Pigment market still performing ... but challenges may impact intensity of growth.The market-driven desires of the consumer have far reaching impact throughout the paint and coatings supply chain. In the automotive, electronic, household appliance, and other markets, product differentiation Product Differentiation A source of competitive advantage that depends on producing some item that is regarded to have unique and valuable characteristics. is being achieved through the introduction of more varied and intense colors, many of which offer multifunctional properties and/or special effects special effects, in motion pictures, cinematographic techniques that create illusions in the audience's minds as well as the illusions created using these techniques. such as sparkle, luster, and color shifting. This key trend across so many industry sectors is driving the growth in demand for pigments in paints and coatings (as well as for inks, plastics, and other applications). In the U.S., this growth has occurred in spite of several challenging market conditions, including rising raw material and energy prices, increasing competition from emerging regions, globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation , consolidation in both supplier and customer segments, and ever more comprehensive and strict regulatory requirements. Despite these challenges, innovation and the ability to provide improved customer service and support will enable established pigments suppliers to continue to experience positive growth into the future. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] POSITIVE GROWTH In 2005, the global sales volume of pigments used in paints and coatings was estimated to be 2.46 million metric tons, valued at $9.13 billion, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Dan Murad, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of the ChemQuest Group, a consulting firm Noun 1. consulting firm - a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee consulting company business firm, firm, house - the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; "he worked for a located in Cincinnati, OH. White pigments accounted for the largest volume of sales by far, at 83%, but only accounted for just over half of the dollar value (51.5%). Colored inorganic pigments were the second largest pigment type by volume (13.4%), but only represented 9.9% of sales in dollars. Colored organic pigments, which made up only 3% of the volume, accounted for over 38% of the dollar value of global pigment sales. Black pigments accounted for less than 1% of the volume and 0.5% of the dollar value. Geographically, the Americas and Europe each represented nearly 40% of the sales volume, with Asia and the rest of the world making up the remaining 24%. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The U.S. market for color pigments for all applications is predicted by the Freedonia Group to grow an average of 5.2% per year, from $2.6 billion in 2004 to $3.4 billion in 2009. The largest application for pigments is in paints and coatings (33%), followed by inks (20%), plastics (18%), and other markets (ceramics, glass, minerals, 28%). The printing ink sector is growing the fastest, but growth is expected for paint and coating applications as well. High performance organic and specialty effect pigments will experience the largest growth as the desire for new, more intense, and durable colors and special visual effects continues to spread to greater numbers of application areas. The replacement of heavy metal-based inorganic pigments will be an additional market driver. Traditional inorganic pigments, however, will experience an overall decline in demand growth as a result of this trend. On the bright side, more complex inorganic pigments with superior lightfastness and chemical resistance will see increased market penetration Noun 1. market penetration - the extent to which a product is recognized and bought by customers in a particular market penetration - the act of entering into or through something; "the penetration of upper management by women" , according to the Freedonia Group. CHALLENGING TIMES Strong growth in the pigments market is predicted despite the many macroeconomic mac·ro·ec·o·nom·ics n. (used with a sing. verb) The study of the overall aspects and workings of a national economy, such as income, output, and the interrelationship among diverse economic sectors. conditions facing the chemical industry as a whole. The ability to push through some level of price increases should enable pigment manufacturers to recover a certain amount of costs derived from higher raw material and energy prices. Rising oil prices have impacted organic pigment producers the hardest because these compounds are synthesized from petrochemical-based raw materials. Metal prices have been rising as well, though. Raw material costs are not the only issue. "Economic concerns in end-markets like the automotive industry The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles. In 2006, more than 69 million motor vehicles, including cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide. have trickled down to pigment suppliers," says Dave Glidden, director of sales for the Pigments Division of EMD EMD Electromechanical dissociation, see there Chemicals Inc. "The production cutbacks by Ford and GM that started in January 2005 and have continued to this point have had a direct effect on the business of pigment suppliers." He adds that the increasing competitive nature of the marketplace has resulted in some downward pricing pressure, which has limited the ability of pigment suppliers to respond to other market forces like the rising costs of raw materials and energy. Price increases will likely happen even in the face of increasing competition from low cost producers in Asia, as least for the near term. "Currently, much of the product coming to the U.S. and Europe from China and India is of lower quality. But these producers will eventually address the quality issue and western manufacturers need to be preparing now," says Murad. Competition from emerging markets is not the only impact of globalization on pigment producers. Many pigment suppliers have already built, or are now building, manufacturing plants in regions of the world such as Asia and South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. to better serve these rapidly growing economies. "Manufacturing will be based where growth and opportunity exist," notes Don McBride, chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. for Heucotech Ltd., a Heubach company. "In the current global market, we believe that our customers require products that differentiate their offerings and require supply assurance from vendors so that their customers can be best served," adds Michael Corcoran
Michael Corcoran (September 21 1827 – December 22 1863), was an Irish, American general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a close , vice president coatings sales, for Rockwood Pigments NA, Inc. Rockwood is one of the few remaining iron oxide The material used to coat the surfaces of magnetic tapes and lower-capacity disks. producers in the U.S. According to Harry Sarvis, sales and marketing manager with Ferro Corporation's Performance Pigments and Colors Group, "There will always be a strong market for many different kinds of pigments. The logistics may change, but COLOR sells. The shift appears to be moving East, for both manufacturing to stay competitive and for internal consumption as Eastern economies grow. U.S. pigments and coatings businesses will need to shift their focus to niche, high performance products that will be in demand around the world." Color is indeed becoming increasingly important as coatings equalize e·qual·ize v. e·qual·ized, e·qual·iz·ing, e·qual·iz·es v.tr. 1. To make equal: equalized the responsibilities of the staff members. 2. To make uniform. from the standpoint of performance characteristics. "Globally, color is becoming more and more important in consumer buying decisions, for markets from personal electronics such as cell phones, PDAs, and laptop computers, to automobiles and home appliances," asserts Murad. High performance and special effect pigments are being used to add more vivid colors "Vivid Colors" is the second single of Japanese band L'Arc-en-Ciel. Track listing
Chart (1995) Peak position Time in chart and shine, sparkle, luster, and other special visual characteristics. "Paint companies are constantly extending their color arsenals to fulfill consumer desire for new color trends," adds Guy Decelles, technical director with Eckart America Corporation. Metallic and achromatic achromatic /achro·mat·ic/ (ak?ro-mat´ik) 1. producing no discoloration. 2. staining with difficulty. 3. containing achromatin. 4. colors continue to dominate the global automotive market, according to Dr. Milt Misogianes, industry head of Transportation Coatings for Ciba Specialty Coatings. "The transportation sector has become the latest testing ground Noun 1. testing ground - a region resembling a laboratory inasmuch as it offers opportunities for observation and practice and experimentation; "the new nation is a testing ground for socioeconomic theories"; "Pakistan is a laboratory for studying the use of American for new pigment technologies," he notes. "The decorative and industrial markets tend to be more resistant to new ideas "New Ideas" is the debut single by Scottish New Wave/Indie Rock act The Dykeenies. It was first released as a Double A-side with "Will It Happen Tonight?" on July 17, 2006. The band also recorded a video for the track. and will switch to new colors and pigment chemistries only after their performance has been established in other sectors." In the architectural market, the use of digital technology is one advance that has been quite quickly adopted. "With this capability, consumers can design an entire room including the carpeting, drapes drape v. draped, drap·ing, drapes v.tr. 1. To cover, dress, or hang with or as if with cloth in loose folds: draped the coffin with a flag; a robe that draped her figure. , upholstery, and paint with matching colors and patterns," Misogianes explains. "The technology enables consumers to take control of the decorating process. They are more confident about the process and more likely to change their decorating schemes more frequently. Currently people change homes or decor on average once every seven years." Globalization has also led to the creation of worldwide brands, according to Misogianes. "Design is becoming a major brand differentiator," notes Tom Hughes, JDSU's business development manager for Flex Products. "Many customers are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. custom color and appearance design solutions to help establish their brand identity," he adds. Customers want to differentiate their products through design initiatives but have cut back on resources. They are increasingly turning to pigment suppliers to provide this service," he explains. In general, suppliers today are required to provide value to paint formulators beyond just selling them a product, according to McBride. "The increase in the number of vendors offering conventional pigments has enhanced the importance of quality, service, and price," he states. According to Guy Decelles, technical director with Eckart America Corporation, "In the challenging age of globalization, close interactions between pigment manufacturers and paint makers is necessary, and dedicated technical service should be one of the most important approaches to tackling issues related to the effect pigment industry." Consistent quality and appearance is also an issue that must be addressed as globalization continues. "Pigment manufacturers are serving customers located around the world. Quality and appearance must be consistent no matter where a product is being produced or delivered," says Misogianes. As the demand for broader color palettes grows, maintaining color standardization will certainly be an interesting challenge for the paint industry as well as for effect pigment suppliers, according to Decelles. "One demand of global paint manufacturers is for reproduction of the same color tone in various coating systems (aqueous, solvent, powder, etc.), so that the color tones can be marketed globally." Misogianes also notes that in many cases the different cultures of various regions require different formulations with different performance properties, and companies must be aware of these varied needs and respond accordingly. Raw material suppliers, paint manufacturers, and pigment producers themselves have chosen consolidation as one mechanism for remaining competitive as globalization of most sectors of the chemical industry continues. BASF's $4.8 billion acquisition of Engelhard is the most recent and notable transaction. On the customer side, Sherwin-Williams, PPG PPG Points Per Game (basketball player statistic) PPG Power Play Goals (hockey) PPG Planning Policy Guidance (UK) PPG Programmable Pulse Generator PPG Power Puff Girls , and Akzo Nobel Akzo Nobel is a multinational company, active in the fields of healthcare products, coatings and chemicals. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the company has activities in more than 80 countries, and employs approximately 62,000 people. have all made acquisitions to better position themselves in key geographical regions. Activity on the raw material side has also been significant over the past several years. "Consolidation has led to fewer customers and fewer suppliers. Pigment producers are getting squeezed on both ends," notes Corcoran. With the level of competitiveness in the market today, he expects the trend to continue for the foreseeable future. The implementation of broad regulatory programs will be an additional challenge for pigment producers. The upcoming REACH (registration, evaluation, and authorization of chemicals) legislation in Europe is being very closely watched by most pigment producers. "Ciba is committed to developing cleaner production Cleaner production is a preventive, company-specific environmental protection initiative. It is intendend to minimize waste and emissions and maximize product output.[1] processes and ecologically friendly products," says Misogianes. "We are watching the progression of the REACH legislation to determine its impact on all of our businesses." As a smaller manufacturer, Flex Products is particularly concerned about the REACH regulations. "At this point it remains unknown what the impact of REACH will be for smaller volume producers," notes Hughes. INNOVATION Innovation in pigment technologies is helping companies reduce costs, increase competitiveness, and offer more value-added products. As competition increases, the customer and supplier bases consolidate and gain leverage, and regulatory agencies around the world implement comprehensive legislation, the ability to develop new technologies is becoming critical for success. At the same time, innovation can be a challenge. "Because of current market dynamics, companies need to protect their intellectual property and develop new, unique marketing offerings to stay competitive," says Kenneth Loye, market development manager for the Ferro Corporation Performance Pigments and Colors Group. "New products need to offer value either in price or utility to be effective." Many companies are overcoming these difficulties, though. One area of innovation has focused on increasing the functional properties of pigments used in paints and coatings. "Paint formulators are looking for much more than just aesthetics and durability today. They want multifunctional coatings that can also provide antimicrobial activity, light reflectance for glare reduction and energy efficiency, corrosion protection, and other properties," Murad states. "This multifunc-tionality is not going to come from the resin, but from additives like high performance pigments included in the formula." High performance pigments exhibit superior light- and weatherfastness; chemical, heat, and moisture resistance; high color The ability to generate 32,768 colors (15 bits) or 65,536 colors (16-bit). 15-bit color uses five bits for each red, green and blue pixel. The 16th bit may be a color, such as XGA with 5-red, 6-green and 5-blue, or be an overlay bit that selects pixels to display over video input. See true color. strength and chroma Short for "chrominance." The attributes of a color, which include its hue (frequency) and saturation (amount of black). See hue and saturation. ; and other properties. New high solids technology has required pigment producers to develop new technologies as well. "New polymerization polymerization Any process in which monomers combine chemically to produce a polymer. The monomer molecules—which in the polymer usually number from at least 100 to many thousands—may or may not all be the same. processes for high solids formulations often include dispersants that can react with specific pigment chemistries," explains Misogianes. Pigment manufacturers are developing surface treatments for their products that will enable the pigments to react with these dispersants in such a way as to impart improved stabilization, rheology, and color development, particularly at higher loading levels. The pigment industry is also investigating new ways to reduce the cost of incorporating pigments into paints and coatings. According to Murad, as much as 35% of the manufacturing cost for paints and coatings can be related to the pigments, through the pigment compounds themselves and/or the grinding and processing time required to prepare the pigments for let down into the paint. "Some manufacturers are looking to address this issue by supplying pigment dispersions that can be directly added to the mixing tank without any grinding." Another area ripe for improvement, according to Murad, is maintaining consistency of color not of the white race; - commonly meaning, esp. in the United States, of negro blood, pure or mixed. See also: Color intensity from one batch of pigments to another. "There is tremendous potential to reduce costs and increase efficiency and productivity if pigment color intensity can be controlled," he says. One consequence of new dispersion technology and improved control over color intensity could be the shift to paint mixing at "big box" stores like Home Depot The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Headquartered in Vinings, just outside Atlanta in unincorporated Cobb County, Georgia, Home Depot employs more than 355,000 people and operates 2,164 big-box and Lowes. "Paint accounts on average for about 15% of revenues for these retailers, and they are interested in increasing their profit level in this area. Eliminating the paint company as the middleman mid·dle·man n. 1. A trader who buys from producers and sells to retailers or consumers. 2. An intermediary; a go-between. would be one way to do just that," Murad comments. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Special effect pigment producers face the challenge of establishing a standard set of criteria for defining product specifications. "Effect pigments create their characteristics through reflection and scattering of light falling on the surface of the pigment. The visual effect depends mainly on particle size distribution The particle size distribution[1] ("PSD") of a powder, or granular material, or particles dispersed in fluid, is a list of values or a mathematical function that defines the relative amounts of particles present, sorted according to size. , particle morphology, aspect ratio, smoothness of the flake surface and pigment orientation in relation to the surface of the substrate. It is difficult to describe or measure the visual impression of effect pigments because visual perception is influenced by several factors such as shade, brightness/whiteness, sparkle, gloss, tinting strength, color saturation, DOI (Digital Object Identifier) A method of applying a persistent name to documents, publications and other resources on the Internet rather than using a URL, which can change over time. , and flop," says Decelles. "As pigment morphology complexity increases with new product development, the need for standards will become more intense while also becoming more difficult to determine," he adds. PRODUCERS RESPOND TO THE CHALLENGE Pigment manufacturers are finding opportunities in spite of the challenging market conditions. Ciba Specialty Coatings is focusing on different pigment chemistries--developing solid solutions and organic/inorganic hybrid and combination products that provide an extended range of unusual colors, according to Misogianes. Two recent product lines include the quinacritones and diketopyrrolopyrroles. The company's Ultra Opaque Red (UOR UOR University of Reading (UK) UOR Urgent Operational Requirement UOR University of Oregon UoR University of Rochester (Rochester, New York) UOR University of Roorkee ) is a very opaque shade organic pigment for high-end coatings. Ciba will potentially extend this technology to other colors. A second product of note is a new transparent orange pigment that will be introduced soon. The company has also developed reflective pigments in various shades that can reduce air conditioning air conditioning, mechanical process for controlling the humidity, temperature, cleanliness, and circulation of air in buildings and rooms. Indoor air is conditioned and regulated to maintain the temperature-humidity ratio that is most comfortable and healthful. use by up to 30%. Heubach is a supplier of both conventional and high performance pigments and is developing alternative technologies in response to both regulatory and cost pressures. "We are expanding our current lines of phthalocyanines, indanthrones, naphthols, titanantes, copper and cobalt spinels, and anti-corrosive pigments with new chemistries and higher quality with regard to color strength, chroma, resistant properties, and more," says McBride. The company's latest R & D efforts are geared towards combining properties of different pigment chemistries and have already led to the market introduction its new Tico and Bitan product lines. These hybrid pigments offer ease of dispersion, cost effectiveness for color formulations, and improved fastness properties. Heubach's recently introduced yellow azo az·o adj. Containing a nitrogen group, especially N  N.[From azo-. pigment, Heuco Yellow 118303, is a brilliant red shade designed for more difficult engineering polymer applications, exhibiting temperature resistance to 320[degrees]C. The company is also introducing Vanadur Yellow 1010, a very clean green shade yellow bismuth bismuth (bĭz`məth) [Ger. Weisse Masse=white mass], metallic chemical element; symbol Bi; at. no. 83; at. wt. 208.9804; m.p. 271.3°C;; b.p. about 1,560°C;; sp. gr. 9.75 at 20°C;; valence +3 or +5. vanadate van·a·date n. Any of three anions, VO3, VO4, or V2O7, containing pentavalent vanadium. [vanad(ium) + -ate2.] Noun 1. for industrial and automotive coatings where excellent resistant properties are required. Current capital investment projects at Heubach include expansion of its R & D laboratories in India and the addition of capacity at its EUSA EUSA Electrical & Utilities Safety Association (Ontario, Canada) EUSA European Union Studies Association EUSA Edinburgh University Students' Association (Scotland) EUSA Eighth United States Army facility in India. The company is also constructing a third plant for production of quinacridones and DPP DPP - Dining Philosophers Problem (startup expected in 2007). In Europe, Heubach has added 300 tons of capacity for the manufacture of bismuth vanadate and is also investing in new technologies for complex inorganic color pigment production. BASF BASF Bar Association of San Francisco (since 1872; San Francisco, California) BASF Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrik (German chemical products company) BASF Builders Association of South Florida has launched several new pigments during the past year, extending some of its key product lines. Paliocrom[R] Red is a high chroma, high sparkle, opaque effect pigment that is part of the Paliocrom portfolio of gold and orange pigments. Paliotan[R] pigments enable formulation of brilliant yellow to red color spaces to meet the demand for high chroma/high hiding pigments. Paliogen Blue L 6360 is the newest indanthrone blue Indanthrone blue is an organic substance made from 2-aminoanthraquinone treated with potassium hydroxide in the presence of a potassium salt. It is a pigment that can be used in the following mediums: acrylic, alkalyd, casein, encaustic, fresco, gouache, linseed oil, tempera, pigment with high fastness, color strength, and purity of shade in both aqueous and solvent-based coating systems. The latest addition to Xfast[R] stir-in granular pigments is a point-of-sale tinting system to test and adapt Xfast for usability with common customer systems. This year, Clariant launched two new diketopy-rrolopyrrole high-performance rubine pigments (Hostaperm[R] Rubine D3B and Hostaperm[R] Rubine D3B-WD) with high transparency and excellent rheological properties. The two products are a new "twin pigments" concept designed to help resolve issues related to color development and performance characteristics between solventborne and waterborne automotive coatings. Brilliant effect styling shades can be formulated when these twin pigments are used in combination with aluminum and pearlescent pearl·es·cent adj. Having a pearly luster or gloss. pearl·es  cence n.Adj. 1. pigments. According to Decelles, Eckart is developing novel pigment designs and morphologies needed to create color effects with functional property requirements designed for new paint systems. "This intense activity in finding new color appearances will always be of strategic key importance for Eckart," he states. Most recently, the company introduced its Ferricon iron oxide effect pigment. This product is produced using high-purity carbonyl iron Carbonyl iron is a highly pure (97.5% for grade S, 99.5+% for grade R) iron, prepared by chemical decomposition of purified iron pentacarbonyl. It usually has the appearance of grey powder, composed of spherical microparticles. and a new grinding technology to produce application characteristics similar to conventional silver dollar pigments. Ferricon pigments, though, possess a distinctive color flop from metallic grey to metallic black, and can be manipulated with permanent magnets permanent magnets, n.pl magnets containing the mineral boron and the rare earth metal neodymium; often combined to create a neoprene or ceramic entity. or electromagnets to create patterns or lettering which lend to a coated object an impression of depth. "Designers now have previously undreamt-of options for creating unique and first-class styling," Decelles asserts. STAPA NCP (1) (Network Control Program) See SNA and network control program. (2) (NetWare Core Protocol) The file sharing protocol used in a NetWare network. pigments are non-conductive metallic effect pigments designed for consumer electronic products based on conventionally produced aluminum pigments encapsulated with a layer of acrylate Noun 1. acrylate - a salt or ester of propenoic acid propenoate salt - a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal) . STAPA paste and STANDARD powder zinc provide effective cathodic corrosion protection and also distinctive barrier protection due to their special lamellar lamellar /la·mel·lar/ (lah-mel´ar) 1. pertaining to or resembling lamellae. 2. lamellated (1). lamellar pertaining to or emanating from lamella. shape. The pigment design also enables the use of much lower levels of these pigments as compared to traditional zinc alternatives. Eckart's Silvershine product line is comprised of very fine, homogeneous silver dollar pigments that provide excellent hiding power and an elegant finish. Properties such as strong flop, high brilliance, and a bright metallic effect make it possible to create multifaceted effects in conventional coatings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eckart is interested in expanding its capabilities, both through acquisitions and internal development. Currently, the company is working on establishing pigment production in China. JDSU JDSU JDS Uniphase (stock symbol) JDSU Jharkhand Disom Students Union Flex Products has been developing technology to adapt its SpectraFlair diffractive dif·fract intr. & tr.v. dif·fract·ed, dif·fract·ing, dif·fracts To undergo or cause to undergo diffraction. [Back-formation from diffraction. pigments for use in water-based coatings. All aluminum-based flakes will react with water unless a protective barrier is applied. The company's special effect pigments are already in use in high solids coatings as well, and it is considering new color positions for its ChromaFlair product. According to Hughes, several innovative new products are in the early development phases and cannot be discussed at this time. He did note that JDSU has been focusing on entry into new market segments and expanding its efforts in geographic regions such as South America and Indonesia where it previously did not have a strong position. EMD Chemicals has launched its Xirallic[R] crystal effect pigments, which provide an extremely high glitter effect combined with strong color saturation. These products find widest application in automotive and other OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and coatings. The company's Colorstream[R] pigments give formulators the ability to economically create coatings with dynamic color travel. In 2004, Rockwood acquired the Pigment and Dispersion Business of Johnson Matthey Johnson Matthey plc (LSE: JMAT) is a British chemical company which has its headquarters near Holborn in central London. It is traded on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. PLC. The acquisition expanded Rockwood's global pigments capabilities with a full range of transparent iron oxides, cadmium pigments Cadmium pigments are a class of pigments that have cadmium as one of the chemical components. Most of cadmium produced worldwide is used in the production of Ni-Cd Batteries, but about half the remaining consumption, which is about 2,000 tons annually, is used to produce colored , complex inorganic color pigments, and dispersions. "The market's enthusiastic response to Rockwood's Solaplex line of inorganic pigments has been particularly encouraging," says Corcoran. These products provide lightfastness and are suitable for use in all color applications as well as architectural paints. Currently, there are three grades available: green-shade yellow, medium yellow and red-shade yellow. In addition, Rockwood's Ferroxide Orange 204 continues to gain acceptance as a replacement for organic pigments in orange and salmon-colored paints. It provides better durability in addition to cost savings, according to Corcoran. Ferro's Performance Pigments and Colors Group is creating new, proprietary products and new market segments that its competitors cannot easily enter, says Loye. The company has achieved great success with its "Cool Colors and Eclipse" Solar Reflective technology. Products are currently in development, with announcements expected at the upcoming ICE show in New Orleans this November. "We are in the fight for the long haul and plan to be a major player in our business sectors," stresses Sarvis. That sentiment would likely be echoed by most pigment suppliers. Innovation, adaptability, and customer service will decide who survives that long haul into the future. by Cynthia Challener JCT JCT Junction JCT Jerusalem College of Technology JCT Joint Contracts Tribunal (UK build contracts governing body) JCT Journal of Coatings Technology JCT John Christner Trucking JCT Journal of Curriculum Theorizing COATINGSTECH Contributing Writer
2005 Market for Pigments Used in Paints and Coatings (in metric tons)
Value
NA/SA Europe Asia/ROW Total (millions)
Colored inorganics(a) 116,000 154,000 60,000 330,000 $900
Colored organics 29,000 27,000 20,000 75,000 $3,500
Whites 809,000 726,000 507,000 2,042,000 $4,700
Blacks 7,000 4,000 3,000 14,000 $33
Total 961,000 911,000 590,000 2,461,000 $9,133
(a) Includes specialty effect pigments.
Source: The ChemQuest Group
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