News

• Investment of approximately 12 million euros – a commitment to Germany and Saxony-Anhalt.
• Transition to a sustainable energy supply without fossil fuels.

In mid-August, BYK officially opened its new mini-plant in Shanghai, China. This state-of-the-art facility allows BYK to provide its customers with faster, more flexible, and customized additive solutions. It is a key strategic component of the company’s global production network.

Two technical articles by BYK additive experts Judith Ewald and Alina Beschmann have been nominated for the prestigious 'Farbe und Lack Award'. This recognition by the trade journal highlights the scientific and technical quality of the articles by Judith Ewald and Alina Beschmann.

In mid-July, BYK held an inauguration ceremony for its new laboratory facilities at the South China New Material Industrial Park in Guangzhou.

The additive experts at BYK India were honored with the “PaintVision Excellence in Additive Technology Award 2026” at the 5th “PaintVision Global Business Summit & Awards” in New Delhi.

BYK received an award at the Ringier Personal Care Awards for its PURABYK-W 5560 BOOST additive. The natural rapeseed-based wax powder impressed the jury with its versatile properties for modern cosmetic formulations.

Wesel, July 14, 2026 – With DISPERBYK-2180, BYK has introduced a new wetting and dispersing additive for inorganic pigments and fillers in aqueous systems. The polycarboxylate-ether-based additive is designed for applications requiring a high degree of stability across a wide pH range.

We are delighted! Our BYK team has won this year’s ALTANA Innovation Award for the successful and sustainable development of PFAS-free defoamers and the corresponding transition of the defoamer portfolio to PFAS-free solutions. Led by BYK CTO Dr. Michael Schmidt (on the right in the photo) and ALTANA AG CTO Dr. Petra Severit (third from the left), the team includes Sven Tenbusch, Dr. Alexander Gers-Barlag, Volker Thyssen-Wallner, and Annika Winkelhausen. They have developed a new generation of sustainable defoamers that contain no forever chemicals and are essential for producing paints and coatings. BYK has been producing entirely PFAS-free products since 2025, making it a pioneer in the industry. The award was presented at the ALTANA Innovation Conference (AICON) in Wesel.

• Acquisition of perisens, the leading specialist in radar and communications technology
• Expansion of the measurement and testing instrument business through patented technology for radar measurement of painted automotive components

Wesel, June 24, 2026 – BYK has successfully begun producing its renowned HEUR-based RHEOBYK products in Germany. Production takes place at the Kempen facility, where BYK has invested extensively in recent years. This step shortens delivery times in Europe, enabling BYK to respond more quickly and efficiently to market demands, especially those related to architectural coatings. Thanks to local manufacturing, customers benefit from significantly shorter transport distances as well as a longer usable storage and processing times for the additives. With this decision, BYK is strengthening Germany as an industrial hub - especially during economically challenging times - and ensuring an efficient and resilient supply for its European customers.

The award recognized the innovative, powdered wetting and dispersing additives DISPERBYK-2290 and DISPERBYK-2291, which were developed for environments with extremely high alkalinity. The award ceremony took place on May 19, 2026, in Shanghai, where Ming Shan, Senior Specialist for Decorative Coatings and Construction Chemicals at BYK, represented the company in accepting the award.

May 12, 2026

This WEBseminar provides an overview of various siloxane-based additives that are deployed primarily in the coatings, inks, and plastics markets, but also in other industries. The regulatory situation in the chemical field keeps on changing and the industry needs to adapt in parallel on short term, this counts for BYK as well as for its customers.

As of April 2026, Palmer Holland is our new distributor in the United States for lubricants and metalworking fluids.

For BYK, the lotus flower is more than just a graceful plant; it's a source of inspiration. Its superhydrophobic properties served as the model for our sustainable wax additive, AQUACER 492. Our innovation is a water-based emulsion made from modified paraffin wax and offers outstanding properties for textile finishing.

April 28 and 29, 2026

Join our WEBseminar to discover how innovative additives help tailor viscosity, improve wetting behavior, and unlock the full performance potential of radiation curable systems. Gain practical insights into formulation strategies, learn best practices for LED, UV, and EB curing, and explore proven solutions that support efficiency, sustainability, and outstanding coating quality.

BYK, one of the world’s leading suppliers in the field of additives and measuring instruments, will raise its prices for additives by up to eighteen percent (18%), with exceptions for specific product groups up to thirty percent (30%) with an effective date of May 1, 2026, or as contracts allow.