Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp.

LEEDS, West Yorkshire, UK—MetalFX Technology, a Ciba subsidiary, will introduce the flexographic version of its metallic printing technology at drupa 2008. The process permits the printing millions of metallic colors reliably and consistently. Discussing MetalFX for flexo, MetalFX Managing Director Andrew Ainge commented, “The popularity of MetalFX among lithographic printers prompted us to release a MetalFX version specifically for flexographers. MetalFX for flexo is expected to be particularly popular among label and package printers, offering them a significantly lower cost alternative to foil stamping and metallic substrates, and enhanced design capabilities for packaging. On drupa Stand D17 in Hall 15, we will have actual

LEEDS, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom—MetalFX® Technology, a Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation subsidiary, has inaugurated a Web training program for graphic designers. The training, conducted by MetalFX technicians in both North America and Europe, is available at no charge to graphic designers who wish to learn how to use its metallic design software. Discussing the new training program, MetalFX Vice President Americas Mark Geeves said: “Graphic designers benefit greatly from this specialized Web training program, which includes development of actual files suitable for printing using the MetalFX process. These hands-on sessions enable designers and printer prepress personnel to take full advantage of this powerful new

GETTYSBURG, Pa.—Ciba Specialty Chemicals has signed an agreement with Spectra-Kote Corporation of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA for the global marketing of Spectra-Kote’s line of wax-alternative materials. WAM products allow corrugated box makers to produce wax-free boxes that are both functional and environmentally friendly. This technology provides a solution to the key sustainability initiatives embraced by key brand owners. WAM products are also used to provide waterproofing characteristics to solid boxboard. And unlike traditional waxed corrugated boxes, boxes produced with WAM paper can be recycled, thus helping manage additional cost out of a grower’s or a retailer’s operations. WAM technology is a combination of paper additives

BASEL, Switzerland—Ciba Specialty Chemicals has acquired ColorViz SAS, a French start-up company with which it has cooperated since 2005. With know-how in CAD software development and material application, ColorViz has developed technology solutions for 3-D visualization of colors in substrates such as plastic and paint. Its software facilitates communication between industrial designers and specifiers and their material suppliers, making the product development process more efficient. Through Color Services, Ciba offers solutions combining software systems and consulting to help customers enhance their productivity in communicating and producing colors. Sonia Megert Marshall, global head of Color Services at Ciba Specialty Chemicals, explains, “We confirmed the formidable

Ciba Specialty Chemicals has launched Color Trend Vision, a design and technology package developed to provide designers, converters, and paint, ink, and masterbatch producers with global and regional color trend forecasts and information, design tools, technology, consulting services, and products for coatings, inks, and plastics applications. “Color Trend Vision is where science meets art,” says Siegfried Winkelbeiner, global head of Ciba Specialty Chemicals’ business line coatings. “This new concept covers all aspects of color from initial concept to finished object. It links the different stages of the value chain and assists all involved in the color process in achieving their objectives.” The tool kit