Arichemie celebrates 175th anniversary
The pair of points is set for the exploitation of new increasing markets. “We keep on focussing on specific customers’ demands and niche markets and with this also on the connected know-how of the technologies as well as the latest demands regarding product safety” says Managing Director Johan Bogaerts. “With this specific know-how we create synergies for a cost efficient product development. Our product range is constantly “under construction” in the field of commodities as well as in the field of specialities. We want to lay stress on our development of products basing on renewable raw materials, our pigment preparations for food contacting products as well as the developments, which we emphasize on with regards to new statutory provisions, such as the amendments of EN 71 or BfR IX – only to name two examples.
As an independent company, our engagement, flexibility and promptness are the basis for our close and confiding cooperation with our clients. Quality and sustainability to us are the pre-condition to a long term growth. We see our future optimistically.”
1987 the factory premises in Eppstein-Bremthal were bought and invested in ever since. The production department was equipped with new bead mills and a filling system. Additional employees were hired in the labs to be able to better incorporate the specific tasks with regards to development and test of customers. In 2014 a fire water retaining system topped by a hall for 400 storing positions was built as an essential step to secure the facility position of the firm. The year after, two adjacent lots were bought to pave the way for other future arrangements.
It all started with the Schwarzfarbenfabrik Michel & Morell, the black printing ink and the black car enamel. In 1840, much travelled artist and merchant Karl August Morell and miller Adolf Michel met. >From his travels, the artist had brought back knowledge about the production of letterpress inks, Chinese ink, Japanese lacquer and black Japan and the miller knew about the water power in the mills. Together they founded the Schwarzfarbenfabrik Michel & Morell and developed a production technique for fine powdery black colours. At the time copper inks, burnt ivory, Parisian black, primed buckhorn, Frankfort black, burnt and ground bones, Chinese ink and letterpress inks for the book print were manufactured. The participation in the first world exhibition in Paris 1851 and in Chicago 1893 were touching moments at the time and the company grew continuously. At the beginning of WW 2, the economic situation of the company became more and more critical and it was finally liquidised in 1952.
June 1, 1956, graduated chemist Aimé de Lannoy and merchant Arnold Riege took over company Michel & Morell oHG and founded Arichemie – Dipl. Chem. Aimé de Lannoy – Füllstoff- und Farbenfabrik. What followed was the modernisation and rationalisation of the production. Aimé de Lannoy started to develop new products with the latest types of carbon black. In the years to follow, the sales potential was even increased due to the development of aqueous carbon black pigment preparations. In the year 1968 Aimé de Lannoy started to develop “colour pastes” on the basis of organic and inorganic pigments. Beginning of the year 1972, the series of aqueous Vocaflexes was successfully launched on the market. This development was followed by the Vocafil series, which – already at that time – was to fulfil the special requirements which an indirect food contact implicated. Parallel ran the binder based series of Vocateint. Arichemie specialised in aqueous pigment preparations at the time and aimed at new objectives in the 1990s. The product portfolio was to be enlarged to find access to new markets. The acquisition of the “Heliocolor” brand of Hartmann Druckfarben GmbH, Frankfurt can be seen strategically. Heliocolor bases on plasticizers and was mainly used in the textile coating or plastics industry. Approximately 10 years later Arichemie began to introduce the resin based chain of Vocaplast which nowadays includes six different series.
Aimé de Lannoy still managed the company in his high eithies and led it into the new millennium. Thanks to his energy and his will power he always had an eye on new goals. In 1993 his grandson Johan Bogaerts joined the family owned company and took over the business and shares of Arichemie GmbH in 2005.