SICPA Group acquires liquid-crystal pigment business from WACKER

SICPA Group acquires liquid-crystal pigment business from WACKER

The SICPA Group based in Switzerland is to acquire the liquid-crystal pigment business of Munich-based Wacker-Chemie GmbH, as of 1st July 2005. The purchase includes the know-how for applications in the security printing, engraving,industrial and decoration sectors, along with their accompanying production systems, patent and the brand-name rights to HELICONE and POLARSHIFT. In addition, the employees of the unit are transferring from WACKER to SICPA. It was agreed to keep the purchase price confidential.

“This acquisition will enable the SICPA Group to further develop new optical effect and colour shifting ink technologies across our security business and broaden our range of security applications into a variety of industrial markets. In addition, we will of course guarantee continued supply and high quality service to all existing WACKER customers” said Jan Secher, CEO of the SICPA Group.

For WACKER, the sale represents a further step in the process of focusing the group on its core competencies in the chemicals sector. Dr Christoph von Plotho,Head of the WACKER SILICONES division: “The possible applications for the effect pigments we have developed are extremely wide and varied. Examples of their use are as security printing on mobile phones, cars and motorcycles. However, this remains a peripheral area within our business portfolio and therefore we have decided to hand this business over to a partner with considerable expertise in these technologies”.