26 Dec 2014
Clariant’s Double Anniversary Signals New Phase of Significant Progress in Chinese Pigments Industry
- Clariant's Shanghai Technical Application and Regional Color Competence Center (STAR) as well as Hangzhou Baihe Clariant Pigments Co, Ltd. celebrate their 10th anniversary
- Milestones reinforce Clariant's commitment to sustainable development in China
Shanghai, December 26, 2014 – Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, celebrates an important milestone for its significant progress in the Chinese pigments industury - 10th anniversary for Clariant’s Shanghai Technical Application & Regional Color Competence Center (STAR) and Hangzhou Baihe Clariant Pigments Co. Ltd.
During their first 10 years, both the STAR center and the Baihe Clariant group have ushered in tremendous progress in areas such as production, technical capabilities and customer service in China. The anniversary marks developments not only for the growth of Clariant’s pigments business in China, but also for the enhanced capability to satisfy regional customers’ needs on better technical service and innovative and sustainable solutions in various industries. These developments clearly demonstrate Clariant’s commitment on long term and sustainable development in China.
STAR Center: expanding in new innovation space
The STAR Center, which began with a small team of pigments specialists running a dedicated laboratory, has grown into a comprehensive collaborative platform for Clariant and its clients to deliver customized high-end pigment solutions over the past decade.
Now with more than 30 employees and a 1,100 square-meter space, the STAR Center serves customers as both a lab and an interactive product showroom. With application areas for consumer goods, food packaging, automotives and electronics, it is an ultra-modern platform for customers to work with Clariant’s specialists to discuss about color, explore Clariant’s highly innovative pigmentation capabilities and generate fresh, cutting-edge ideas.
“Our professional technicians in the STAR center have dedicated themselves to making STAR a success. With the STAR center, we have built up closer relationship with our customers than ever before, so we could better understand and support their needs today and in future through constructive discussion and cooperation,” said Marc Zwart, Head of the STAR Center.
Baihe Clariant: a successful joint venture reaching new heights
Established in 2004, the Baihe Clariant joint venture began by specializing in the production of high quality azo pigments serving both the pigment markets in China and overseas. The successful partnership soon resulted in further expansion and upgrade, including production of high performance Quinacridone pigments and its expanding, as well as the starting up of a high-temperature reaction pilot plant and following scale-up.
After the decade-long development, the Baihe Clariant joint venture today is producing the full product range used in coatings, printing, plastics, consumer products and other special applications. The broad portfolio includes high-performance pigments to meet the sophisticated demands of the automotive, architectural and plastics industries, as well as colorants used in traditional printing, ink jet and laser printers.
"Over the past 10 years the Baihe Clariant joint venture has been very successful, mainly because of a stable cooperation between the partners and our ability to continuously expand our capability and productivity by investments and process improvements. Such commitment has matched up with the changing needs of our customers and demand from the markets in a timely manner. Looking ahead into the future of this joint venture, we are going to commit even further to meeting the highest expectation of our customers," said Dr. Yinmin Ma, General Manager of Hangzhou Baihe Clariant Pigments Co, Ltd.
Fully committed to development in China with "China Insider" perspective
Clariant's commitment to the future of the Greater China region stems from its approach of a "China Insider" perspective, in which needs of the local customers are met with local innovation, local development, local production and local business drivers. Both Baihe Clariant and the STAR Center are part of such a broader strategy to invest and develop its Pigments’ capabilities in the Greater China region in order to better serve customers by providing them with quality products and superior technical support.
Central to the China Insider strategy, significant investments have been made that focus on better serving Clariant’s customers elsewhere in China. In late 2013, for instance, Clariant acquired the organic pigments business of Jiangsu Multicolor Fine Chemical, bringing better proximity and portfolio of products to pigments customers in the region. As part of this project, a world-scale PV 23 plant will also be built in Zhenjiang.
“With the ‘China Insider’ approach we have become a closer partner of our customers in satisfying their needs. Investments like these, in both our production and technical capabilities, will continue to support the strong momentum that has been built up in achieving growth in the region,” shared Jan Kreibaum, Head of Clariant Greater China.
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4132 Muttenz 1
Switzerland
Notes for editors
Clariant is a globally leading specialty chemicals company, based in Muttenz near Basel/Switzerland. On December 31, 2013 the company employed a total workforce of 18,099. In the financial year 2013, Clariant recorded sales of CHF 6.076 billion for its continuing businesses. The company reports in four business areas: Care Chemicals, Catalysis & Energy, Natural Resources, and Plastics & Coatings. Clariant’s corporate strategy is based on five pillars: increase profitability, reposition portfolio, add value with sustainability, foster innovation and R&D, and intensify growth.
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Clariant’s Double Anniversary Signals New Phase of Significant Progress in Chinese Pigments Industry
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Clariant International Ltd
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Clariant International Ltd
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