High-performance pigments respond to design and sustainability requirements

Sun Chemical featured its latest innovations for the plastics industry at CHINAPLAS 2026 where the company highlighted its advanced material solutions aimed at meeting demanding performance, designs and sustainability requirements. International Plastics News for Asia had the chance to talk to Dr. Christof Kujat, Global Head of Industry Segment Plastics at Sun Chemical. Dr. Kujat discussed Sun Chemical’s pigments portfolio.

Dr. Christof Kujat, Global Head of Industry Segment Plastics, Sun Chemical

What’s your company’s theme at this year’s exhibition, and what message are you hoping to share with professional visitors?  

Dr. Kujat: Sun Chemical, a member of the DIC Group, is a leading producer of packaging and graphic solutions, colour and display technologies, functional products, electronic materials, and products for the automotive and healthcare industries. In 2021, Sun Chemical acquired the pigment business of BASF.

Through production optimisation and capital improvements, Sun Chemical continues to invest in securing supply stability for high-performance pigment chemistries. We also ensure compliance and future-readiness across its Heliogen® blue and green Phthalocyanine pigments for sensitive applications, such as food contact materials and toys, maintaining consistent purity and performance amid evolving regulations.

How will these solutions help enhance your customers’ competitiveness?

Dr. Kujat: During CHINAPLAS, Sun Chemical focused on high performance, design innovation and sustainability, to showcase the industry's breakthrough achievements through four major technology sections. One is on NIR light management solution, featuring Spectrasense™ Black K 0089 FK, an innovative colourant that can accurately control near-infrared light absorption and reflection. This is suitable for high-end application scenarios such as solar thermal management, laser welding, and LiDAR sensing, providing key material support for new energy and smart devices. Another technology section is the environment-friendly colourants for fibres. For polypropylene (PP), polyester (PES) and nylon (PA) fibres, Sun Chemical has launched products with low environmental impact certified by OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT. The new FASTOGEN® Pink K 4430 FP fibre-grade colourant has a built-in filter pressure value (FPV) specification that solves the dispersion challenge in demanding fiber processing and meets the standards of fine fibres.

The third technology section featured high-performance colouring solutions for engineering plastics. We showcased engineering plastics (EPL) colourants designed for critical conditions, including orange high-voltage components in electric vehicles, which are optimised for long-term reliability in safety-critical applications through optimized material stability and weather resistance. And for the fourth section, we featured the high-purity series for sensitive applications. Sun Chemical’s continuous investment in production optimisation and capital upgrades to meet the strictest standards, including EU Article 3 compliance, the latest EU regulation 10/2011 (19th amendment), and NIAS levels well below industry benchmarks was made possible, through for instance, the Heliogen® blue-green classic phthalocyanine pigment brand.

In addition, we also demonstrated our digital colour management tool, Pigment Finder, at CHINAPLAS, providing full lifecycle information such as product carbon footprint statements and regulatory compliance documents. The Pigment Viewer application uses colour digitization technology to quickly preview and evaluate color schemes, improving customer R&D efficiency.

In your view, which downstream application sectors hold strong growth potential? What new requirements do they have for pigments?

Dr. Kujat: Multiple factors are driving the industry forward. Firstly, the surging demand for high-performance pigments in downstream sectors such as packaging, automotive, and electronics is expected to boost revenue growth. Traditional sectors like automotive, packaging, construction, textiles, and footwear continue to expand, while the rise of new energy vehicles is creating fresh demand for lightweight, durable materials.

In addition to end-use demand, three major trends are reshaping the industry: circular economy practices, high-performance material innovation, and sustainability mandates, all pushing it toward higher-end, greener production.

The circular economy develops, technologies such as plastics recycling (including packaging designed for recyclability and an increasing content of recyclates), biodegradable materials, and high-purity products are critical for addressing environmental pressures and meeting global sustainability goals.

Regarding material substitution and performance upgrades, plastics are replacing metals and glass in countless applications due to their lightweight properties, corrosion resistance, and cost-effectiveness. Innovations like microfiber materials are also rising to meet consumer demand for comfort in sportswear, footwear, and outdoor gear.

Finally, a significant boost comes from technological innovation, including smart manufacturing and advanced material R&D, coupled with global expansion. A notable example is that Chinese plastic and rubber products, enhanced by high-performance materials and refined processes, are gaining traction in international markets.

What strategic importance does the Chinese market hold for your company, and how is your company contributing to the development of the Chinese market?

Dr. Kujat: As an international pigment company rooted in the Chinese market, we believe that we can demonstrate stronger growth resilience in a challenging economic environment with the evolution of global industry regulations and the upgrading of downstream demand. Demand for high-performance pigments in the plastic packaging, automotive, and electrical and electronic industries will drive market revenue growth, while we also expect more pigment companies to merge and acquire, and supply chain layout will be more focused on regional markets (such as North America, EU, Asia) to improve service efficiency and avoid import tariffs.

Sustainability has not been optional any longer. It is a survival question. Increasingly stringent environmental regulations and consumer concerns about health and circularity have pushed the market transformation, free of heavy metals, low VOC, and biodegradable are becoming more popular. The requirements for weather resistance, coloring power, and functionality (such as color change or conductivity) of pigments in automobiles, electronics, and high-end packaging have increased, promoting the development of high-performance pigments.

Given the current global instability, how has this affected your company? How do you plan to ensure the stability of your material supply?

Dr. Kujat: As a global leader in the chemical pigment industry, Sun Chemical is responding to the challenges posed by the global landscape with a systematic mindset while translating supply chain resilience into a long-term competitive advantage. The current situation does bring multiple tests such as fluctuations in raw material supply, rising energy costs and changes in logistics efficiency.

We ensure stable operations through three strategic initiatives. One is through dynamic optimisation of global resource network. While maintaining the core supply base in Europe and North America, we are also strengthening localized production and procurement in Asia and emerging markets, and building a "multi-regional backup" supply system. Another is through cost control driven by technological innovation through increased investment in R&D of circular economy technology. Another initiative is digital supply chain management. Through predictive models, optimises the turnover days of raw material inventory to ensure the accuracy of customer order delivery.

We will continue to focus on the two-wheel drive of "material innovation + supply chain resilience", and while ensuring the quality stability of pigments, we will continue to be the reliable supplier of our customers. After all, in these uncertain times, a reliable partnership is more valuable than any single product. In the future, we look forward to working with all parties in the industrial chain to build a more resilient global chemical ecosystem, which is not only the way for enterprises to survive, but also an inevitable choice for the sustainable development of the industry.