LANXESS' participation in this year's American Coatings Show, which is being held from May 8 to 10 in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, highlights the importance that the U.S. market holds for the specialty chemicals company. That is why LANXESS has been steadily expanding its presence in the United States with a view to the future, and specifically in the area of material protection. Recently at the end of 2011, the company acquired biocide producer Verichem.

Dr. Torsten Derr, head of Material Protection Products (MPP), explains: “This acquisition has strengthened the company’s position on the U.S. market for material protection products and expanded its global manufacturing network for biocides. It also gave LANXESS access to other active ingredients registered at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

U.S. manufacturers of paints, varnishes and coating materials make up a commercially important customer segment. “In view of this, taking part in the American Coatings Show provides us with the perfect opportunity to showcase our extensive portfolio of products and services. These include advanced solutions for in-can and dry film preservation for paints, plasters, mortars and general building applications,” says Derr.

The acquisition of the material protection business of Swiss manufacturer Syngenta, which also took place in 2011, is another clear sign of the strategic importance of this business segment for LANXESS. This has enabled the company in the United States to add the fungicides Sporgard and Azotech to its established biocide range comprising the brands Preventol, Biochek, Tektamer and Metasol. These highly efficient formulations offer sustainable protection against fungal attack and mold for paints, varnishes and façade and other construction coatings. Both products are registered for the American market and feature combinations of active ingredients that exhibit a superior toxicological profile. Sporgard and Azotech are ideal as indoor solutions.

LANXESS has been marketing Preventol A 6 world wide to protect façades against algae infestation for many years. Based on the active ingredient diuron, Preventol A 6 exhibits outstanding effectiveness and processability, particularly for adding algicides to outdoor paints and plasters. Preventol A 6 Preservative is expected to be approved for the U.S. market shortly.

Preventol D 7, based on chloromethylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT), is also close to gaining approval for the U.S. market. This combination of active ingredients has been used successfully for many years as a preservative for waterborne coating systems.