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• Over 15 million tons of iron oxide pigments produced since the business was founded;
• Setting the standard for coloring building materials;
• Continuous development of new applications;
• A pioneer in climate protection and the circular economy.
This quantity could be used to produce more than 200 billion liters of paint enough to cover an area the size of Germany five times over. With an annual production capacity of around 300,000 tons, LANXESS is the current global market leader. The Bayferrox brand is synonymous with synthetic iron oxide pigments in the industry.
Due to their long durability, these iron oxide pigments are primarily used to color paving stones, roof tiles, coatings, and plastics. Examples include the red asphalt in front of Buckingham Palace in London and the facade of the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.
“People encounter our pigments every day on streets, roofs, and facades,” says Michael Ertl, head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit at LANXESS, at the anniversary event. “Thanks to the pioneering spirit of our employees in Krefeld, our pigments have become indispensable in many other applications as well.”
These applications include artificial turf for sports fields, airbags and brake pads in the automotive industry, and catalysts for chemical production processes. The use of pigments in electromobility, as a precursor material for batteries in electric cars, is also currently being pursued.
“What has been created at LANXESS in Krefeld-Uerdingen over the past 100 years is a piece of industrial history of inestimable value and, at the same time, a living part of the present. The pigments manufactured at the Chempark Krefeld-Uerdingen are in demand worldwide,” emphasizes Frank Meyer, Mayor of the City of Krefeld, adding: “The chemical industry faces a major challenge, but those who view the transformation as an opportunity and focus on reinvention are paving the way to the future. LANXESS has repeatedly demonstrated its innovative strength over the past few decades. This benefits everyone because when local industrial companies thrive, the city and its people benefit as well.”
Innovative process as the cornerstone of a global brand
The success story of Uerdingen iron oxide began in 1926 with chemist Julius Laux. He developed a novel process in aniline production. In this process, the resulting iron oxide was further developed into a high-quality synthetic pigment.
After World War II, production volumes rose rapidly with the subsequent reconstruction of Europe, laying the foundation for LANXESS’ current market leadership in the iron oxide pigment business. Since then, the product range has expanded to over 100 shades. New sites around the globe have bolstered the global production network. To this day, Krefeld-Uerdingen remains at the heart of the global iron oxide pigment industry under the Bayferrox and Colortherm brands.
A pioneer in climate protection and the circular economy
LANXESS iron oxide pigments are characterized by an industry-leading low carbon footprint. One key reason for this is the Laux process, an early example of the circular economy, which LANXESS uses exclusively in production. In the Laux process, a byproduct of aniline production is transformed into a high-quality, standalone product: iron oxide pigments.
Additionally, LANXESS is working to reduce emissions throughout the entire value chain, including production, energy use, and logistics.
About LANXESS
LANXESS (lanxess.com) is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 5.7 billion in 2025. The company currently has about 11,700 employees in 32 countries. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of chemical intermediates, additives and consumer protection products. LANXESS has achieved leading positions in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index and the MSCI ESG and ISS ESG ratings, among others, for its commitment to sustainability.
Forward-Looking Statements
This company release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions, opinions, expectations and views of the company or cited from third party sources. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause the actual results, financial position, development or performance of LANXESS AG to differ materially from the estimations expressed or implied herein. LANXESS AG does not guarantee that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors, nor does it accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the opinions expressed in this presentation or the actual occurrence of the forecast developments. No representation or warranty (expressed or implied) is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on, any information, estimates, targets and opinions contained herein, and no liability whatsoever is accepted as to any errors, omissions or misstatements contained herein, and accordingly, no representative of LANXESS AG or any of its affiliated companies or any of such person's officers, directors or employees accepts any liability whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the use of this document.
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mark.maetschke[.]lanxess.com 
