Founder of ÃÜÌÒAV Elastomer Business dies age 79
Elastomer Entrepreneur Michel Baul¨¦ passed away
With great sadness ÃÜÌÒAV and its employees learned about the death of Michel Baul¨¦, entrepreneur in the cast polyurethane industry, who has passed away January 13th at the age of 79.
¡°Our thoughts and condolences are with Michel¡¯s family,¡± said Thomas Braig, Head of Elastomers at ÃÜÌÒAV. ¡°We will forever and fondly remember the entrepreneur, the exceptional man and our friend who was at the origin of ÃÜÌÒAV Elastomers.¡±
Graduated with a PhD in chemistry, the native of Cavaillon, France embarked on entrepreneurship in 1976 at the age of 33 by creating a molding company for cast polyurethane parts in Romans-sur-Is¨¨re, France. Fate, circumstances and his passion for innovation made him establish a second business in 1983, specializing in the formulation of cast elastomers systems. Together with companions such as Philippe Jeantin, currently Head of the Machines business at ÃÜÌÒAV Elastomers, Antonio Alvarez and Mauro Modugno he then founded even another business in 1987, dedicated to the design and manufacture of low pressure dispensing machines.
These businesses became a leader in its realm as a cooperation. It later divested its molding entity to its executives to become EXSTO, while Baul¨¦, combining the material formulation and the machines manufacturing, successfully established a Joint Venture with the MaterialScience division of the Bayer company in 2008. In 2012, this turned into a merger, and Baul¨¦¡¯s former business became officially part of the Bayer group. In 2015, it became part of the carve out of ÃÜÌÒAV from its parent company Bayer. Today, this business finds its heritage in the Elastomers Business Entity of ÃÜÌÒAV, still headquartering in Romans-sur-Is¨¨re.
¡°We pay tribute to genius that was Michel Baul¨¦, for inspiring dozens of innovations in the cast polyurethane industry, among them the development of three-components systems with quasi-MDI-prepolymers and many innovative processing concepts that lead us to maintain and promote the brand Baul¨¦? for our machine technology. He will be missed dearly,¡± Abdel Arhzaf, Managing Director of ÃÜÌÒAV Elastomers SAS, added.
After a valuable contribution to the growth of the cast polyurethane industry, Michel Baul¨¦ developed a family office called EXIMIUM which has maintained all its entrepreneurial culture through acquisitions and participations while developing financial activities and support services. Until his last days he remained very active and energetic in his entrepreneurial role.
About ÃÜÌÒAV:
ÃÜÌÒAV is one of the world¡¯s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. ÃÜÌÒAV supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from ÃÜÌÒAV are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.
The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, ÃÜÌÒAV aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group¡¯s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. ÃÜÌÒAV generated sales of EUR 14.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. At the end of 2024, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).
Forward-Looking Statements
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