Press Archive

Here you will find the press releases for ALTANA and our subsidiary companies for the years from 2002 until today.

Press releases from the ALTANA Holding until 2006 you will find here.

29. December, 2004

ALTANA helps flood victims in South Asia

ALTANA AG, Bad Homburg, and its operating divisions ALTANA Pharma AG, Constance, and ALTANA Chemie AG, Wesel, donate € 750,000 to the flood victims in South Asia. 

17. December, 2004

Price Increase

With effect from February 1, 2005, BYK-Chemie will increase prices for all paint and plastics additives worldwide by 6%. For mineral oil defoamers the price increase will be 3.5% and for viscosity reducers 8%. 

16. December, 2004

Brazilian Opening Ceremony

On November 23, 2004 the 8th BYK-Chemie application laboratory was officially inaugurated.  

19. November, 2004

New Thickness Measuring Instrument byko-test MP0R

BYK-Gardner introduces a new member of the family of thickness measuring instruments 

09. November, 2004

ALTANA Electrical Insulation Increases Prices

ALTANA Electrical Insulation and its subsidiaries are raising the prices for Wire Enamels, Impregnating Resins and Compounds worldwide by at least 10%. 

04. November, 2004

ALTANA: Markedly positive business performance

Strong third quarter; new record year in sight  

01. November, 2004

ALTANA Chemie Opens Fourth Production Site in China

ALTANA Electrical Insulation, a business unit of ALTANA Chemie AG, Wesel, has commenced operation of a super modern production plant in Zhuhai after a year and a half of construction. 

26. October, 2004

Color and Gloss Measurement Combined in one Instrument

BYK-Gardner introduces the new spectro-guide, its new instrument that combines color and gloss measurement in one unit – highly repeatable even on textured surfaces.  

25. October, 2004

The P.D. George Company was chosen as Terry Bradshaw’s Pick of the Week on CNBC

Terry Bradshaw’s Pick of the Week is a television show that is broadcast weekly on the CNBC cable network. The series of short stories highlights successful companies in America and how they have succeeded despite extraordinary economic conditions. 

01. October, 2004

K 2004: Highlights from BYK-Chemie

In line with the slogan of K 2004 (Vision - Innovation -Business), BYK-Chemie will be presenting its latest product developments from 20 to 27 October at the Messe Düsseldorf.  

28. September, 2004

ALTANA Coatings & Sealants begins production of sealants in South America

To strengthen its presence in South America, La Artistica, sealants manufacturer and subsidiary of the ALTANA Coatings & Sealants business unit, recently concluded a strategic licensing agreement with Uruguayan company Promak. 

27. September, 2004

AQUACER® 526 - Wax Emulsion for the Orientation of Effect Pigments in Water-Based Paint Systems

BYK-Chemie introduces AQUACER® 526, the first wax emulsion for effect pigment orientation in water-based systems.  

23. September, 2004

Dr. Matthias Wolfgruber´s term of office extended

The Supervisory Board of ALTANA AG today extended Dr. Matthias Wolfgruber’s term of office as Member of the Management Board of ALTANA AG and overall management of the Chemicals division by a further five years. 

23. September, 2004

100 Years of Beck – Anniversary with Special Conference

At the end of September, Beck Electrical Insulation – one of the more recent members of ALTANA Chemie – will be celebrating its 100th birthday. 

17. September, 2004

BYK-Chemie has new agent for Germany

Since September 1, 2004, KRAHN Chemie GmbH of Hamburg has been the official agent for BYK-Chemie, Wesel.  

02. September, 2004

BYK-Chemie enters thermoplastics market

BYK-Chemie presents high-performance wetting and dispersing additives for color masterbatches. 

27. August, 2004

BYK-Chemie and ACMOS Chemie: Partners in release agents

BYK-Chemie GmbH, Wesel will be collaborating more closely with Acmos Chemie KG, Bremen, in future in order to develop innovative solutions in the area of release agents. 

19. August, 2004

BYK-Chemie Involved in European Research Project

Under the umbrella of the European Commission’s “Competitive and Sustainable Growth Programme”, BYK-Chemie is involved in a research project in the area of automotive coatings. 

12. August, 2004

La Artistica develops coating solutions for converting from solvent-based to water-based sealants

La Artistica has repositioned itself as a supplier of innovative coating and sealing solutions 

03. August, 2004

ALTANA sustains and improves on positive business trend over the first half-year

Strong second quarter First-half sales growth: +9%, consolidated profit +7%  

03. August, 2004

ALTANA Chemie sold and transferred its shareholding in Salchi Rhenacoat

Wesel, August 3, 2004 – ALTANA Coatings & Sealants, a business unit of ALTANA Chemie AG, Wesel, has sold and transferred its 51 % shareholding in Salchi Rhenacoat s.r.l., Milan, ltaly, to its 49% joint-venture partner, a private family holding.  

28. July, 2004

Nano Additives from BYK-Chemie: First Application in the Field of PVC Floor Covering

On the occasion of the K 2004 to be held in Düsseldorf from October 20 – 27, 2004 BYK-Chemie presents two products for plastics based on nanotechnology.  

22. July, 2004

Ulrike Flach, Member of the German Bundestag visits BYK-Chemie Wesel

Ulrike Flach today visited BYK-Chemie, Wesel, a company of ALTANA Chemie AG. 

12. July, 2004

ALTANA Chemie sells Rhenacoat’s coil coating business to Akzo Nobel

Concentration on growth market in packaging coatings 

02. July, 2004

BYK-Chemie sells French marketing company to IMCD

Consolidation of strong position in France through joint marketing venture 

25. June, 2004

First Nano Additives of BYK-Chemie

On the occasion of the Asia Pacific Coatings Show held in Bangkok from June 3 – 4, 2004 BYK-Chemie introduced the first two products based on Nanotechnology to the market. 

23. June, 2004

BYK-Chemie is the ''Best Additive Supplier in Brazil''

BYK-Chemie GmbH, a company of ALTANA Chemie AG, Wesel, has once again won the award of ''Best Additive Supplier in Brazil''. 

14. June, 2004

ALTANA Electrical Insulation announces general price increase

ALTANA Electrical Insulation (AEI), a business unit of ALTANA Chemie AG, is announcing price increases for its wire enamel and secondary insulation product lines of 5 to 7% starting July 1 or as contracts allow.  

05. May, 2004

Term of office extended

Bad Homburg, May 5, 2004 - The Supervisory Board of ALTANA AG (NYSE: AAA, FSE: ALT) today extended Dr. Nikolaus Schweickart’s period of office as Chairman of the Management Board by a further two years until the Annual General Meeting in 2007.  

05. May, 2004
03. May, 2004

www.altanachemie.com - The new website of ALTANA Chemie

Since May 1 ALTANA Chemie AG has been present on the Internet with its new-look website. At www.altanachemie.com the specialty chemicals company has acquired an even more user- and customer-friendly appearance on the World Wide Web. 

29. April, 2004

ALTANA starts year of strategic investments according to plan

First European approval for Alvesco® and submission of Daxas® create basis for broader product portfolio Bad Homburg/Wesel, April 29, 2004 - ALTANA AG (NYSE: AAA, FSE: ALT) increased consolidated sales by 5% to € 712 million (2003: € 678 million) in the first three months of ...  

02. April, 2004

BYK-Chemie to build new distribution center in Wesel

BYK-Chemie to build new distribution center in Wesel, underlining its long and successful relationship with the Wesel Site Wesel, April 2, 2004 - BYK-Chemie GmbH, a company of ALTANA Chemie AG, Wesel, has just announced its plan to build a new distribution center in the "Lippe estuary ...  

31. March, 2004

ALTANA Electrical Insulation Streamlines Organization in Germany with
a New Site Concept

Wesel, March 31, 2004 - ALTANA Electrical Insulation (AEI), a business unit of ALTANA Chemie AG, Wesel, will wind up the business activities of Rhenatech GmbH Elektroisoliersysteme, Kempen with effect from 30/09/2004 as part of its strategic focusing and the ongoing integration of the Schenec ...  

18. March, 2004

ALTANA closes 2003 with new record figures

Return on sales in excess of 21%
Dividend up by 11% - the eighth increase in succession
Bad Homburg, Germany, March 18, 2004 - ALTANA AG (NYSE: AAA, FSE: ALT) reported another successful business year 2003. "Over the past year we have remained on course for further growth, de ...  

20. February, 2004

ALTANA Electrical Insulation Sells its Insulating Sleevings and Covers Business

Wesel, February 20, 2004 - ALTANA Electrical Insulation (AEI) has signed a deal with Relats, S.A., Spain to sell the electrical insulating sleevings and covers business, currently marketed through Rhenatech Elektroisoliersysteme GmbH. 

04. February, 2004

ALTANA Electrical Insulation Uses Synergy Potential

Wesel, February 04, 2004 - As part of its continuing policy of strategic alignment, ALTANA Electrical Insulation (AEI), a business unit of ALTANA Chemie AG, Wesel, is concentrating on realizing synergy potentials and on improving the structures within the business unit. The focus here is on s ...  

27. January, 2004

ALTANA 2003: New record year; the eighth in succession

Profits climb by 10% and sales by 5% despite weak dollar; another dividend increase targeted
(Note: All figures mentioned in this press release are provisional and unaudited) 

07. January, 2004

ALTANA Chemie Acquires Electrical Insulation Business of Ranbar

Bad Homburg/ Wesel, Germany, January 7, 2004 - ALTANA Chemie AG, the specialty chemicals business of ALTANA AG (NYSE: AAA; FSE: ALT), has acquired today through its US subsidiary P.D. George the electrical insulation business of Ranbar Electrical Materials Inc., USA. The acquired activities c ...  

05. January, 2004

Dr. Susan W. Graham named President & CEO

ALTANA Chemie is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Susan W. Graham to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of The P.D. George Company.