BYK’s Garamite products to be able to
meet the increasing demand, for example
in the paint, coatings, and plastics industries.
The rheology additives help to optimize
the flow behavior of a wide variety
of products.
BYK is increasing its production capacity
by about 10,000 tons. The world
market for Garamite and Organoclay is
growing at about two to three percent
annually. “With our capacity increase we
can cover the market growth expected
for the coming years. So we have set the
course for our future growth,” explains
the site manager.
State-of-the-Art Automation
Technology
Processes have also been optimized to
further strengthen the company’s competitiveness.
BYK is achieving the capac-
ity expansion through the use of cutting-
edge automation technology – and is doing
so with the same number of employees.
A digital process control system is now being
used. This allows the processes as a
whole and at the individual process stages
to be controlled individually.
“We here in Gonzales are very proud
of these innovative technologies. This
means our site is well equipped for the future,”
says Glenn West. The company,
thus, achieves a so far unrivalled degree of
refinement of the minerals used. Sustainability
and safety standards are also
being improved. For example, a new
wastewater treatment plant was installed,
saving energy and costs and improving
the CO² footprint.
Next Generation Products
The new research and development facility
is ALTANA’s new global competence
center for rheology additives. It is where
Looking to the Future 33
future customer challenges are already
solved today and next generation products
are developed. In this way, BYK in
Gonzales has created the basis for opening
up new customer groups and fields of
application with new innovative solutions.
Says Glenn West: “The decisive fac-
tor is that we have more than 30 years of
knowhow and experience in the field
of rheology additives with our some 170
colleagues here. This is the best longterm
investment we have to offer our customers.”
BYK is optimizing processes and investing in state-of-the-art automation
technologies.
The company thus achieves an unprecedented degree of refinement of the
minerals used.