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“Biocide-free will soon be the standard”: On the development of modern tinting pastes and new requirements in the colour market
The requirements for pigment pastes are changing: they need to be biocide-free while remaining colour-accurate, mould-resistant and application-safe. Guido Strauch, Head of Tinting Technology at Dörken, discusses current trends, regulatory pressure and how his team is helping customers gain a technological edge.
What challenges and trends are you facing in the development of new pigment pastes?
Guido Strauch: Our industry has been facing constantly evolving market demands for years, particularly due to increasing chemical regulation, such as the EU Green Deal and national legislation. As a result, biocides used in coatings and tinting pastes for preservation are being increasingly restricted or banned. At the same time, there is a growing awareness among end users for “green” or “healthy living” solutions. Paints, coatings and plasters are expected to be free from biocides, without compromising on performance – especially with regard to mould resistance, both in-can and after application.
This requirement affects us as a paste manufacturer as well as our direct customers who use liquid pastes in tinting machines. Despite the absence of biocides, tinting pastes must retain their complex properties such as colour accuracy and compatibility – and must not lead to contamination or mould growth. Certification schemes like the Blue Angel or EU Ecolabel are reinforcing these trends, which are increasingly gaining ground in the DIY market as well as the professional sector – especially in public tenders. We expect biocide-free solutions to become the standard very soon.
How are increasing regulations influencing your development work?
Strauch: In our industry, there are different approaches to alternative tinting systems that still offer in-can and dry-film protection. These include pH adjustment of the pastes, spraying or UV irradiation, as well as physical concepts such as dry tinting without water. All of these approaches require major investment and come with compromises – many are only suitable for aqueous systems. We continue to rely on liquid, biocide-free pastes.
How do trends in architecture and interior design influence the colour selection for your pigment pastes?
Strauch: The shift to biocide-free products has little impact on the colouristic selection of our established and new pastes. However, it does present new opportunities. In collaboration with a pilot customer, we’ve implemented a biocide-free, liquid aqueous paste system across more than 500 tinting machines. We plan to make all standard liquid paste technologies available in biocide-free versions.
We also market this technology as semi-finished goods, supported by services such as microbiology support, formulation assistance and colourimetric know-how. These customised solutions provide our customers with a technological advantage. Through patents and continuous development, we are expanding our business model into a full system and technology offering that delivers competitive advantages and cost savings.
