We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of Karl Finke Wuppertal in 2024

As one of the pioneers in the development of pigment mixtures for plastics, the company witnessed the birth of plastics development and has established itself as a reliable partner for the plastics processing industry.

The beginnings of the company in Wuppertal

Founded in 1949 as a two-man business, Karl Finke Senior and his son initially sold dyes to the region’s “Schönfärber” (a former profession in Germany in which fabrics and clothing were re-dyed).

Due to his coloristic experience, Karl Finke Junior made contact with a new material at the time – polystyrene – in the 1950s. Finke familiarized himself extensively with the technology of plastics processing and coloring with dyes and pigments. In 1958, he developed WUBALEN dry pigments as the company’s first successful product.

Another milestone in our company history was the development of FIBAPLAST Masterbatches as a low-dust alternative to the WUBALEN pigment mixtures. This innovation has significantly shaped the business and is the company’s main product today.

Tailor-made solutions: Color and function as desired

Color has always been a central component of Finke’s company history. The experienced colorists have a wide range of colorants and effect pigments at their disposal. The exact color shade is mixed in consultation with the customer and an individual formulation for the masterbatch, pigment mixture or liquid color is created. In addition to the color settings, the laboratory also provides support in choosing the right additives. Finke’s additive solutions are available both as a pure additive masterbatch and as a combination masterbatch consisting of the desired color and the required additive.

We also advise our customers on process optimization and increasing efficiency. By developing tailor-made masterbatches, we support our customers in optimizing their production processes and reducing costs without compromising on quality.

A sustainable view into the future

As part of our sustainability strategy, we use recycled polymers on request. We are also constantly researching more sustainable alternatives to conventional pigments. In 2024, we plan to introduce a product-related carbon footprint for each of our products so that our customers can be provided with reliable data and advised on potential savings.

Looking to the future, we are determined to continue offering innovative solutions and making a positive contribution to the sustainable development of the plastics industry.