have been supplying RMG factories with Textile Auxiliaries. When we saw our business growing – we took the decision to erect a Cationic Softener plant in 2009. For the next 3 years we worked with German scientists to create the plant you see today. We pursued this project because we saw that this was a purely imported product and of course we love a challenge! We know of a few companies that tried to do the same thing, but ultimately ended up losing. It’s my belief that this happened due to the fact that they did not have the technical expertise that we have. We now manufacture Silicone Softeners, and have powered up our enyzyme range with a multinational conglomerate. Chemicals is our language. We are a multifaceted company, so we know what is possible and what is not. Long story short, we made it work and now our factories are benefitting by using a much better product for a much lower price. Chemtrek Consumers focuses on the FMCG market. We primarily manufacture and market our entire range of household cleaning products. You can go into any super shop (Agora, Shwapno, Meena Bazaar, CSD, etc.) and see our products (Kellys, Turbo) on the shelves. We have had huge success in contract manufacturing and exporting the items. It gives me a lot of pride when I see our products on the shelves in different countries.
What is the demand of your products in the existing apparel industry? How stiff is the competition?
Any RMG factory that produces have to use a form of cationic softener. We have different grades that meet the budget and quality for every factory. As far as stiffness from competition, our main competitors come from Germany, Taiwan, and China. We developed a strong marketing team and every day we are progressing in taking a bigger chunk of the market share.
Beyond this, to be honest, our biggest competition is the “Bengali mentality.” I don’t want to be pessimistic, but if I could have a nickel for every time I heard a response that demeans Bengali produced items, I would probably have a pretty big savings account. Owners, Managers, Executives – when we first approach them – most of them can’t believe something like this can be produced in Bangladesh. When we started off, people thought we were just repacking imported products. However, we manufacture these products – and we are here to save you a boatload of cash.
What technological innovations have your company brought to the industry?
Ball Pen Ink Manufacturing, Softener Plant Manufacturing, Silicone Manufacturing and now Enzyme Manufacturing.
What are the environmental challenges when it comes to running a chemical factory? What measures have you taken to ensure the environmental compliances are met by your factory?
Our factory is fully compliant. Before we even start to think about building a factory our team solves all the environmental challenges. So we haven’t run into any yet. A small example I can give you is how throughout the production process we recycle the water and re-use it over and over again.
What are your future plans for Chemtrek with other products?
We have hopes of getting into the cosmetic industry and are actively working on developing it to hit the market quite soon. Additionally, we have also developed a Road Construction Amide that will extend the lifespan and strength of roads by 3x. We are currently in discussion with the regulating bodies to get this product approved – once approved – you will see Dhaka roads changed for the better.
