Kemira and Rockwood Collaborate for TiO2

Kemira Oyj has formed a joint venture with Rockwood Holdings Inc. to produce specialty titanium dioxide pigments. The joint venture combines Kemira's titanium dioxide business and Rockwood's titanium dioxide pigments and functional additives business to produce a new company, Sachtleben. 

The joint venture, which had pro forma revenues of approximately 560 million euros in 2007, is headquartered in Duisburg, Germany. Wolf-Dieter Griebler, who has been president of Rockwood's titanium dioxide business, will head the joint venture. It is 61% owned by Rockwood and 39% owned by Kemira.

Sachtleben is the producer of specialty titanium dioxide pigments for the synthetic fiber industry, specialty titanium dioxide pigments for packaging inks, and specialty titanium dioxide grades for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries.

Sachtleben reportedly is also the world's largest producer of synthetic barium sulfate specialties and holds a unique position in the field of zinc sulfide pigments. Both companies' titanium dioxide production is based on a same production process, and both have strong capabilities in the development of nanoparticles for specialty applications.