When Redox announced the acquisition of Auschem (N.S.W.) Pty Ltd, it marked more than a strategic step forward for the Company’s national footprint, it signalled the beginning of a new chapter for a well-known Western Sydney operation with deep expertise in solvents and specialty chemical solutions.
Founded in 1998, Auschem built a strong reputation as an Australian chemical distributor with a strategic solvent portfolio, supplying customers across Surface Coatings, Lubricants, Mining and Bitumen. From its Western Sydney facility, the team has long been equipped to handle bulk storage, create custom blends, and repackage product to meet bespoke customer requirements, capabilities that continue to be a valuable asset as the site integrates into Redox’s wider network.
As Redox CEO & MD Raimond Coneliano shared at the time, solvents represent a significant growth opportunity, and the addition of the Auschem facility in Wetherill Park strengthens Redox’s ability to support a growing customer base and accelerate growth in key market segments. The acquisition also strengthens supplier relationships and broadens the value Redox can offer to clients.
Bringing Auschem’s strengths into the Redox network
The best acquisitions don’t just add scale, they bring together capability, experience, and people who know how to get things done. Auschem has always been known for practical problem-solving and responsive service, and those qualities align naturally with Redox’s customer-first approach.
That alignment was echoed by Auschem Managing Director Charlie Ciantar at the time of the announcement, noting the longstanding relationship between the businesses and the shared confidence that joining Redox was the right “next stage of growth”, not only for the company, but for the wider team stepping into a bigger platform with greater resources behind them.
“They accomplish miracles on a daily basis”
Adam Ciantar, Store Manager at the Wetherill Park site
To understand how the transition has been progressing on the ground, we spoke with Adam Ciantar, Store Manager at the Wetherill Park site, who has had a front-row seat to the operational shift and the momentum that’s come with it.
For Adam, the standout has been the people.
“The most enjoyable part for me is working with the team we have put together at Wetherill Park. They accomplish miracles on a daily basis. It is only a small crew but the output from everyone on site is really impressive.”
That “small crew, big output” theme is exactly what customers value most, a site that can move quickly, respond reliably, and deliver at pace.
Learning the Redox way — and stepping up fast
Any transition comes with challenges, and Adam is candid about the biggest one: systems.
“In terms of challenges, obviously, the systems in place differ greatly from Auschem. It is a huge network and we have had to learn the Redox way and in particular Redebiz.”
Like any major change, there was a learning curve.
“Initially this proved very difficult for us…”
But just as important is what happened next: support, collaboration, and practical help from people who wanted the site to succeed.
“…but with the support of Richard Coneliano and others and particularly the introduction of key staff at Wetherill Park we have really adapted to the Redox way of doing things.”
It’s a reminder that successful integration isn’t just about systems and process — it’s about people showing up for each other and sharing the know-how that makes a national network work.
Bulk solvent storage and dispatch at Wetherill Park — built for scale, safety, and fast turnaround, with on-site capability supporting products such as IPA, acetone, MEK, xylene, heptane and methanol.
A week that proved what this team can do
Ask Adam about a recent moment of pride, and you get a story that captures the intensity and capability of the Wetherill Park operation.
“Early in the transition in 2025 one of our key products had a supply interruption, once the product started flowing again we were under great pressure to pack off and deliver stock so we didn’t let a customer down.”
When it returned, expectations were high, and timelines were tight. What followed was an all-hands effort across multiple roles.
“The team managed to package and distribute close to 160,000 litres of this product in a week. These numbers were something even Auschem were not capable of getting close to in such a short period of time.”
And it wasn’t one department carrying the load; it was the whole chain working in sync.
“I had enormous pride watching what these guys had done in the space of 5 days and fulfilling all expectations placed upon us. From our transport coordinator to store coordinator to the production team in particular and then the drivers, it really was an incredible effort.”
“Something special” — internally and externally
So what makes this site different?
Adam points to a familiar foundation, flexibility, speed, and a can-do attitude, then adds what he’s seen since joining Redox: higher stock levels, faster output, and a team that’s raised the ceiling on what’s possible.
“We had some very good workers in my time at Auschem. We were always very flexible, accommodating and capable of doing things quickly and efficiently. This team has all of that and more. We have maintained that flexibility and efficiency but taken it to another level.”
He doesn’t sugar-coat the scale of the uplift.
“Our stock levels have never been higher on this site and our production is off the charts. In my 27 years working on this site this current team have a greater output than anything I have ever seen. Externally and internally this team is something special.”
The human details matter too
And because it’s the small, human details that make a workplace feel like a team, one that’s worth calling out is Redox’s commitment to looking after people day to day.
Redox supplies all staff with daily lunch, helping keep everyone fuelled through busy shifts and reinforcing the “we’re in this together” culture that underpins strong operations.
Looking ahead
The acquisition of Auschem strengthens Redox’s solvent capabilities, expands operational capacity in Western Sydney, and builds on a foundation of trusted relationships across customers and suppliers. But most importantly, it brings a highly capable team into the Redox network, one that’s already demonstrating what can happen when experience, grit, and support come together.
If the early results from Wetherill Park are any indication, this isn’t just a transition; it’s momentum.