BYK-Chemie GmbH
HEADQUARTERS:
BYK-Chemie GmbH
Abelstrasse 45
46483 Wesel, Germany
Phone: + 49 281 670 0
Fax: + 49 281 657 35
Web: www.byk.com
E-mail: info@byk.com
USA/Canada/Mexico
BYK USA Inc.
524 South Cherry Street
Wallingford, CT 06492
Phone: +1-203-265-2086
COMPANY DESCRIPTION:
BYK Additives & Instruments is a globally operative, branch-
leading supplier of additives and measuring instruments.
Additives are chemical substances that are used in small
quantities to improve product properties such as scratch
resistance or surface gloss. Manufacturing processes are also
optimized through the use of additives.
The coatings, printing inks, and plastics industries are some
of the main areas of application of BYK additives. Yet in
paper surface finishing, or the production of adhesives and
sealants as well as construction chemistry, BYK additives
are also improving the product properties and production
processes. In 2009 BYK extended its portfolio with raw
materials for the production of mold release agents for alu-
minum die casting.
BYK Instruments develops measuring instruments for the
objective assessment of color, appearance, and the physical
properties of coatings, plastics, and paper surfaces.
As one of the four divisions within the ALTANA Group, BYK
Additives & Instruments employs around 1200 staff world-
wide, more than 600 of them in Wesel. In 2009, company
turnover amounted to EUR 420 million. Some 87% of that
turnover was earned abroad, especially in neighboring
European countries, the USA and the Asian market.
The first-ever BYK additive on the market was launched in
1935 for coatings. This was when BYK developed their
ANTI-TERRA® product. It ensured that pigments in coat-
ings could be evenly distributed – a significant quality
improvement for the manufacture of coatings.
The history of BYK itself dates from a full 60 years earlier.
In 1873, Dr. Heinrich Byk founded a chemicals factory in
Berlin under his own name, initially manufacturing sleeping
pills. In 1917, the company merged with the Farb- und
Gerbstoffwerke (paint and tanning agent works) to form the
Byk-Guldenwerke AG; the Ernst Lomberg photochemical
factory later being added to the group.
In 1962, BYK established its Wesel works and launched pro-
duction of paint and plastics additives there. As a globally
active specialty chemicals company, BYK also has produc-
tion plants in Kempen (Germany), Deventer (the
Netherlands), Wallingford (USA) and Tongling (China). The
BYK instruments section (BYK-Gardner GmbH) is centered
in Geretsried in Upper Bavaria.
INNOVATIVE ADDITIVE
DEVELOPMENTS:
In the late 1990s, BYK was the first
additives manufacturer to begin successfully utilizing controlled polymerization technology (CPT), thus
allowing improved control of the fine
structures of additives. BYK has
since developed several CPT-based
products which are internationally
in demand.
BYK was also very quick to embrace
nanotechnology. Minute quantities of
nano particle solids significantly improve the properties of
coatings and plastics. By using nano additives, it is possible
not only to increase the UV screening of wood coatings or
improve the scratch resistance of coatings, but also to generate “self-healing” effects in coatings.
In 2008, BYK introduced the first rheology modifying wax
emulsion to the market. AQUATIX® 8421 improves the orientation of effect pigments in aqueous coatings while also
reducing sedimentation.
Every year, BYK invests approx. 8% of its sales in research
and development - a figure that is three times higher than
the industry standard. For BYK, innovative developments
are closely oriented towards present and future customer
demands.
One in five BYK staff works in interdisciplinary teams dedicated to furthering new developments and leveraging staff
competence from the various specialty fields. BYK rewards
excellence in development work (annually) with its internal “BYK Advance” innovation prize.
CLOSE TO CUSTOMER:
BYK places great importance on being close to its customers and remaining in constant dialog with them. This is
one of the reasons why the company is represented in more
than 100 countries and regions around the globe.
In eleven technical service laboratories, BYK offers customers and application engineers support for concrete
questions. At its locations in Wesel, Deventer or in Asia, the
USA and Brazil, BYK develops solutions for various application sectors – such as automotive coatings, inks or general industrial coatings, etc. And BYK makes its experience
internationally available in the form of customer seminars
at which some 1, 100 participants from around the world
are informed and trained each year.
www.byk.com
