Colors that Work – with Borchers Additives
Interview with Dietmar Helker, EMEA Applications & Co-Supplier Leader at Bochers GmbH
Paint additives are special additives used in the paint and coatings industry to alter and improve certain properties such as flow behavior, drying speed, or resistance to external influences. Borchers GmbH, based in Langenfeld, is a global specialist in the production of paint additives, drying accelerators, and catalysts. And it has been for over 200 years.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Helker, you have been with Borchers Lackadditive since 1999, having held various positions and accompanied the dynamic development of the company during this period. Which developmental steps were particularly important to be able to stay in the market for so long?
Dietmar Helker: Borchers was founded in 1807 in Goslar and is thus one of the oldest chemical brands in the world. Initially, the company focused on the production of chemical raw materials such as lead white and zinc vitriol; in 1920, following various expansions and restructurings, the focus shifted to drying agents for the paint and varnish industry. A turning point was the majority acquisition by the Bayer Group in 1996; the portfolio was expanded, including rheological additives. Borchers also used Bayer's production facilities in Dormagen and Leverkusen. In 2007, it was sold again to two American financial investors.
After having three investors as shareholders from 2015 to 2017, Borchers was acquired by the American corporation Milliken & Company in 2020. Since then, Borchers has been a Milliken brand and thus part of a very well-functioning team.
Wirtschaftsforum: What does the name Milliken & Company stand for?
Dietmar Helker: Milliken & Company is a corporation based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, U.S. with more than 40 production facilities in 15 countries and employs over 8,000 people worldwide. We greatly appreciate that behind Milliken & Company there is no shareholder, but a privately owned family business, now in its 5th generation. Just like Borchers, Milliken was founded in the 19th century. The portfolio includes solutions for the markets Textiles, Chemicals, Floor Covering, and Healthcare. The acquisition of Borchers by Milliken & Company supported Milliken's goal to enter the CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, Elastomers) market. Milliken & Company had already been selling raw materials (dyes and silicones) in this sector, but the acquisition of Borchers' additives further strengthened Milliken & Company's global presence in this market.
European Business: Borchers is the epitome of additives for the CASE market. Are there any special product highlights?
Dietmar Helker: In general, we do not provide commodities, but individual solutions. All additives manufactured by Borchers are unrivaled. The additives ensure, for example, that the paint does not run off the wall and yet flows well, that it shines, that it can be processed well, is stable in storage, or that it dries faster. We offer defoamers, catalysts, rheology additives, wetting and dispersing agents, slip and leveling additives, antioxidants, or drying agents, which are a major topic, for the CASE market. Against this background, the patented Borchi® OXY-Coat high-performance catalyst series plays a special role. It includes unique alternatives to cobalt dryers, which are subject to increasing regulatory requirements worldwide.
Competitors work with manganese or cobalt dryers, but this has disadvantages such as yellowing, poor adherence 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 agents that prevent skin formation. These highly effective antioxidants were designed so that they do not contain oximes, which are still frequently used for skin prevention but are also subject to increasing regulatory classifications.
Wirtschaftsforum: Sustainability is a concern at various levels for companies. What role does sustainability play for Borchers?
Dietmar Helker: Sustainability is a challenge that we take very seriously. In our industry, we often deal with regulatory aspects that are difficult. When raw materials or chemical compounds are reclassified, the development department must respond quickly to find alternatives that can reduce the impacts of labeling requirements. This is a big challenge. Selling products that are subject to labeling requirements in the do-it-yourself sector is very difficult today, if not impossible.
Wirtschaftsforum: To what extent does digitalization, especially AI, affect the business?
Dietmar Helker: We are in the process of implementing AI. However, this process is not simple, as we offer individual products.
Wirtschaftsforum: Borchers has long been an internationally sought-after provider of additives. What are further goals for the future?
Dietmar Helker: We are committed to offering additive options that help meet current labeling requirements and render upcoming requirements in final CASE formulations future-proof. This focus aligns with the commitment of Milliken & Company to sustainability, which includes significant impacts on people, products, the planet, and net-zero emissions, earning the company a gold EcoVadis rating for three consecutive years.