Local Chemical Distribution: Flexible, fast-acting service to secure a bulk delivery of solvent

Our customer’s refrigerant line went down unexpectedly due to contaminated fluid, prompting us to help them secure replacement material as quickly as possible. See how we provided a flexible, fast-acting solution to help secure their supply and avoid a costly shutdown.

A leading producer of high-performance polymers experienced a refrigeration line failure at its Gulf Coast facility, resulting in an entire production line going down on a Friday afternoon. To avoid a long and costly weekend shutdown at the global producer’s largest North American plant, the customer needed to clear their contaminated refrigeration fluid by running large amounts of a special solvent through the line. Unfortunately, the company had purchased the last drum of that particular solvent from us earlier in the week as a part of its regular standing order.

The customer’s plant operations staff needed more product fast, and the stakes were high: If our customer didn’t get the solvent into the refrigeration line soon enough, the refrigerant would harden inside the pipes, potentially causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in unit damage and cleanup, not to mention lost production time and customer orders. Responding rapidly, the Local Chemical Distribution team at Univar Solutions found the additional solvent needed to save operations within our supplier network, helping our customer overcome logistical and safety challenges and delivering the material safely and on time to their facility.

Resolving bulk load challenges

First we had to locate the solvent in our distribution network. We found bulk material in local inventory, but no drums as the customer previously specified. If we could get the bulk order approved, and our customer had a tank available for bulk delivery, we might be able to accomplish the ask. But success is in the details, and the clock was ticking on a Friday afternoon.

With safety considerations top of mind, the next challenge was to ensure the solvent could be approved, accepted and offloaded safely between the Univar Solutions’ loading dock and the customer’s facility. Because this manufacturer had previously required drum delivery for the solvent, we had to get a new bulk safety profile and site survey completed and approved, adding another layer of complexity due to the material’s flammability. That essential compliance task handled, the order could then be approved and a driver assigned  – all in 90 minutes since the first call for help. True to form, even the Univar Solutions tanker driver rearranged a personal commitment to be available for the 7 a.m. Saturday delivery.

‘White-glove treatment’ all the way to delivery

With the solvent delivered and the production line restored, our customer minimized downtime and costs of dealing with an unfortunate, but not atypical, production line failure. Calling on a trusted partner, with local security of supply and calm and capable experts on the phone to help in a high-stakes situation, is just what was needed to keep an unexpected event from becoming a crisis. The customer appreciated the white-glove treatment and high-impact assistance in a high-stress situation, further strengthening the partnership in the process.

When problems happen in a production line or anywhere in your supply chain, you need a distribution partner with large enough scale to ensure security of supply, and the local relationships to make sure every detail is properly handled. At Univar Solutions, we know when unexpected events happen, customer needs are amplified. A helpful, resourceful and flexible partner invested in every detail of your success can make all the difference when coming up short just isn’t an option.