Orion Engineered Carbons S.A. announced that it will expand its production capacity for gas blacks at its Cologne (Kalscheuren) plant in Germany. The company said that it is responding to the continuously growing global market for waterborne and solventborne coatings by debottlenecking its gas black production. The gas blacks are said to feature very good fineness and a very narrow particle size distribution to provide the deepest blackness for demanding coatings applications.
“The expansion of capacity in Cologne is one more step in the rapid realignment of Orion’s portfolio toward higher value-added Carbon Blacks for speciality and technical rubber applications,” said Corning Painter, Orion’s Chief Executive Officer.
Dr. Sandra Niewiem, Vice President, Business Line Specialty Carbon Black, added: “Products from Cologne are shipped globally to customers in various high-end coatings and printing applications, including high jet automotive OEM and refinish, antistatic coatings as well as packaging and UV curing inks. This initiative reflects the high confidence of our customers in Orion’s products and technical support capabilities.”
Orion produces a broad range of carbon blacks that include gas blacks, acetylene blacks, furnace blacks, lamp blacks, thermal blacks and other carbon blacks that tint, colourise and enhance the performance of polymers, plastics, paints and coatings, inks and toners, textile fibres, adhesives and sealants, tyres, and mechanical rubber goods such as automotive belts and hoses. The company operates 14 global production sites and four Applied Technology Centers. The group has approximately 1,450 employees worldwide.