Eckart

Eckart GmbH (stylized ECKART) is a German specialty chemicals company headquartered in Hartenstein, Bavaria, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Altana AG. Founded in 1876 by Carl Eckart as a small goldbeating workshop in Fürth, the company has evolved into one of the world's leading manufacturers of metallic effect and pearlescent pigments. Its products are used in coatings, printing inks, plastics, cosmetics, and additive manufacturing, serving industries such as automotive, industrial coatings, powder coatings, and packaging. Eckart's product portfolio includes aluminum pigments, bronze pigments, pearlescent pigments, and effect pigments in various forms—powders, pastes, concentrates, and finished printing inks. Notable brands include STAPA, METALURE, SYNCRYSTAL, ULTRASTAR, PLATINSTAR, and ROTOSTAR. The company operates production sites in Germany (Hartenstein, Wackersdorf, Bitterfeld) and has subsidiaries and sales offices in Italy, Switzerland, Finland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Americas, and Asia. Acquired by Altana AG in 2005 for €630 million, Eckart became the group's fourth business division while continuing to operate as an independent company. It has expanded through acquisitions, including the effect pigments business of Wolstenholme Group (2007), US Bronze Powders (2008), TLS Technik (2021), and the announced acquisition of Silberline (2024). Eckart is recognized for its innovative effect pigment solutions, serving customers worldwide with high-quality, visually striking products.

Eckart was founded on August 6, 1876, by Carl Eckart as a small goldbeating workshop in Fürth, Bavaria. It was entered into the commercial register in 1892, and by the late 1890s, production shifted from manual to industrial manufacturing of gold bronze. Around 1900, Jakob Eckart, son of founder Rudolf Eckart, joined the company, leading to the establishment of new plants in Erlangen and Nuremberg-Doos. In 1901, the "Knight with a Standard in his Right Hand" became Eckart's trademark. By the end of World War I, the individual operations were consolidated into a larger facility. In 1920, production of bronze powder began at Güntersthal near Hartenstein, followed a few years later by aluminum powder. On May 31, 1934, the competitor Eiermann und Co. in Oberasbach, formerly Jewish-owned, was forcibly liquidated; between 1934 and 1936, Carl Eckart leased and eventually acquired it well below value. Its facilities were used during World War II to produce fine aluminum powder, which was added as fuel to V1 and V2 rockets due to its highly reactive properties. The site was sold after the war. The company was later renamed "Standard-Bronzepulver-Werke Carl Eckart." In the late 1950s, Eckart established its own research department. In the 1970s, it began international expansion, acquiring the Ohio Bronze Powder Company in Painesville, Ohio. About a decade later, a new plant for aluminum powders and pastes opened in Wackersdorf, Upper Palatinate. In the 1980s, expansion continued with a sales office in London and the acquisition of Italian company MEPOSA Metalli in polvere in Milan. In 1997, Eckart acquired a Reynolds Metals Company factory for aluminum powder production, followed in 1998 by the acquisition of the pearlescent pigments division of Finnish Kemira at its Pori site. In 2001, the company was split into two independent groups: the effect pigments division retained the name Eckart, while the granules division became ECKA Granules. In 2005, Eckart GmbH was acquired by Altana AG for €630 million and integrated as its fourth business division, though it continued to operate as an independent company. This was the largest acquisition in Altana's history to date. In 2007, Eckart acquired the effect pigments business of the British Wolstenholme Group, including bronze and aluminum pigments. A year later, it acquired the pigment business of US Bronze Powders in New Jersey. In 2021, Altana acquired TLS Technik GmbH & Co. Spezialpulver KG, a manufacturer of metal powders for industrial 3D printing, and integrated it into Eckart as Eckart TLS. In mid-January 2024, Altana announced its intention to acquire US-based Silberline, a manufacturer of effect pigments with 450 employees and 2022 revenue of approximately USD 80 million.

• 2024

  Altana announced intention to acquire US-based Silberline.

• 2021

  Altana acquired TLS Technik and integrated it as Eckart TLS.

• 2008

  Acquired the pigment business of US Bronze Powders, New Jersey.

• 2007

  Acquired the effect pigments business of Wolstenholme Group, UK.

• 2005

  Acquired by Altana AG for €630 million; became fourth business division.

• 2001

  Split into two independent groups: Eckart (effect pigments) and ECKA Granules.

• 1998

  Acquired the pearlescent pigments division of Finnish Kemira in Pori.

• 1997

  Acquired a Reynolds Metals Company factory for aluminum powder production.

• 1980

  Opened new plant in Wackersdorf for aluminum powders and pastes.

• 1970

  Began international expansion with acquisition of Ohio Bronze Powder Company.

• 1934

  Forced liquidation of competitor Eiermann und Co.; later acquired by Eckart.

• 1920

  Started bronze powder production at Güntersthal near Hartenstein.

• 1901

  The "Knight with a Standard" became the company trademark.

• 1892

  Entered into the commercial register.

• 1876

  Founded by Carl Eckart as a goldbeating workshop in Fürth, Bavaria.

Global leader in metallic effect and pearlescent pigments, offering innovative, high-quality solutions for coatings, printing, plastics, cosmetics, and additive manufacturing.

• STAPA HD

  Metallic pigment pastes with exceptional opacity and brilliant luster; HD stands for High Density. Ideal for industrial coatings and automotive industry.

• METALURE Prismatic

  Metallic effect with rainbow coloration; holographic structure shows chrome-like metallic effect with iridescent rainbow colors depending on viewing angle and light incidence. For solvent-based systems.

• SYNCRYSTAL

  Pearlescent pigment brand, including SYNCRYSTAL Platinum and Very Berry.

• ULTRASTAR

  Effect pigment brand, including ULTRASTAR UV/LED FPG 78322 Silver.

• PLATINSTAR

  Effect pigment brand, including PLATINSTAR GX-2903 Silver.

• ROTOSTAR

  Printing ink brand, including ROTOSTAR Aqua and ROTOSTAR UV/LED flexo inks.

• STANDART

  Aluminum powder brand, including STANDART PCU and STANDART PCS series.

1. 1ECKART Effektpigmente – Innovative Lösungen für Lacke, Druck & Kosmetikeckart.net
2. 2STAPA® HD - Brands - Produktsucheeckart.net
3. 3METALURE® Prismatic - Brands - Produktsucheeckart.net
4. 4Product Searcheckart.net
5. 5Eckart (Unternehmen) - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Eckart (Unternehmen) - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org