Group Management Report Products Safety and Health Environment Human Resources Social Commitment Consolidated Financial Statements 79
used for paper-based blister packaging, for which there is
an ever-growing demand. The packaging is used for tablets,
batteries, and toothbrushes, among other things.
Impregnating agents used to insulate electric motors
have to withstand strong mechanical and thermal loads.
Solvents were long regarded as being indispensable for the
manufacture of the resins employed. With the new ELANGuard
family, ELANTAS PDG is offering the first impregnating-
resin product line with significantly reduced amounts of
solvent or even completely VOC-free compositions for her-
metically sealed motors. Specifically for coils in tractor
units, ELANTAS Zhuhai developed a VOC-free polymer that
enables crack-free impregnation.
The additives and instruments specialist BYK also ex-
panded its VOC-free portfolio, adding a number of wetting
and dispersion additives and defoaming agents. Several
defoamers are suitable for coating systems that meet the
specifications of the EU Ecolabel.
Use of Biotechnology
It is not only the products themselves that can contribute to
sustainability, but also the processes used to manufacture
them. In additives manufacture, BYK makes use of biocat-
alysts if this results in significant energy consumption advantages.
An example is the manufacture of an additive with
improved surface properties used in the automotive indus-
try. The biocatalyst employed is based on renewable raw ma-
terials and enables a much lower production temperature.
The additive can be synthesized at 60 °C instead of the 110 °C
hitherto.
its Hartenstein site to manufacture aluminum-based metallic-
effect pigments for printing inks. In this method, the pig-
ment specialist uses alcohol to prevent health-endangering
substances from migrating from the packaging into the
food. The pigment pastes manufactured using the method,
such as the new Rotovario FPG (Food Packaging Grade)
series, are produced in accordance with international stan-
dards, including Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regu-
lations. The formulations made using these pigments also
meet the requirements for indirect food contact laid down
in the Swiss Ordinance on Materials and Articles in Contact
with Food.
Products Promoting Climate Protection
An important part of ALTANA’s understanding of sustain-
ability is the development of products that enable customers
to save energy and thus contribute to climate protection.
BYK’s Viscosity Control Technology (VCT) is a good example.
It combines thickening and diluting additives to make the
processing of reactive resins (duroplastics) more energy effi-
cient. One of the most important applications is the manu-
facture of wind turbines. The additive combination used in
resins for bonding rotor blades has a positive influence on
the entire value chain, from faster and more effective manufacture,
to space-saving transport, to reduced waste gener-
ation.
Wherever possible, the ALTANA Group refrains from us-
ing solvents in products and in their manufacture. This
reduces emissions of ecologically harmful volatile organic
compounds (VOC). In the 2017 reporting year, ALTANA
made further progress. For example, ACTEGA Foshan became
the first Chinese company to develop a VOC-free coating
expressly for the Asian market. The water-based coating is