Merck announced the opening of a second production line for silica-based effect pigments in Gernsheim, Germany.
Merck has invested nearly € 28 million to strengthen its Gernsheim manufacturing site, which now features a second production line for the company’s silica-based effect pigments.
With this investment, Merck will significantly increase production capacities for silicon dioxide flakes, a special substrate for the Colorstream® and Xirona® product ranges for automotive coatings and colour cosmetics. These pigments provide a unique colour shift depending on the angle of observation. An example of this is Colorstream® Lava Red, used for automotive coatings, which combines a dynamic colour with technical requirements, such as weather and UV resistance.
“Silica-based pigments enable special effects, that are exceptionally well received by our customers and perfectly meet recent market trends,” said Jeff White, Head of Surface Solutions at Merck. “Through this state-of-the-art production facility, we will significantly increase the capacity for silica-based pigments in Gernsheim and flexibility in order to capture these growth opportunities.”