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Borchers: our history as a chemical and coating additives supplier

 

Coating additives are special additives that are used in the paint and coatings industry to change and improve certain properties such as flow behavior, drying speed or resistance to external influences.

Borchers is an over 200-year-old brand that is a globally active specialist in the production of coating additives, drying accelerators and catalysts.

 

Interview with Dietmar Helker, Applications Development Manager, Borchers GmbH

 

Recently, long-time Borchers chemist and current Applications Development Manager Dietmar Helker spoke with Wirtschaftsforum*, a German publication covering Business-to-Business (B2B) news.

With the Borchers brand having a strong history in Germany and beyond, Dietmar highlighted how our brand began as a chemical raw materials business to now becoming a leading coating additives supplier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Helker, you have been working for the Borchers brand since 1999, during which time you have held various positions and accompanied the dynamic development of the brand. Which development steps were particularly important in order to be able to survive on the market for so long?

 

Dietmar: Borchers was founded in Goslar in 1807, making it one of the oldest chemical brands in the world. Initially, the focus was on the production of chemical raw materials such as lead white and zinc vitriol; in 1920, after various expansions and restructurings, the focus was shifted to dry materials for the paints and coatings industry.

The acquisition of a majority stake by the Bayer Group in 1996 marked a turning point; the portfolio was expanded, including rheological additives. Borchers also used Bayer’s production facilities in Dormagen and Leverkusen. In 2007, there was another sale to two American financial investors.

After three investors had been shareholders from 2015 to 2017, Borchers was acquired by Milliken & Company in 2020. Since then, Borchers has been a Milliken brand and thus part of a very well-functioning team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wirtschaftsforum: Can you tell us about Milliken & Company?

 

Dietmar: Milliken & Company is a Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S.-based company with 40 manufacturing facilities in 15 countries and over 8000 employees around the world.

We greatly appreciate that Milliken & Company is a private family-owned company, now in its 5th generation. Just like Borchers, Milliken was founded in the 19th century. Their portfolio includes solutions for the textile, chemical, floor covering and healthcare markets.

The acquisition of Borchers by Milliken & Company supported Milliken’s goal to enter the CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Elastomers) market. Milliken & Company had already sold raw materials (colorants and silicones) in this area, but the acquisition of Borchers additives further strengthened Milliken & Company’s global presence in this market.

 

Wirtschaftsforum: Borchers is the epitome of additives for the CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Elastomers) market. Are there any special product highlights?

 

Dietmar Helker: In general, we don’t supply commodities, but individual solutions. There is no alternative to all additives manufactured by Borchers. The additives ensure, for example, that the paint does not run off the wall and still runs well, that it shines, that it can be processed well, that it is stable in storage or that it dries faster. We offer:

• defoamers
• catalysts
• rheology additives
• wetting and dispersing agents
• slip and leveling additives

 

Against this background, the patented Borchi^® OXY-Coat high-performance catalyst series plays a special role. It includes unique alternatives to cobalt driers, which are subject to increasing regulatory requirements worldwide. Competitors work with manganese or cobalt driers, but this can have disadvantages such as yellowing, poor adhesion to different substrates, surface defects and poorer corrosion protection. Our cobalt alternatives are real product highlights. We have also set new standards with the Ascinin^® Anti Skin skin preventers. These highly effective antioxidants are designed to be free of oximes, which are effective in preventing skinning but are subject to increasing regulatory concerns.

 

 

 

Performance in a high gloss decorative long oil alkyd formulation

 

 

Wirtschaftsforum: The topic of sustainability concerns companies at various levels. What role does sustainability play for Borchers?

 

Dietmar Helker: Sustainability is a challenge that we take very seriously. In our industry, we often have to deal with regulatory aspects that are difficult. When raw materials or chemical compounds are reclassified, we must react quickly to find alternatives that can reduce the impact of labeling. This is a great challenge. Products that are subject to labeling in the do-it-yourself sector in particular are very pervasive.

 

Wirtschaftsforum: Borchers has long been an internationally sought-after supplier of additives. What are other goals in the future?

 

Dietmar Helker: We are committed to offering additive options that help to meet current labeling requirements and future-proof against future requirements in final CASE formulations. This focus is in line with Milliken & Company’s commitment to sustainability, which includes important impacts on people, products, the planet and net-zero emissions, and has earned the company a gold EcoVadis rating for four consecutive years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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To learn more about Borchers’ additives or to request assistance from our experts, please reach out through our contact page.

 

*this article was originally published in German. The above text has been translated to English.