Aluminium 2014: Clariant and Omya partnership reinforces commitment to top products and service for the aluminum finishing market

• Clariant highlights benefits of portfolio for aluminum finishing
• Reports growing demand from worldwide aluminum finishing market
• State-of-the-art facility in Switzerland is running at full capacity even after 40% capacity expansion in 2012

Muttenz, October 7, 2014 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, demonstrates its continued commitment to the aluminum finishing market at Aluminium 2014 in Düsseldorf, Germany. At the same time, Clariant underlines the customer benefits of the company's exclusive partnership with Omya for the European market.

Thanks to this cooperation, Clariant is able to dedicate its aluminum laboratory capacity for key developments in its performance- and process-boosting product range for consumer goods, cosmetics, automotive, sport, and architectural market segments, as well as general technical recommendations and performance reviews. Omya is focusing primarily on marketing and customer support, with a dedicated team of experts backed-up by a state-of-the-art aluminum technical service with excellent anodizing laboratory facilities which are also used for client training.

Andreas van Baerle, Head of Sales Aluminum Finishing for Omya, says: "We have built extensive experience in supporting the anodized aluminum market and thanks to this unique cooperation we are able to offer our customers top dyes and chemicals manufactured with high quality standards combined with a professional after sales service. Clariant and Omya together make our customers sense the difference."

Clariant reports that demand for its range of dyes, colorants and process chemicals designed to improve the sustainability and aesthetics performance of anodized aluminum finishing, is currently outpacing supply. The company has expanded its aluminum dyes and chemicals facility in Muttenz, Switzerland by 40% since 2012 – and investment is scheduled to continue as Clariant upgrades its facility to meet full environmental and REACH compliance. At present, Clariant is establishing REACH registration for the aluminum product range, well ahead of the deadline of May 2018.

High quality range of aluminum dyes and chemicals

Key products highlighted at Aluminium 2014 include Clariant’s Sanodye®, which do not contain heavy metals as a structural element, for interior and general purpose applications, while Anodal® process chemicals and additives are designed to increase productivity, efficiency and optimize the environmental impact of customers’ processes. On the aesthetics side, Clariant’s Sanodal® indoor & outdoor dyes offer unsurpassed fade resistant properties to anodized aluminum, with Sanodure® multi-purpose dyes covering virtually all color needs for interior use. Aluprint colorants are easy to use solvent-based dye preparations formulated to allow accurate printing and subsequently "lock in" multi-colored text and patterns into the anodized aluminum.

Markus Furrer, Head of Marketing & Sales Plastics & Special Applications at Clariant, says: "Thanks to the upgrade of our production facility, we are able to apply the latest production processes and technologies for maximum energy efficiency. Our continued investment will further reduce emissions while at the same time throughput can be increased with overall lower environmental impact."

For more information, visit Clariant during the ALUMINIUM Fair 2014, 7 – 9 October at Hall 13 Booth K24.