Encore Delivers Award Winning Performance for Dow Corning

Dow Corning was established in 1943 specifically to explore the potential of silicones. It was created as a joint venture between Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated) and The Dow Chemical Company.

Today, Dow Corning is a global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation. They offer more than 7,000 products and provide performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide with a heritage of innovation.

Working Together

Dow Corning had been procuring energy on a flexible basis in the US markets for many years and had a desire to implement flexible procurement for UK energy as well.

Dow Corning Limited processes use electricity and steam, but a third party owned on-site CHP, means that the majority of their energy requirement is natural gas.

In order to implement a flexible procurement process for natural gas Dow Corning's first requirement was to tender and negotiate a flexible gas supply agreement in 2002 which is when Encore International Limited (Encore) was first selected to provide support. From this first assignment the Dow Corning and Encore relationship has grown into a vehicle for improvement of process and value.

Richard Valintine, European Energy, Waste and Environmental Supplier Manager recollects:

"Since the partnership with Encore started we have utilised their support in a number of areas of the market.

"The relationship works in a flexible way where all stakeholders brainstorm the solutions required. Encore provides support to this process and additional resources and together we create the correct solution for the business.

"The various energy projects that arise in a business can be complex, deciding on the right partner is important so it's refreshing to work with a company which has such a broad and specialist skill set to call on. The response is always positive, professional and meticulously detailed, this combined with Encore's value for money approach to fees allows me to be flexible with my support budget using it in a very efficient and targeted way.

"In addition to Encore's more bespoke services we have found their Value at Risk approach to procurement has brought a further level of control to our process, in particular the regular communication in relation to their live market watch service. This offers exceptional value as internal resources cannot spend all day looking at trading screens, therefore knowing Encore analysts are watching provides considerable comfort”.

Recognising Quality

In recognition of the service that Encore provides Dow Corning, Encore was recognised as Dow Corning's European Supplier of the year. Presenting the award Richard commented:

"We have only given the supplier of the year award to two suppliers in Europe since 2000, both being large raw material and service providers, the award isn't given lightly" Richard added "Encore is the first support service provider ever to win and was awarded it on the basis of their innovation, flexibility and quality of service.

The award can be given annually by Dow Corning worldwide by division Asia, North America, South America and Europe. Richard said "Encore understands the difficulties associated with flexible energy procurement in a commoditised market, even to the point of running a shift team to give 18 hour a day support to the process; they manage our portfolio as if it were their own and are consistently introducing creative structures to capture value".