COLOUR | PIGMENTS
Pigment producer organisation Eurocolour has welcomed a decision by the European Court of Justice, which confirmed that titanium dioxide powders had been wrongly classified as suspected carcinogens, and that solid mixtures, such as masterbatches, had been
wrongly required to display an EUH212 statement on their labels. As a result, the
classification and labelling requirements were repealed
reduce carbon dioxide emissions across the pigment lifecycle,” explained Baumgart. Pigments also play a role in enhancing recycled
plastics. Near infrared (NIR)-detectable black pigments, as an alternative to carbon black, enable black plastics to be sorted by NIR-detection in recycling facilities. “Another key trend is colour consistency in recycled plastics. With the increased use of post-consumer recycled materials, pigments that maintain colour strength and stability over multiple processing cycles are in higher demand,” said Baumgart. Pune, India-headquartered SCIL made headlines
in March this year with the completion of its acquisition of Germany-based Heubach Group, which had become the second largest global pigment company after its integration with Clari- ant’s pigments business in 2022. “Sudarshan already possessed one of the most extensive product portfolios in the colourant industry, covering organic pigments of all kinds (eg azo, isoindolinone, dioxazine, phthalocyanine, quinacri- done and diketopyrrolopyrrole pigments), in addition to pearlescent and inorganic pigments from our Indian production sites,” said Baumgart. “With the Heubach Group acquisition, we now offer over 1,600 products and serve customers in more than 120 countries. Our manufacturing footprint has expanded to 19 sites across 11 countries. We address regional needs through a technical marketing set-up located within the respective regions, ensuring proximity to our customers and a deep understanding of local demands. This integrated global presence enables us to provide localised products, tailored services, and more flexible, shorter transportation routes, contributing to a reduced PCF.” The company said that the acquisition combined
16 COMPOUNDING WORLD | September 2025
SCIL’s operations and expertise with Heubach’s technological capabilities, noting that SCIL was addressing Heubach’s financial challenges with a clear turnaround plan. The transaction was com- pleted on schedule, and integration has begun, with the goal of operating as a fully integrated global company within a year. The company said that Germany remains a strategic location, and that the company’s second global headquarters would be established in the Frankfurt area. “The combined company builds on the rich legacies of both Sudarshan and Heubach. Our goal is now to create the world’s most valuable pigment company with great financial strength and profit- ability. Together, we will drive continuous innova- tion and deliver breakthrough solutions that benefit each of our stakeholders,” said Rajesh Rathi, Sudarshan’s Managing Director and Chairman of the combined entity. “Sudarshan’s innovation centres are developing solutions with high temperature and chemical resistance for engineering plastics, while ensuring compliance with strict purity requirements for sensitive applications such as direct and indirect food contact. We are also collaborating with start-ups to explore new technologies in colour- ants, including fermentation-based processes and bio-based raw materials,” added Baumgart.
Investment and regulation The Shepherd Color Company announced phase two of an expansion of its complex inorganic colour pigment (CICP) facility in Cincinnati, Ohio, US. The first phase increased capacity by 15%, and the second phase was expected to have similar investment and benefits. One example of a new application for the company’s Arctic IR black pigments is in black food containers, where the pigments meet NIR-sortabili- ty criteria for recycling facilities, said Mark Ryan, Market and Product Manager at Shepherd Color. Additionally, a trend in engineering polymers is increased interest in colours beyond black, he added. Shepherd Color offers a range of colour pigments with high-temperature resistance to allow use in a wide range of engineering polymers for branding or functionality. Changes in regulations are an ongoing chal- lenge for manufacturers and users of pigments. In Europe, there seems to be a welcome shift in approach by the European Commission to empha- sise the importance of competitiveness and simplification, said Anne Thüsing, head of Commu- nications at Eurocolour, a European umbrella organisation for manufacturers of pigments, dyes,
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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