A SENIOR manager of a Bradford site employing 600 people believes its recent merger will bring new opportunities for the company.

BASF's wet-end Paper and Water Chemicals business in Low Moor recently merged with Solenis and took its name.

The Germany-based company has combined BASF's technology focused work with Solenis' sales and services, and site manager Dave Calder believes the future could be promising and the Bradford site is not under threat.

"It's very positive because what it means is it should open up options to sell more products," said Mr Calder.

"It's a challenge for us for how we supply more products but in a business context it's very positive.

"We have a good and solid work force and this is about making sure it's sustainable in the future."

Mr Calder says the focus of the business, now the merger has gone through, will be to keep making improvements to get the best out of the company, which already boasts pro forma sales of about U.S. $3 billion.

He added: "We want to improve the product and the quality of what we put out.

"We have a workforce and that's very knowledgeable and they are knowledgeable about making improvements themselves."

With staff now operating under the Solenis brand and positioned to provide expanded chemical offerings and cost-effective solutions for customers in pulp, paper, oil and gas, chemical processing, mining and biorefining markets, Mr Calder said his staff have reacted "positively " to the merger.

"People always have concerns about change and what it means to them as employees and that's no different here, but so far most of the concerns have been allayed.

"Most people are looking forward to the change of how we get the synergy of the operations and how we can create more value for Solanis."

With Brexit on the horizon, the company is putting plans in place to ensure that whatever happens after March 29, they do not suffer.

The company does rely on a certain amount of raw materials coming over from Europe and, in a worst case scenario, any delay in receiving materials after Brexit could bring production to a halt.

Mr Calder added: "We export roughly 80 per cent of what we make and import key materials.

"Some critical raw materials need to come from Europe and we don't want to get into a situation where the plant comes to a halt because we don't have access to them."