Omya

Swiss producer of natural mineral products based on calcium carbonate (chalk, limestone, marble), dolomite and perlite, and a worldwide distributor of specialty materials; founded in 1884 by Gottfried Plüss-Staufer in Oftringen, Switzerland, where the head office still is. About 9,000 employees, operating in more than 50 countries. For paints and coatings it offers standard and specialty calcium carbonate grades with different particle sizes and optical values, used as functional fillers and extenders in decorative paints, industrial and powder coatings, roof coatings, plasters and renders, and as extenders and white pigments in printing inks; also modified calcium carbonate (MCC) matting agents, ChameleoBoost technology for partial titanium dioxide replacement, Omyacycle recycled materials and Omyaspheres lightweight fillers. Other ranges include coating pigments for graphic paper and paperboard and calcium carbonate grades for polymer masterbatch and compounding (including white colour masterbatch). Omya Specialty Materials also distributes pigments, binders and additives from partner producers. In China since 1997, with 17 plants (11 on-site), more than 4 million t/yr capacity and 5 mines/quarries.