businessEURO

PEAN

www.european-business.com

Interview with Ralf Kattanek, Managing Director of CHT Switzerland AG

(formerly BEZEMA AG) and Vice President Textile of CHT Group

Specialty chemistry for a sustainable future

Chemical companies have special responsibility for protecting our envi-ronment, and ensuring safe production and handling. In this respect, CHT Switzerland AG is a prime example of conscientiousness. Special-izing in textile dyes, the Swiss company is part of the German CHT Group which is dedicated to specialty chemistry for a sustainable fu-ture. With its innovative BEZAKTIV GO range of reactive dyes, the company has set the new standard for intense-colour, resource-saving dyes for textile production and other sophisticated applications.

CHT Switzerland AG is a system

supplier for specialty chemicals,

and the CHT Group’s competence

center for textile dyes. The compa-

ny offers a complete choice of dyes

and special chemicals for textiles.

The comprehensive product range

is divided into basic, advanced,

high-performance and special ap-

plication products and includes re-

active dyes, acid dyes, metal com-

plex dyes, vat dyes, direct dyes,

disperse dyes, cationic dyes, dyes

and pigments for printing, as well

as dyeing, printing and flocking

products. Together with the textile

auxiliaries supplied by the parent

company CHT, BEZEMA Colour

Solutions are used to create a val-

ue of high-quality products ranging

from fashionable garments, home

textiles to stylish carpets and tech-

nical textiles. The broad product

portfolio is rounded off by labora-

tory and analytics, consulting and

training as well as logistics services

on a just-in-time basis.

The CHT Group headquarter is

located in Tübingen, Germany,

and was founded by Reinhold

Beitlich in 1953 as Chemische

Fabrik Tübingen. CHT Switzerland

AG was established in 1971 as

BEZEMA AG. Since the 1980s,

the Group has been owned by the

Reinhold Beitlich Foundation to

secure the company’s long-term

existence and independence. “The

Foundation supports youth welfare

services and medical research

projects, science and research

in the area of chemistry and re-

search projects on renewable raw

materials,” explains Ralf Kattanek,

Managing Director of CHT Swit-

zerland AG and Group Vice Presi-

dent Textile of CHT. “It is a sign of

our commitment to Europe as a

manufacturing location and to the

principles of sustainable develop-

ment. We want to keep as many

jobs in Europe as possible and are

looking for new application areas

instead of sacking people. And as

a chemical enterprise, we put great

emphasis on the environment and

its protection.”

CHT Group has just completed a

major rebranding initiative aimed

at uniting all activities under one

umbrella brand: CHT. As part of

the initiative, a new brand claim

was created – smart chemistry

with character – which reflects the

company’s passion for innovative

and sustainable chemicals. CHT

now positions itself with three sub-

brands: Textile Solutions, Industry

Solutions and Science & Service

Solutions. Textile Solutions com-

prises textile auxiliaries, textile

dyes and textile care products.

Textile dyes will be promoted as

BEZEMA Colour Solutions and sold

globally directly by CHT Switzer-

land AG in Switzerland. “BEZEMA

The laboratories also offer analytical services for customers in the textile industry

(formerly BEZEMA AG) and Vice President Textile of CHT Group

Specialty chemistry for a sustainable future

Chemical companies have special responsibility for protecting our envi-

businessEURO

PEAN

www.european-business.com

Colour Solutions points to two main

development directions,” says Mr.

Kattanek. “On the one hand, it

stands for our continued supply of

customized solutions in the field of

innovative, premium-quality, sus-

tainable dyes. On the other hand,

it means that we are advancing our

entry into other application and

market segments beyond textile

and garment production and dyes

for new application fields. The

second CHT sub-brand, Industry

Solutions, covers the Group’s non-

textile solutions such as consumer

care products, leather, paper and

construction chemicals as well as

silicone elastomers. Last but not

least, Science & Service Solutions

includes all CHT research and

development, laboratory and ana-

lytics, technical support as well as

customer services and the Brand

& Retail Management.

CHT is a medium-sized global

player with approximately 2,000

employees at operations all over

the world, including production

sites in Germany, Switzerland,

Turkey, the UK, Brazil, Colombia,

Mexico, Peru, Pakistan, India,

China and South Africa. The

company produces approximately

150,000 t of specialty chemical

products annually and has more

than 9,000 customers in over 120

countries across the globe. “We

have a clear vision,” states Mr. Kat-

tanek. “We aim to be the preferred

partner and leading reference for

sustainable chemical solutions in

our markets worldwide. We are

pursuing this vision by contribut-

ing to sustainable development

through smart chemistry as a

reliable partner to customers in

the textile, construction and other

industries.” As the sustainable ref-

erence in the textile dyes market,

CHT Switzerland AG has devel-

oped a completely new, standard-

setting line of reactive dyes which

is marketed under the BEZAKTIV

GO label. “BEZAKTIV GO supports

dyeing processes at temperatures

of a mere 40°C instead of 60°C,

and thus saves a lot of energy,”

explains Mr. Kattanek. “It also

reduces water and salt consump-

tion. Nevertheless, BEZAKTIV GO

delivers first-rate colour intensity,

ensures a high level of process

safety and enables short process-

ing times which are unrivaled.”

CHT Switzerland AG has 200

employees and turns over 100

million CHF. The company ships

approximately 90% of its dyes and

specialty chemicals abroad. “Our

main export markets are Europe,

Turkey, Bangladesh, Pakistan and

Latin America,” says Mr. Kattanek.

“We are presently looking for op-

portunities in China and India, in

close cooperation with our cus-

tomers.” To acquire new custom-

ers, CHT Group exhibits at ITMA

and all other important textile

fairs. ITMA is the world’s leading

meeting place for the textile and

garment industries, which is or-

ganized every four years. While de-

veloping new application fields, the

company also sees great potential

in the area of technical textiles.

›››

CHT Switzerland AG develops and produces high-quality textile dyes and specialty chemicals

CHT Switzerland AG is set up with its own laboratories for research and development

CHT Switzerland AGKriessernstrasse 209462 MontlingenSwitzerland

� +41 71 7638811� +41 71 7638888

� info.switzerland@cht.com� www.cht.com

CHT Switzerland AG textile dyes deliver intense col-ours while saving precious resources

businessEURO

PEAN

www.european-business.com

Interview with Ralf Kattanek, Managing Director of CHT Switzerland AG (formerly BEZEMA AG)

and Vice President Textile of CHT Group

“Technical textiles are textiles

that are used, for instance, in the

automotive industry,” explains

Mr. Kattanek. “They are used as

insulating material or for interior

decoration. We can supply all re-

quired dyes and additives for such

applications.”

As a foundation, CHT has a long-

term orientation with a strong

focus on sustainable development

and constant technological innova-

tion. “Sustainability and innovation

are our main strengths,” states Mr.

Kattanek. “In addition, we have

a very solid financial background

and excellent processing exper-

tise. And we are very close to our

customers and a highly reliable

partner.” As part of CHT Group,

CHT Switzerland AG has internal-

ized the Group’s vision, strategy

and customer philosophy. “We are

one company, a globally operat-

ing group which continues to grow

through further improvement of

textile refinement and by develop-

ing related market segments,”

concludes Mr. Kattanek. ❙

CHT Switzerland AG’s customers come mainly from the global textile and garment industry

CHT Switzerland AG and its parent company are strongly committed to Europe as a manufacturing location

In briefCore CompetenceProduction of textile dyes and textile auxiliaries

Facts & Figures • Founded: 1971• Structure: 100% subsidiary of the CHT Group, Tübingen,

Germany• Employees: 200 (Group: 2,000)• Turnover: 100 million CHF• Export: 90% (Europe, Asia, South America)

Products & Services Textile auxiliaries, textile dyes, textile care products

Target Groups Textile and garment production, brands and retailers

Fairs & ExhibitionsITMA, FESPA, Interdye, Techtextil

Philosophy / VisionCHT Group, the preferred partner and leading reference for sustainable chemical solutions in our markets, worldwide!

CHT Switzerland AG organizes conferences on new technological developments in the dyes sector on a regular basis

›››