Innovation is what inspires the market

Because you already have to set course for the future now, you have to make strategic plans and analyze trends if you want to be innovative and remain successful. This is the core idea underlying our guiding business principle at BYK.
For us as a leading supplier in the field of additives and instruments for quality control, innovation is one of the essential elements of the business strategy that ensure our company’s long-term success.

Investments in research and development

In view of this, it’s no surprise that a company of our size invests 8% of earnings in research and development each year – a figure that is three times the industry average. In developing new technologies and products, BYK always remains focused on market trends and on the customer’s current and future needs. But BYK also carefully monitors and studies potential new markets.

Achieving new potentials by developing new markets and technologies

These efforts rely in large part on the know-how and resulting expertise that we have acquired through decades of experience in the targeted modification of surface characteristics. Having only recently turned our attention to the paper market, we have already achieved impressive successes there. Our additives are also opening up attractive new opportunities for adhesives manufacturers. That’s why we just launched a complete new line of products for this sector. An essential aspect of innovation involves the development of new products and the refinement of existing ones – but it also extends to the development of completely new technologies. Controlled Polymerization Technology is one good example: CPT makes it possible to manufacture precisely tailored polymers that can be used to modify product properties in specific ways – a versatile approach for proactively addressing changing market demands. Macromer technology goes even one step further. It imparts unique product profiles through properties that can be achieved only through innovative chemistry. That’s why BYK®-3550, which is based on this technology, was recently honored with the “BYK Advance” innovation award. BYK® -3550 is a silicone macromer-modified polyacrylate that combines both acrylate and silicone characteristics. And finally BYK is also working intensely with key technologies such as nanotechnology. It can be used to increase the thermal stability, scratch-resistance or conductivity of coatings. But that isn’t all. Not only can we use nanotechnology to enhance the properties of BYK products, but we can also provide our customers with support in the handling and use of their own nanoproducts. This, too, is a very attractive business area. Because with our know-how we can help other manufacturers formulate recipes with nanoparticles that remain finely distributed, for example, and do not form agglomerates as they otherwise tend to do.

Close to the customer with innovative products and services

Being innovative also means giving your customers a competitive edge. That’s the common thread throughout our product development. And that’s why our additives always address major market trends in a timely manner. Now more than ever, as environmental concerns are becoming increasingly important and the clear trend towards eco-friendly formulations is unmistakable, our Greenability product line for use in coatings and plastics formulations offers our customers a full range of high-performance additives. But our product range is not the only thing that keeps our customers ahead of their competition – our service is unique as well. Service at BYK starts with our fast and reliable sample shipping service. And it also includes seminars on our products and technologies along with current interest topics concerning for example the new European chemicals regulation – but it certainly doesn’t stop there. Application research under customer contract is the crown jewel of our service portfolio – the only service of its kind in the world. Thanks to our practice-oriented application research, BYK’s customers can work with us on the further development of products in their own region – supported by extraordinarily well-qualified employees and unmatched technical facilities.