The specialty chemicals group Altana has acquired the specialty coatings business of Henkel. The products are sold under the brand names MiraFoil and Miracure and are mainly supplied to the packaging industry in North America. The business generated sales of around $15 million in 2012. Within the Altana group the business will be integrated into Actega Kelstar in the United States and into Actega Terra GmbH in Germany, both belonging to the Actega Coatings & Sealants division.

“By acquiring the specialty coatings business of Henkel we are continuing to execute our North American growth strategy consistently and focus on innovative specialty chemicals,” says CEO of Altana AG, Matthias Wolfgruber.

The technologies are acquired by way of an asset deal and include effect and overprint coatings curing under ultraviolet radiation and electron beam. MiraFoil coatings are recognized as an environmentally responsible alternative to foil board laminating and hot foil stamping while being equally brilliant to foil. They can be applied to precise areas, hence, reducing waste and shortening lead times. Miracure coatings provide a range of matte, gloss, satin and silicone coatings for conventional printing processes creating high-quality visual appearance, such as glow-in-the-dark or dimensional texture.

“With the specialty coatings business of Henkel, we are expanding our product portfolio by two highly innovative and sustainable product families,” notes Roland Peter, president, Actega Coatings & Sealants. “Hence, we will be able to offer our customers even better solutions that are tailor-made to their needs.”