Merck expands UV filter portfolio through alliance with Sachtleben

Merck KGaA has expanded its alliance with pigment manufacturer Sachtleben Chemie adding more titanium dioxide-based UV filters to its portfolio.

The companies have been working together since 1995, with Sachtleben manufacturing the Eusolex T product range that Merck then markets to the cosmetics industry.

Sachtleben’s UV-Titan range now joins the Eusolex T products covered by the partnership and from April 1 Merck will gradually take over the support of international cosmetics manufacturers. This process will be complete within one year, according to the companies.

However, Sachtleben will continue to market the UV-Titan products to dispersion manufacturers and powder refiners in the UV filter market.

The filters can be used in a wide range of products including sun screens, daily skin care products and colour cosmetics, Merck claimed.

Synergies in the area of UV filters

According to head of the cosmetics business at Merck, Dr Matthias Lergenmüller, the partnership with Sachtleben has been a successful one, enabling the company to ‘bundle our expertise and build synergies in the area of UV filters’.

“Our customers also benefit from this, as they can procure a wide variety of innovative raw materials for sunscreen and skin care products from a single source,” he added.

For Sachtleben, expanding the partnership with Merck paves the way for future growth.

“By intensifying our long-standing, successful alliance we have the opportunity to develop further innovations and have created the prerequisite for sound business growth with broad-spectrum UV filters,” said head of pharma, cosmetics and food at Sachtleben Reiner Mertscheit.