100 years as a pigment pioneer: LANXESS celebrates anniversary of iron oxide production

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is celebrating a century of iron oxide pigment production at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site. Since 1926, more than 15 million tons of iron oxide pigments have been produced here. This quantity could be used to produce more than 200 billion liters of paint—enough to cover an area the size of Germany five times over. With an annual production capacity of around 300,000 tons, LANXESS is the current global market leader. The Bayferrox brand is synonymous with synthetic iron oxide pigments in the industry.

Due to their long durability, these iron oxide pigments are primarily used to color paving stones, roof tiles, coatings, and plastics. Examples include the red asphalt in front of Buckingham Palace in London and the facade of the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

“People encounter our pigments every day—on streets, roofs, and facades,” says Michael Ertl, head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit at LANXESS, at the anniversary event. “Thanks to the pioneering spirit of our employees in Krefeld, our pigments have become indispensable in many other applications as well.”

These applications include artificial turf for sports fields, airbags and brake pads in the automotive industry, and catalysts for chemical production processes. The use of pigments in electromobility, as a precursor material for batteries in electric cars, is also currently being pursued.

“What has been created at LANXESS in Krefeld-Uerdingen over the past 100 years is a piece of industrial history of inestimable value—and, at the same time, a living part of the present. The pigments manufactured at the Chempark Krefeld-Uerdingen are in demand worldwide,” emphasizes Frank Meyer, Mayor of the City of Krefeld, adding: “The chemical industry faces a major challenge, but those who view the transformation as an opportunity and focus on reinvention are paving the way to the future. LANXESS has repeatedly demonstrated its innovative strength over the past few decades. This benefits everyone because when local industrial companies thrive, the city and its people benefit as well.”

Innovative process as the cornerstone of a global brand

The success story of Uerdingen iron oxide began in 1926 with chemist Julius Laux. He developed a novel process in aniline production. In this process, the resulting iron oxide was further developed into a high-quality synthetic pigment.

After World War II, production volumes rose rapidly with the subsequent reconstruction of Europe, laying the foundation for LANXESS’ current market leadership in the iron oxide pigment business. Since then, the product range has expanded to over 100 shades. New sites around the globe have bolstered the global production network. To this day, Krefeld-Uerdingen remains at the heart of the global iron oxide pigment industry under the Bayferrox and Colortherm brands.

A pioneer in climate protection and the circular economy

LANXESS iron oxide pigments are characterized by an industry-leading low carbon footprint. One key reason for this is the Laux process, an early example of the circular economy, which LANXESS uses exclusively in production. In the Laux process, a byproduct of aniline production is transformed into a high-quality, standalone product: iron oxide pigments.

Additionally, LANXESS is working to reduce emissions throughout the entire value chain, including production, energy use, and logistics.