Innovation and Optimization Drive Pigment Producers

By Cynthia Challener

With their paint customers suffering significantly decreased demand in most key downstream markets, pigment manufacturers face the chal­lenge of helping formulators gain whatever competitive advantage they possibly can. Many pigment suppliers, in addition to optimizing their own processes, are investing in the development of new products that will help improve the performance, cost efficiency, and sustainability of their cus­tomers’ coatings.

It is no secret that demand for coatings has declined considerably over the past 18 months. Sales to the architectural sector in 2008 were down 10% compared to 2007, while the industrial segment suffered an even greater drop of 19%, according to The ChemQuest Group. Both segments are expected to decline even further in 2009-nearly 12% and 13%, re­spectively. (Special-purpose coatings are the only category to retain positive growth.) Pigment demand, naturally, has responded in a similar downward fashion.