By Mane Grigoryan

In the world of manufacturing and materials science, timing isn’t just important—it’s everything. A production delay in one corner of the world can bring an entire supply chain to a standstill. And when the material in question is silicone—used across industries from electronics to construction to energy—the stakes get even higher.

At UNISIL, with operations based in Hungary and the USA, we’ve seen firsthand how silicone supply chains can either be a powerful enabler—or a critical point of failure. And as global markets become more interconnected (and more unpredictable), flexibility has become not just a nice-to-have—but mission-critical.

Let’s step back for a moment. What does “flexibility” really mean in this context?

It’s not just about having inventory. It’s about having the ability to adjust sourcing, production, formulation, packaging, and logistics on short notice. When one supplier faces a disruption—be it due to a port closure, raw material shortage, or regulatory shift—you need options. Fast.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the global silicone market experienced a painful bottleneck. Lead times tripled. Prices surged. Even large manufacturers struggled to secure basic precursors like siloxanes and silanes. We at UNISIL were able to adapt quickly—not by luck, but by design. We had established multi-source supply routes, regional redundancy in logistics, and modular production lines that allowed us to pivot without compromising product quality or client timelines.

One client in the HVAC sector told us, “While others were quoting 14 weeks, you got us material in 6.” That wasn’t magic—it was built on years of quietly investing in resilience.

And this isn’t a one-time event. Between geopolitical tensions, shipping constraints, and rising environmental scrutiny, we expect volatility in the silicone market to continue. Prices may fluctuate. Regulations may shift. But demand—for coatings, sealants, release agents, and specialty emulsions—will only grow.

This is especially true for sectors like renewable energy and electronics, where silicone’s thermal stability and dielectric properties are irreplaceable. A delay in just one silicone component can stall a solar panel assembly line or halt production of a medical-grade device. That’s why clients aren’t just asking “How good is your product?” anymore. They’re asking, “How fast can you get it to me—and can you adjust it if something changes?”

At UNISIL, we’ve built our model around that very question.

We blend silicone formulations in-house, allowing us to tailor properties on demand—viscosity, cure speed, color, VOC content, even packaging format. We’ve shipped bulk to large factories, and small-batch units to R&D labs under tight timelines. And we keep close contact with our freight and customs partners, adjusting routes between Hungary, the US, and global client locations when necessary.

This mindset—this operational flexibility—is one of the reasons UNISIL has been nominated for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted this November in London by the International Trade Council. The awards aren’t just about recognition. They’re about bringing together global minds who understand that in an unpredictable world, agility is more valuable than scale alone. Representing Hungary and the USA, we’re proud to be part of this global conversation—where innovation meets execution, and strategy meets real-world results.

Because at the end of the day, silicone isn’t just a product—it’s a promise. A promise that your systems will perform, that your components will last, and that your supply partners will deliver.

By Mane Grigoryan

Let’s be honest. ISO certifications don’t usually spark excitement. They're often seen as checkboxes, paperwork, something for the auditors. But when you actually peel back the layers, ISO 9001:2015—especially in a field like ours, dealing with advanced silicone chemistry—represents something far more meaningful.

At UNISIL, operating from Hungary and the USA, this certification isn’t just a framed document on the wall. It’s baked into how we formulate, manufacture, test, and deliver. And for our clients? It’s a quiet promise: that what we say, we’ll do. That what we do, we’ll measure. And that what we measure, we’ll keep improving.

Let’s unpack what that really means.

ISO 9001:2015 isn’t about products. It’s about systems. It asks companies to build a Quality Management System (QMS) around customer satisfaction, risk-based thinking, continual improvement, and leadership accountability. You don’t pass ISO just by having good intentions. You prove it—through traceable processes, documented controls, and a culture that learns from failure instead of hiding it.

At UNISIL, this starts the moment a new order or custom formulation request comes in. Every ingredient, every mixing step, every test result is logged. We track nonconformities. We audit internally. If a batch ever falls out of spec—even slightly—it doesn’t move forward. Period.

And here’s the thing: this isn’t about bureaucracy. It’s about predictability. If you’re an engineer selecting a coating for a sensitive electronics application, or a builder needing hydrophobic protection on heritage masonry, you’re not just buying chemicals. You’re buying trust. You want to know that what you got last month is the same as what you’re getting this month. No surprises.

ISO also makes us better at managing risk. Take supply chain disruptions—something we’ve all faced in recent years. Our QMS includes proactive planning for critical material shortages. We pre-qualify alternate sources. We notify clients early. One customer in Central Europe even told us we were the only supplier that kept them informed when a key silicone polymer was delayed during port congestion in 2023.

That’s the less visible side of ISO: communication. Clarity. Less chaos when things go sideways.

What also stands out is the way ISO forces reflection. We don’t just ask, “Did this batch meet spec?” We ask, “Did the client have a frictionless experience?” “Did the product integrate easily into their workflow?” “Was there any misunderstanding we can fix?” It’s small stuff, sometimes—packing labels, shipping documentation, phone response times—but it adds up. And it sets a rhythm for continuous improvement.

We had a moment not long ago when a longtime client pointed out a minor issue with our SDS (Safety Data Sheet) formatting. It wasn’t a big deal, technically. But because of ISO protocols, we logged it, investigated the root cause, and updated our documentation system globally. That one comment improved clarity for dozens of other clients, without them even asking.

That’s the mindset.

And it’s part of why UNISIL was nominated for the 2025 Go Global Awards, to be held in London this November and hosted by the International Trade Council. These awards aren’t just about shiny trophies. They’re about global peers coming together—innovators, manufacturers, thinkers—sharing how we’re raising the bar, navigating complexity, and building smarter industries. We’re honored to represent both Hungary and the USA at this gathering of serious minds.

Because in the end, ISO 9001:2015 isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency. Discipline. The quiet scaffolding beneath every successful client partnership.