On 30 June 2023, a completely new type of production plant for special effect pigments was officially commissioned at the Glatt Technology Centre. The Dryflux technology is suitable for numerous powder applications.

The pigment specialists at Merck and the technology and production experts at Glatt Ingenieurtechnik have worked closely together to produce an innovative range of cosmetic pigments using completely new technology. The Darmstadt-based Merck Group placed the order for the development and construction of a plant based on chemical vapour deposition (CVD) after successful joint trials at Glatt’s location in Weimar.

Since September 2022, the patent-pending Ronaflux pigments have been produced by Glatt in Weimar for the Darmstadt-based science and technology company Merck. Glatt was commissioned by Merck to develop the plant technology and install the complete production facility, which is owned by Merck. Glatt then became operational there, fulfilling its role as a contract manufacturer of Ronaflux pigments for Merck. Construction of the plant began in 2020 and stands on 74 m2 of floor space, extended over 2.5 floors.

Merck and Glatt have enjoyed a successful partnership for many years, during which time Glatt has been manufacturing systems for Merck's Healthcare and Life Science sectors.

Ronaflux pigments are cosmetic products whose manufacture requires special quality and purity standards. Thanks to investment subsidies from the Thüringische Aufbaubank in recent years, it was possible to create ideal conditions for such processing requirements at Glatt's Weimar Technology Centre. Glatt was thus able to expand its technological portfolio to include the development and application of high-temperature process technology based on fluid bed and powder synthesis. This meant that the necessary infrastructure was already in place at Glatt or could be expanded quickly and cost-effectively.

Dryflux technology creates a new class of special effect pigments that have a very colour-intensive and metallic shine. These effects are based on thin carbon layers on the pigment surface. The Dryflux technology is flexible and universally applicable to many powdered materials to meet customised customer requirements. A second validation phase for further products is currently underway, in which, among other things, the fluidisation behaviour of new raw materials will be evaluated and supporting parameters, such as pulsation, adjusted to the respective product.

First, the pigment powder is vigorously stirred up in the reactor with an inert gas and thereby heated to the required reaction temperature. Next, the formation of thin carbon layers around the powder particles begins with the introduction of a carbon-containing gas into the reactor, that is then decomposed. Once all the powder particles are evenly coated with a carbon layer, the product is cooled, sieved and packaged under strict hygienic conditions.

 

At the official commissioning ceremony of the plant on 30 June 2023, Jeff White, Head of the Surface Solutions business unit within the Electronics business sector of Merck, and Thuringia's Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Tiefensee were joined by Weimar's Lord Mayor Peter Kleine, Dr Arnuf Wulff representing the State Development Corporation of Thuringia, and IHK Chief Executive Dr Cornelia Haase-Lerch.
 

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