Brilliant Group, Inc.

What Brilliant Group, Inc. does

Brilliant Group, Inc. is an independently-owned, privately-held specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 2007 by Darren Bianchi in Richmond, California. The company designs, produces, and sells fluorescent pigments and related specialty colorants (including phosphorescent/glow-in-the-dark, UV/IR-activated invisible pigments, and optical brighteners) that absorb invisible ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible light, producing apparent reflectance values greater than 100%. Its portfolio is organized across multiple proprietary series — BNF (formaldehyde-free melt-in pigments for plastics, heat stable to ~250°C), BMS (thermoset microsphere pigments that resist plate-out), BSR (general-purpose solvent-resistant), BGP (general purpose), BPP/BPM (phosphorescent), BIP (invisible UV/IR reactive), and BOB (optical brighteners) — together with application-specific ink bases (UVB, LMB, BIB2) and dispersions (BVC, BWD) tailored for coatings, printing inks, and plastics processing.

The company serves B2B industrial customers in four primary segments: coatings manufacturers (water- and solvent-based systems, powder coatings, aerosols, leather and pencil lacquers, nail polish), printing ink manufacturers (flexo, gravure, offset/litho, UV, digital), plastics processors (polyolefins, PVC, polyacetals, epoxy, EVA, TPU), and specialty consumer products (chalk, crayons, ear plugs, paintballs, lumber markers). Brilliant Group operates a chemist-led, lean organization of 11–50 employees with global reach through direct sales (Americas, EMEA/APAC, LATAM) and a distribution network covering the US (Brandt Technologies, Terra Firma), Canada (Northspec), and a Netherlands-based inventory operation supporting European customers. Revenue is generated via direct pigment sales on a quote-based pricing model; the company holds no disclosed institutional funding, parent entity, or acquisition history, and is led by personnel with industry tenure dating back to the early 1980s (Ray Peria, Darren Bianchi, Mike Oberski).

Name

Brilliant Group, Inc.

Legal name

Brilliant Group, Inc.

Website

https://fluorescentcolor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brilliant Group, Inc. is an independently-owned, chemist-run manufacturer of fluorescent, phosphorescent, invisible, and optical brightener pigments serving B2B customers in the coatings, printing inks, and plastics industries globally via direct sales and regional distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemical Manufacturing

NAICS

Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro primary industry

Color Masterbatches & Dispersions (IMAEAHAK)

Keywords

• Fluorescent pigments
• Phosphorescent pigments
• Specialty colorants
• Ink dispersions
• Optical brighteners

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Fluorescent Pigment Sales: Direct sale of fluorescent pigments in various forms including dry powders, liquid dispersions, emulsions, and pre-dispersed systems. Revenue generated through product sales to manufacturers across coatings, printing inks, and plastics industries.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Brilliant Group, Inc. is an independently-owned manufacturer that produces and sells fluorescent, phosphorescent, invisible, and optical brightener pigments for industrial manufacturers. Products are sold in multiple physical forms including dry powders, water-based and solvent dispersions, emulsions, soluble toners, and pre-dispersed masterbatches, organized into proprietary series (BSR, BMS, BNF, BGP, BFE, BSTS, BSTW, UVB, LMB, BIB2, BVC, BWD, BPP, BPM, BIP, BOB) and applied across coatings, printing inks, plastics, and specialty consumer-product applications.

Product overview

Brilliant Group, Inc. is an independently-owned manufacturer specializing in fluorescent and phosphorescent pigments and colorants. The company offers a broad portfolio of products organized into core pigment series (BSR, BMS, BNF, BGP for general applications; BFE, BSTS, BSTW, UVB, LMB, BIB2 for ink systems; BVC, BWD for dispersions) and specialty products (BPP and BPM for phosphorescent/glow-in-the-dark applications, BIP for invisible UV-reactive pigments, BOB for optical brighteners). Products are applied across four main application categories: Coatings (water-based, solvent-based, powder coatings), Plastics (polyolefins, PVC, specialty resins), Inks (water-based, solvent-based, UV, offset), and Other Specialty Applications (chalk, fish gravel, textiles, crayons, ear plugs). The company is founded and run by chemists with deep expertise in fluorescent colorant chemistry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BSR Series - Fluorescent Pigments Premium fluorescent pigment series offering outstanding color strength, vibrancy, and solvent resistance for water-based and solvent-based systems, plastisols, and specialty coatings. Targeted at industrial coatings, ink, and plastics manufacturers.
• BMS Series - Thermoset Microsphere Fluorescent Pigments Thermoset microsphere fluorescent pigment series that remains discrete within polymer matrices, providing high apparent color strength in masstone applications, reduced plate-out risk, and resistance to swelling and thixotropy. Designed for plastics processors.
• BNF Series - Melt-In Fluorescent Pigments Formaldehyde-free melt-in fluorescent pigment series that softens and integrates into resin during plastics processing, providing uniform transparent color effects, excellent brightness, and heat stability up to approximately 250°C. Manufactured without intentionally added formaldehyde.
• BGP - General Purpose Fluorescent Pigment General purpose fluorescent pigment offering outstanding color strength and vibrancy at a cost-effective price point, suitable for water-based systems with appropriate surfactant selection.
• BFE-7700 - Fluorescent Emulsion Low-viscosity liquid colorant and formaldehyde-free fluorescent emulsion with ultra-fine particle size that can pass through common marker nibs, designed for water-based ink formulations including highlighter inks.
• BSTS - Solvent-Soluble Fluorescent Toner Solvent-soluble transparent fluorescent toner soluble in ethyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, and polar solvents, available in three shades that blend to achieve the full fluorescent color spectrum. For solvent-based printing ink systems.
• BSTW - Water-Soluble Fluorescent Toner High-strength water-soluble fluorescent toner for use with extremely fine-line anilox rolls, featuring transparent film-forming properties and formaldehyde-free formulation. For water-based flexo inks.
• UVB - UV Ink Base 100% curable fluorescent ink base for UV systems with long-term stability in UV monomers and oligomers, providing unmatched color strength and formulation flexibility for reactive UV-curable lithographic and flexographic systems.
• LMB - Low Migration Ink Base Groundbreaking fluorescent ink base technology for low-migration applications; at 100% loading before letdown it is considered low migration and compliant with the Swiss Ordinance and EU Regulation 10/2011. For food packaging and sensitive applications.
• BIB2 - Improved Brightness Ink Base Fluorescent ink base that achieves in a single pass the print density of traditional fluorescent ink printed twice, enabling lower fluorescent use levels and outstanding color strength and vibrancy in offset lithographic printing.
• BVC - Vinyl Colorant High-strength liquid colorant especially designed for PVC with outstanding lightfastness. Available in phthalate or phthalate-free formulas and works at use levels 10 to 20 times lower than traditional vinyl colorants.
• BWD - Water Dispersion 45-50% water-based pigment dispersion prepared with BGP, BSR, BNF-5800, or BNF. Liquid dispersion option for customers preferring not to handle powder pigments.
• BPP - Brilliant Phosphorescent Pigments Long-lasting glow phosphorescent pigments offering immediate and extended afterglow up to 12+ hours for select shades, with excellent heat and chemical resistance for harsh processing conditions. Compatible with solvent-based and some water-based systems, no milling required.
• BPM - Brilliant Phosphorescent Masterbatch Pre-dispersed phosphorescent pellets for plastics processing that eliminate blackening and uneven glow issues, delivering bright photoluminescence with glow durations over 12 hours. Available in PE, PP, EVA, ABS, PC, PMMA, TPU, and PVC carriers.
• BIP - Brilliant Invisible Pigments UV-reactive invisible pigments that remain virtually undetectable until exposed to UV or IR light. Features sub-10 micron particle size, no afterglow, and compatibility with aqueous and non-aqueous systems. For security, anti-counterfeit, and tracer applications.
• BOB - Brilliant Optical Brighteners Optical brighteners that absorb UV and re-emit blue light for brighter, cleaner white appearance; clear in ambient light but glows under UV, ideal for tracers and covert applications. Wide compatibility with coatings, inks, plastics, paper, and detergents, with strong resistance to heat, light, bleaching agents, acids, and alkalis.

Quantifiable outcome

• Can achieve single-pass print density equivalent to traditional fluorescent printed twice (BIB2 offset ink base)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Brandt TechnologiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS distribution partner for Brilliant Group fluorescent pigments. Part of the US and Canadian distribution network managed by Technical Sales Manager Mike Oberski.
• Terra FirmacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS distribution partner for Brilliant Group fluorescent pigments. Part of the US and Canadian distribution network managed by Technical Sales Manager Mike Oberski.
• NorthspeccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian distribution partner for Brilliant Group fluorescent pigments. Part of the US and Canadian distribution network managed by Technical Sales Manager Mike Oberski.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sinloihi Co., Ltd. Japan-based fluorescent pigment manufacturer serving printing inks, coatings, and plastics. Direct competitor in the same daylight fluorescent pigment category with strong Asia Pacific presence.
• Kolorjet Chemicals Pvt Ltd: India-based manufacturer of fluorescent dyes and pigments for inks, plastics, and coatings. Direct competitor serving similar B2B formulation customers with overlapping product portfolios.
• Radiant Color: Historical fluorescent pigment manufacturer where Brilliant Group's founder Darren Bianchi served as President. Operates in the same fluorescent pigment category for coatings, inks, and plastics applications.
• Dane Group UK (SWADA, Sterling, Novaglo, Glowbug): UK-based group of fluorescent pigment brands where Bianchi worked between Radiant Color and founding Brilliant Group. Direct competitor across similar specialty pigment product lines.
• DayGlo Color Corp (RPM International): DayGlo is the leading global manufacturer of fluorescent pigments, with a heritage dating to the 1940s and now a subsidiary of RPM International. Directly comparable to Brilliant Group in core fluorescent pigment offerings across coatings, inks, and plastics.

Regional players

• Vicome Corp: China-based specialty pigment manufacturer serving printing inks and plastics markets. Comparable product range to Brilliant Group's fluorescent and specialty pigments, primarily operating in Asia rather than directly competing in the Americas/Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell International (Lumilux / Spectre pigment lines): Diversified industrial conglomerate with phosphorescent and specialty pigments (Lumilux) used in safety and security applications. Comparable to Brilliant's BPP/BPM phosphorescent portfolio.
• Clariant (Heubach Group): Specialty chemicals company with a pigments portfolio serving coatings, plastics, and inks. Overlaps with Brilliant Group in specialty colorants and effect pigments for industrial applications.
• BASF Colors & Effects (now DIC): Major global specialty chemicals and pigments producer. While not focused exclusively on fluorescent pigments, BASF competes in overlapping effect pigments, dyes, and coating/ink raw material markets.
• Sun Chemical (DIC Corporation): One of the world's largest pigment and ink suppliers, with broad product lines including specialty pigments. Serves overlapping customers in printing inks, coatings, and plastics, but as a much broader portfolio player.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brilliant-group-inc.

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brilliant Group, Inc.