It has been supplying them for a couple of years and has started producing them in China with its own equipment. Granular or liquid products offer a further advantage as they can be used in automatic colorant systems, since dry powder does not automate very well. You have to get to a threshold with iron oxide to make it economical. In the US, sales to the construction sector are strong. As Linnenbringer explains, pigmented concrete is still a young market.
Many potential customers are small local firms.
Each needs more technical service and support than a large organization. We have a lot of expertise in color which can help customers produce much better quality. Generally smaller users continue to work with powder but the larger users are able to justify the investment in automated dispensing equipment for liquids or granules. While the company's UK and US construction markets are doing well, sales overall will be hit by the economic woes in Asia. Competition for Elementis in the region comes from its two old rivals, Laporte and Bayer, and to a lesser extent from some domestic producers in South Korea and Australia.