LANXESS marks 100 years of iron oxide pigment production at Krefeld-Uerdingen
Last update on Jun 3, 2026
LANXESS is marking 100 years of iron oxide pigment production at its Krefeld-Uerdingen site in Germany.
According to the company, more than 15 million tons of iron oxide pigments have been produced at the site since 1926, and the company reports an annual production capacity of around 300,000 tons.
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From aniline byproduct to global pigment production
The pigments are used primarily to color paving stones, roof tiles, coatings, and plastics, with additional applications in artificial turf, automotive components such as airbags and brake pads, and catalysts for chemical processes. LANXESS also states it is evaluating iron oxide as a precursor material for electric-vehicle batteries. The range now covers more than 100 shades. Formulators can compare available grades by application and shade in the Master Catalog of Additives.
LANXESS attributes the production process to the Laux process, developed by chemist Julius Laux in 1926, in which a byproduct of aniline production is converted into iron oxide pigment. The company reports that its pigments carry a low carbon footprint and characterizes the Laux process as an early example of circular-economy production, citing ongoing work to reduce emissions across production, energy use, and logistics.
“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.”
You can review the full Bayferrox and Colortherm grade range and compare options directly in the Master Catalog of Additives.