Demand is growing from the plastics and automotive coatings sectors

Demand is growing from the plastics and automotive coatings sectors

Ciba Specialty Chemicals is to carry out a further expansion of its diketo-pyrrolo-pyrrole (DPP) pigments capacity in Europe and the US. Demand from the plastics and automotive coatings sectors are driving the expansion in one of the company’s most significant product areas.

Construction work on a second larger line at Monthey, in Switzerland, is already underway following the start-up of a new line at the site last month. Meanwhile the DPP plant at Newport in the US is being debottlenecked, CSC’s head of coating effects, Hermann Angerer said at a pre K briefing in Basle.

A growing focus on flame retardants and a drive to raise the proportion of products less than five years old to a one third share from its current position in the high 20s are key themes for Ciba Plastics Additives under recently appointed head Brendan Cummins. Ciba Smartlight RL 1000 growth promoter for roses, launched last year typify the strategy.