Clariant Expands Pigment Laboratory for African Market

Clariant has inaugurated a laboratory in South Africa to serve the entire continent and the Middle East. Significant investments support growing regional demand for locally produced, sustainable colorants. The laboratory underscores Clariant's innovation in the industry and its position in technology. Clariant Pigments has started the new year with the expansion of a state-of-the-art pigment laboratory located in Krugersdorp near Johannesburg, a showcase for sustainable color technology in Africa. The new facility, formally opened at the beginning of 2021, will serve the developing Middle Eastern and African paints and coatings market, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) estimated above 3% (2020-2025). In a significant commitment to its operations in South Africa, Clariant's investment in the laboratory, which took more than 12 months to complete, will increase the provision of locally added-value color support services to the coatings industry in Africa, Turkey and the Middle East. The new facility also offers greater local employment opportunities and in-house skills development training in color technologies. Rossitza Dimitrova, Head of Technical Marketing, Pigments Business Unit, Middle East and Africa, said: "Previously, we could only supply pigments as raw materials, but now we are proud to offer a full range of value-added services, including customized color solutions, color matching services or the development of own color recipes. For example, coloring systems. We also provide technical marketing and after-sales support to complete our services." It offers all product offerings for both decorative and industrial markets and innovative solutions for wood coatings. The products also include lead-free pigments and pigment preparations with low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) content.