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.

December 30, 2008: ALTANA closes the acquisition of the wax additives business of Clariant

ALTANA closes the acquisition of the wax additives business of Clariant
December 20, 2008: BYK to take over production location in Kempen

The BYK-Chemie GmbH, Wesel, will have a new production location in Germany starting January 1, 2008. BYK will be taking over the company grounds, plant, and staff at the Kempen location (Lower Rhine) from the ALTANA subsidiary ELANTAS Beck, Hamburg.
December 14, 2008: Nanotechnology: BYK rolls out new NANOBYK® products

As a result of the successful cooperation between BYK and Rhodia, BYK introduces new NANOBYK® products based on Rhodigard technology for coating applications.
December 01, 2008: ALTANA affected by economic crisis

The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA AG has been increasingly affected by the recession in many parts of the world.
December 01, 2008: ALTANA's Management and Supervisory Boards recommend acceptance of SKion offer

ALTANA's Management and Supervisory Boards recommend acceptance of SKion offer
November 26, 2008: Innovative NANOBYK® additives enhance the scratch resistance of clearcoats through immediate reflow effect

BYK has extended its portfolio with two new nano silica additives: NANOBYK®- 3651 and NANOBYK®- 3652. Together with the already well-established NANOBYK®- 3650, these new additives mean BYK can offer its customers a complete product family covering systems from low to high polarity.
November 24, 2008: ALTANA acquires wax additives business of Clariant

The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA signed a contract to acquire the Dutch manufacturer of wax additives, Dick Peters B.V. The company, which is located in Denekamp, the Netherlands, is a subsidiary of the Swiss specialty chemicals company Clariant. In 2007, Dick Peters B.V. achieved sales of about €24 million.
November 06, 2008: SKion GmbH Offer for Acquisition of ALTANA Shares

Today SKion GmbH informed us about their decision to make an offer for the acquisition of shares in ALTANA AG.
November 05, 2008: ALTANA Innovation Conference holds its premiere:
100 scientists discuss specialty chemicals solutions for tomorrow

ALTANA AG continues to back research and innovation also in economically more difficult times, just as it always has. For the first time since the repositioning of the Group with its concentration on the specialty chemicals business, about one hundred of ALTANA's top scientists and development engineers are coming together today and tomorrow in the Mercatorhalle in Duisburg in the first "ALTANA Innovation Conference".
November 05, 2008: ALTANA continues its growth course

Sales: plus 7 percent, Earnings (EBITDA): plus 18 percent, Outlook revised and increased
October 28, 2008: ECKART: Gathering Pace in China

ECKART is pleased to announce the completion of its first production facility in Asia, located in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
October 02, 2008: ALTANA completes acquisition of USBP

After having received the approval by the German antitrust authorities, ALTANA AG now completes the acquisition of the effect pigments business of the American company United States Bronze Powders Inc. (USBP) with immediate effect.
September 20, 2008: BYK®-SILCLEAN 3720: Permanent protection and outstanding cleaning action for aqueous coating systems
September 19, 2008: DISPERBYK®-2009:
Wetting and dispersing additive for matting agents in high and full solid systems
September 19, 2008: Official presentation of the "Outstanding Paper Award" at the 100th anniversary celebrations of SPCI in Stockholm

During the celebrations of the 100-year anniversary of SPCI, BYK officially honored the Norwegian company Tofteloftet A/S with the "Outstanding Paper Award".
September 03, 2008: BYK with new solutions at the K 2007
August 21, 2008: ALTANA acquires effect pigment business of USBP

The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA has signed a contract to acquire the effect pigment business of the American company United States Bronze Powders Inc. (USBP). In 2007, USBP achieved sales of approximately $8 million in this business area.
August 08, 2008: ALTANA posts robust growth in the first six months of 2007

Sales: +7 percent, Earnings (EBITDA): +22 percent, Optimistic outlook is updated
August 07, 2008: ALTANA reports sales and earnings growth in the first half of 2008

Sales: up 2 percent (4 percent operating growth), EBITDA: up 13 percent; EBITDA margin at high level, Burdens due to exchange rate effects
July 31, 2008: DISPERBYK®-2155: 100% solids wetting and dispersing additive for pigment concentrates and coatings

Growing environmental awareness leads to changes in coating formulations, and one way to fulfill stricter requirements is the swap to higher solids systems.
June 25, 2008: ECKART announces metal surcharges

As already announced ECKART 's metal surcharges will be adjusted on a quarterly basis.
June 24, 2008: BYK with new solutions at the Asia Pacific Coatings Show

At this years APCS in Kuala Lumpur from June 24 to June 26, BYK will be presenting innovative solutions. One focus will be on BYKs rheology additives and NANOBYK® UV absorbers.
June 24, 2008: Zellcheming EXPO: Innovative additives from BYK for paper coating

At Zellcheming EXPO, from June 24 to June 26, BYK will be presenting innovative solutions for controlling interfacial phenomena in the manufacture and processing of paper.
June 23, 2008: BYK completes REACH pre-registration within only four days.

BYK is one of the first companies in the chemical sector to complete the official pre-registration within the framework of the REACH regulation.
June 17, 2008: ELANTAS announces price increase in Europe

ELANTAS Electrical Insulation is announcing price increases for its wire enamel product line in Europe of 6% starting ...
May 29, 2008: Innovative additives from BYK for paper coating

At drupa 2008, from May 29 to June 11, BYK will be presenting innovative solutions for controlling interfacial phenomena in the manufacture and processing of paper.
May 05, 2008: ALTANA Annual General Meeting approves dividend proposal

Regular dividend of €0.25 , Special dividend of €0.26, Payout ratio of 33%, Total dividend payment of just under €70 million
April 29, 2008: ALTANA reports positive business performance in the first quarter of 2008

Sales: plus 3 percent (operating growth: plus 5 percent), EBITDA: plus 16 percent, Positive earnings outlook confirmed
April 26, 2008: The new ALTANA starts with good First Quarter 2007

- Sales: +7 percent
- Earnings (EBITDA): +23 percent
- Optimistic outlook for 2007
April 26, 2008: ALTANA seeks delisting in the U.S.

ALTANA seeks delisting in the U.S.
April 24, 2008: Marking of plastics

Heavy-metal free additives for flexible laser marking
April 24, 2008: Versatile and functional: Hot-seal varnishes for top-notch requirements

Producers of specialties to serve the packaging manufacturers' market have been confronted with a dynamic evolution which is still ongoing: Standard wide-spread materials such as aluminum are increasingly substituted by plastics and polymer composites. As a consequence manufacturers are confronted with innovative applications based on these new substrates and according demands of the end-consumer.
April 24, 2008: Innovative, laser-markable protective varnishes for rigid and flexible metal packaging

Laser induced markings have evolved into a common feature in our daily environment - just have a look at characters of computer keyboards, technical information on electronic parts, displays in cars or sealants for screw caps.
April 24, 2008: New PVC-free compound for lug-type twist caps

TPE to replace PVC
April 23, 2008: BYK-Chemie USA acquires Bergen Materials, Corp.

BYK-Chemie USA acquires Bergen Materials, Corp.
April 01, 2008: Paper - from bulk to brilliance

To celebrate the 100-year anniversary of SPCI - the
Swedish Association of Pulp and Paper Engineers - BYK Additives & Instruments is sponsoring the "Outstanding Paper Award".
March 18, 2008: ALTANA AG reports excellent business year 2007

- Dynamic growth in sales and earnings
- Dividend proposal: €0.25 per share
- Special dividend: €0.26 per share
- Positive outlook for the business year 2008
March 03, 2008: Alliance project for printed electronics launched -
Radio frequency identification tags: the next generation

Joint press release from PolyIC, BASF, Evonik Industries, Elantas Beck and Siemens
February 14, 2008: ALTANA Expands Executive Management Team with Chief Technology Officer

Dr.-Ing. Georg F. L. Wießmeier (41) will take over responsibility at ALTANA AG, as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), ...
February 01, 2008: Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to Qualify ELANTAS Beck India Lab for Testing to UL Standards

Underwriters Laboratories (UL), one of the world's largest Certification Organization, today announced that it has qualified and accredited the In-house Laboratory of ELANTAS Beck India Ltd. ...
January 31, 2008: ALTANA reports successful business year 2007

Excellent start as pure specialty chemicals company
Sales: €1,380 million (+ 7%)
EBITDA: €248 million (+ 33%)
January 23, 2008: BYK-mac - Total Color Impression of Effect Coatings

BYK-Gardner - worldwide partner of the automotive, paint and plastic industries for quality control of color, appearance and physical properties - is introducing a new instrument to objectively characterize the total color impression of effect coatings: the BYK-mac.