Activities

A fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference. Umicore Bruges plays an important role in adding personality to your home through our specialized products for paints. We produce alkyd resins, an ideal binder for paint, alongside metal-organic compounds that act as driers for your paint. Based on cobalt, manganese or many other metals, these products allow your paint to dry evenly and quickly—ensuring effective and beautiful results.

Quality insulation panels are an essential part of any energy-efficient home. Good insulation can also make a difference to both people and the planet. High-quality panels are made from polyurethane foam, called PIR for short. The polyols and isocyanates that make up PIR need a special chemical to react together—a push that is provided by Umicore’s catalysts.

Everyone has flicked through a magazine while at the hairdresser, dentist or unwinding on the sofa at the end of the day. Whether it’s an opinion piece or festival review, it would not be possible without ink. Umicore alkyd resins provide just the right gloss, adhesion to paper, and integration of pigments into the ink. And just like paint, we also produce the compounds to ensure that inks dry properly.

Whether you are a fan of roaring Formula 1 or enjoy driving your car , durable and safe tires are non-negotiable. Car tires are made of rubber and reinforced with steel wire. They need to be well bonded. This is where our adhesion promoters come into play. They are based on metal cobalt and are purple in color, but most importantly they get you safely out on track every time.

White wind turbines are increasingly common across landscapes and horizons throughout Belgium and beyond. Through these powerful machines we can convert the forces of nature into renewable energy. Because turbines are exposed to all weather conditions, they need to be made of strong and durable materials. Our metal-organic compounds based on cobalt, potassium or copper, act as catalysts and help create stronger composite materials.