Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine November/December 2021 - 36

PAINT AND COATINGS MANUFACTURING: INNOVATION CENTER
disperse lignans in wood stains, or potentially offer
improved emulsification properties for waxes.
How does Clariant work with
customers when developing
performance-based products?
The latest trends that our team of technical
experts has observed in the paints and coating
industry over the recent years has been customers
asking for novel additives that enable improved
performance in weathering and surface effects.
- MOUHCINE KANOUNI
Kanouni: Our first step is to understand our customer's
performance requirements in their coating formulations and
the drivers behind the criteria. Are they meeting regulatory
specifications, sustainability targets, or a specific performance
objective? We then seek to develop an additive solution looking
at our existing portfolio or new innovative ideas to meet those
requirements that would closely resemble our customer's own
formulation. As such, we feel our custom solution is optimized to
reach a high performance-based coating.
Chan: From the initial contact developed by marketing, to the
outreach of our experienced account management team and
engagement of our technical department, our goal is to set the
bar for a customer experience that emphasizes transparent
communication of technology transfer, application development
and validation, followed by approval to finalize a customer's
developmental performance products. Keeping in mind that each
customer is unique, we approach the opportunity individually
to customize the process and incorporate the needs of all
stakeholders. Needless to say, all hands are on deck with these
opportunities to assure success across the board.
How do you approach developing a sustainable
solution for a customer challenge?
Kanouni: Sustainability is core to Clariant. As such, our
constantly evolving product portfolio of waxes and light stabilizers
is very much focused on offering state-of-the-art performance
and sustainable solutions. We have built a legacy over the years to
be very successful in developing new products that push the limit
of performance and sustainability. Within our portfolio, we have
introduced wax solutions that provide customers and players
along the value chain with key sustainability benefits that help
meet their targets when formulating more sustainable coatings.
For example, our Licocene TERRA line is made from renewable
feedstock with at least 50 percent RCI (Renewable Carbon Index)
content and our Ceridust VITA line is from natural origins with
real renewable content - at least 98 percent RCI. We also look at
sustainability from the perspective of meeting the most stringent
regulatory requirements in the market where changes and
labeling standards drive the development of more sustainable
solutions.
Chan: The ICS business has the largest expanse of products with
Clariant's EcoTain labeling. This positions us to offer outstanding
performance solutions that meet global labeling requirements
while also supporting our customers' sustainability goals. When
approaching solutions, we examine the sustainability goals of our
customers and consider the performance properties that have
effect on process improvements that impact carbon footprint. We
also disperse many organic materials with low VOC options from
our Dispersogen product line. The sourcing of our renewable and
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non-food bio-based raw materials as well as green improvements
in our production processes allow for efficient means to reduce
an overall carbon footprint. Our commitment to sustainability is
an extension of the value Clariant brings to the coatings market.
What are a few of the latest trends you see in
the paints and coatings industry and how is
Clariant staying ahead of the curve?
Kanouni: The latest trends that our team of technical experts
has observed in the paints and coating industry over the recent
years has been customers asking for novel additives that enable
improved performance in weathering and surface effects. We are
collaborating with customers to develop new additives solutions
that meet the constantly evolving regulatory environment.
Hostavin 3315 DISP (benzotriazole UV absorber) and Hostavin
3070 DISP (Oligomeric HALS Dispersion) for water-based
coatings are a great example where both features are met, best
in class weathering performance as well as best in class when it
comes to sustainability.
Chan: The consumer demand for product functionality
fits incredibly well with the multi-functional nature of the
compatibilizer additives we have in our repertoire. A good
majority of our products in ICS offer several critical performance
effects that reduce the complexities of formulating.
For example, Dispersogen PLF 100 impacts dispersing
pigments into colorant concentrates in multiple ways. This
product enhances color, offers extended shelf life, and reduces
foam during production and associated leaching effects. Lastly,
it decreases the need for excessive viscosity modifiers, whereby
reducing complexity and cost in the final formulation.
Our technical team also places high emphasis on exploring
future technologies that lie within our scope to manufacture. We
meet on a regular basis to discuss these options and how Clariant
would be capable of implementing either a product that is readily
available or if a project could be created to fill those gaps and
address demands.
We recently created a project to explore opportunities in metal
surface preparation, specifically cleaning. Ideation led to four
distinct projects, the first being a digital selection tool to define
requirements based on the process and narrow down to desired
parameters of equipment capabilities. From this, options are
recommended, and related information suggested for download.
It all begins with customer inquiry.
As a whole, we are thrilled with the collaborative nature
the new Industrial Applications Innovation Center presents
to Clariant where our global network of industry experts are
constantly in search of innovative, sustainable solutions to meet
market demands, and as always, the unique specificities of each
customer.
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Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine November/December 2021

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