Business Activities

ALTANA is a specialty chemicals company focusing on surface protection and refi nement in the broadest sense. Its product range encompasses additives, effect pigments, special coatings, sealants and casting compounds, impregnating resins, as well as measuring and testing instruments. Our products are used in the manufacture of paints and coatings that are employed in a wide spectrum of applications. Furthermore, our products are used in packaging materials, electrical and electronic components, plastics, and cosmetics.

ALTANA offers customer-oriented solutions, innovative products, as well as intensive service and consulting at the respective locations. Moreover, our products and services are characterized by their functionality, high quality, and cost-effectiveness.

All four divisions have worldwide production sites as well as networks of specialists and application technology laboratories. These networks are being expanded to cater to specifi c regions. The areas of research and development, application technology, production, and marketing are closely intertwined.

The Additives & Instruments division offers its customers an extensive product portfolio, ranging from wetting and dispersing additives for the even distribution and stabilization of solids in liquids, to defoamers and air-release additives, which eliminate air bubbles in coatings and plastics, to measuring and testing instruments for measuring the surface properties of coatings and plastics. The division is the global market leader in the three growth markets of paint additives, plastics additives, and instruments. BYK is the only supplier of system solutions for a multitude of applications in the coatings and plastics industries and is a leading international brand in its industry.

The Effect Pigments division specializes in metal- and pearlescent effect pigments tailored to individual wishes. These products meet customers’ requirements regarding visual effects as well as technical properties with a focus on processing, supply form, and environmental compatibility. The division is characterized by its broad production intensity, which covers the entire processing and value-added chain, from the production of starting materials to pigment coating and formulation of fi nished products (specialty and printing inks). ECKART is the world market leader in the business areas of coatings applications, printing inks, applications for the graphics industry, and technical applications. In addition, it has strong positions in the cosmetics and plastics applications markets.

The activities in the Electrical Insulation division concentrate on liquid electrical insulation materials such as enameling varnishes, resins, and casting compounds. A large part of these materials is used in the production of magnet wires, which in turn are used in electric motors, transformers, and generators. Other materials are used for the processing of sensors and printed circuit boards. These components are found in, among other things, electrical household appliances, televisions, computers, lamps, engines, and wind power wheels. This division is the market leader in the two growth markets of primary and secondary insulation, while new growth potential is seen in the largest market electronic and engineering materials.

The Coatings & Sealants division’s portfolio includes products for the printing and packaging industries, such as coatings and sealing materials used in cosmetics products and packaging materials for food and drugs. Examples are bottle caps, can end sealants, bags, foils, drug blisters, boxes, multi-item packaging, packaging labels, as well as covers for magazines and electronic storage media. The division has a leading position in the graphic arts and converting specialties markets. The Coatings & Sealants division stands out from a large part of its competitors because it offers its customers complete solutions for packaging systems.

Sales by division (in € million)	Sales by region (in € million)
2007 1 BYK Additives & Instruments 445,1 2 ECKART Effect Pigments 362,9 3 ELANTAS Electrical Insulation 350,8 4 ACTEGA Coatings & Sealants 221,6 Total 1.380,4	2007 1 Europe 678,0 2 Americas 330,6 3 Asia 329,7 4 Other regions 42,1 Total 1.380,4