Clariant announced the grand opening of ColorWorks North America, the newest in a global network of co-creation centers built to bring color into the early stages of plastic product and packaging design. The opening culminates nearly three years of planning and renovation and represents a major investment by Clariant in support of customers in the U.S. and Canada.

The new center is located in West Chicago, Illinois, USA, conveniently close to the City of Chicago and two major airports. ColorWorks North America occupies the second floor of a building that also houses a Clariant Masterbatches color compounding operation that is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the world. The plant produces masterbatches - color and/or additive concentrates used in making plastic products - in both pelletized and liquid form. This unbiased approach means ColorWorks can develop solutions in any form - pellet, liquid or even pre-colored compounds - that the customer prefers.

ColorWorks is the highly specialized color creation service of Clariant Masterbatches, tailored especially to the creative development needs of brand companies. The center in West Chicago is one of several such sites around the world that are aimed at helping companies accelerate new products to market and use color more effectively to cultivate brand recognition and value. The facility has a significant competence in packaging, but is able to serve any market, from automotive to appliance, household and consumer goods, electrical/electronic, furniture, medical, etc.

"We're exploring new approaches to helping designers, brand owners and OEMs bring new products to market faster, more efficiently and with a greater likelihood of success," explains Peter Prusak, Head of Marketing - Clariant Masterbatches North America. "Clariant pioneered the ColorWorks concept and now, in this new facility, we can take it to the next level. To my knowledge there is no other resource like it in North America."