Clariant opens Chicago-area ColorWorks centre

Specialty chemical maker Clariant AG has opened ColorWorks North America, a resource centre designed to bring color into the early stages of plastic product and packaging design.

The new ColorWorks site occupies the second floor of the firm’s concentrate manufacturing plant in West Chicago, Ill. The plant produces masterbatches – color and/or additive concentrates used in making plastic products – in both pelletized and liquid form.

“The opening culminates nearly three years of planning and renovation and represents a major investment by Clariant in support of customers in the U.S. and Canada,” Clariant said in a news release.

“We’re exploring new approaches to helping designers, brand owners and OEMs bring new products to market faster, more efficiently and with a greater likelihood of success,” Clariant Masterbatches North America marketing head Peter Prusak said in the release. “Clariant pioneered the ColorWorks concept and now, in this new facility, we can take it to the next level…to my knowledge there is no other resource like it in North America.”

Muttenz, Switzerland-based Clariant operates 11 business units worldwide.