What FP Pigments does

FP-Pigments Oy is a Finnish specialty chemical company founded in 1996 that manufactures and globally sells proprietary FP-Opacity Pigments™, engineered composite pigment particles that encapsulate titanium dioxide (TiO2) within a precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) shell. The technology statistically spaces TiO2 particles at the optically optimal ~280nm distance inside each ~1 micron composite particle, addressing the inefficiency of random TiO2 distribution where only ~30% of particles sit at optimum spacing. The product enables 5-30% partial replacement of TiO2 in customer formulations while maintaining or improving opacity and performance, with newer technology incorporating up to 70% additional air voids that increase scatter efficiency by over 60% per unit TiO2 employed.

The company serves four primary industrial segments: Coatings (architectural, industrial, powder coatings), Plastics (PVC rigid/flexible, polyolefin masterbatch, additive masterbatches), Inks (water-based and solvent-based packaging inks), and Paper & Board (thinprint, label, inkjet, thermal, recycled paper, wetlaid nonwoven, coated testliner). Customers are industrial formulators who achieve ~$100k per annum savings for every 100 tonnes of TiO2 replaced, with carbon footprint reductions of up to 73% versus TiO2 per ISO 14060/44 LCA assessments.

FP-Pigments operates three wholly-owned manufacturing facilities in Finland (Espoo HQ, Raisio R&D centre, Valkeakoski specialty PCC plant), Germany (Leuna), and the United States (Rome, Georgia), with a fourth manufacturing joint venture (FP Power Pigments) in Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) announced in January 2026 with Power International DMCC, targeting the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and East Africa. Revenue is generated through direct sales managed by regional sales managers (Americas, EMEA, Asia Pacific) complemented by an extensive global distributor network covering ~70 countries and major specialty chemical distributors including IMCD, Azelis, Ravago, Bodo Möller Chemie, and Saner Chemical. The company is family-owned (Maijala family, with Mikko Maijala as Chairman and Roope Maijala as Managing Director), operates without external institutional investors, and shares R&D infrastructure with sister companies Chemec, CH-Polymers, and CH-Bioforce at its Raisio Research Centre.

Name

FP Pigments

Legal name

FP-Pigments Oy

Website

https://fp-pigments.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

FP-Pigments Oy is a Finnish global manufacturer (founded 1996) of patented FP-Opacity Pigments™ that partially replace TiO2 in coatings, plastics, inks, and paper/board applications, serving industrial formulators via direct sales and a worldwide distributor network spanning 70+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Industrial Pigments

NAICS

Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Pigments & Dyes (IMAEAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mineral & Inorganic Colorants (Titanium Dioxide Alternatives, Iron Oxides, Calcium Carbonate) (AFAJAEAD), Functional Additive Compounds (UV/Antioxidant/Slip/Antiblock/Processing Aids) (IMANABAJ), Powder Coatings (IMAEAHAE)

Keywords

• Opacity pigments
• TiO2 replacement pigments
• Composite pigment particles
• Industrial mineral pigments
• Precipitated calcium carbonate pigments

Headquarters

HQ city

Espoo

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pigment Product Sales: FP-Pigments generates revenue through the sale of proprietary FP-Opacity Pigments™ products that partially replace TiO2 in coatings, plastics, inks, and paper & board applications. Products are sold directly and through global distribution partners as dry powders and slurries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FP-Pigments manufactures and sells proprietary FP-Opacity Pigments™, engineered composite pigment particles that encapsulate titanium dioxide (TiO2) within a precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) shell. These composite pigments are used as partial replacements (typically 5–30%) for TiO2 in industrial formulations across coatings, plastics, printing inks, and paper & board, enabling customers to cut raw material costs, stabilize formulation economics against TiO2 price volatility, and reduce product carbon footprint while maintaining opacity and performance.

Product overview

FP-Pigments is a global manufacturer of Opacity Pigments™ established in 1996. The company's core offering is a patented technology platform producing engineered composite pigment particles that encapsulate TiO2 within precipitated calcium carbonate shells. This technology enables partial replacement (5-30%) of TiO2 in various applications while maintaining or improving opacity and performance. The product portfolio spans four main application categories: (1) Coatings products (FP-440, FP-460, FP-470, FP-480, FP-490) for architectural, industrial, and powder coatings; (2) Plastics products (FP-510, FP-530, FP-545, FP-550, FP-590, FP-440) for PVC, polyolefin masterbatch, and additive masterbatches; (3) Ink products (FP-460, FP-470) for water-based and solvent-based printing inks; and (4) Paper & Board products (FP-170, FP-260, FP-290, FP-300, FP-365, FP-165XA, FP-860XB, FP-365X) for various paper grades. Products are available in multiple formulations including dry powder, slurries, and ready-to-use formulations, with various surface treatments (TMP, stearic acid, organic) to optimize performance for specific applications. The company operates production facilities in Finland, Germany, and USA, with a new joint venture facility planned for Abu Dhabi.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Opacity Pigment: Proprietary composite pigment technology that encapsulates TiO2 particles inside precipitated calcium carbonate for improved light scattering and cost efficiency.

Products and services

• FP-Opacity Pigments™ (Coatings Series: FP-440, FP-460, FP-470, FP-480, FP-490) Engineered composite pigment particles combining TiO2 with precipitated calcium carbonate in a patented shell structure, sold to coatings producers (architectural, industrial, powder coatings) as partial TiO2 replacements (5–30%) to reduce costs while preserving opacity, whiteness and film properties.
• FP-Opacity Pigments™ (Plastics Series: FP-510, FP-530, FP-545, FP-550, FP-590) Composite pigments for plastics processors and masterbatch producers covering rigid and flexible PVC, polyolefin masterbatch, and additive masterbatch applications. Surface treatments include TMP, stearic acid or no treatment depending on grade, delivering 10–30% TiO2 replacement while maintaining or improving optical properties.
• FP-Opacity Pigments™ (Inks Series: FP-460, FP-470) Composite pigments for printing ink manufacturers, including water-based matt inks (FP-460) and solvent-based matt inks (FP-470). Provide approximately 10% TiO2 replacement with reduced abrasivity to limit printer plate and doctor blade wear in packaging and lamination inks.
• FP-Opacity Pigments™ (Paper & Board Series: FP-170, FP-260, FP-290, FP-300, FP-365, FP-165XA, FP-860XB, FP-365X) Specialty pigments for paper and board manufacturers, including TiO2-based grades and TiO2-free alternatives. Available in dry powder, high-solids anionic slurry, cationic powders for inkjet and flexographic printing, and ready-to-use formulations. Used in thinprint paper, labels, inkjet paper, thermal paper, recycled paper and board, coated testliner and wetlaid nonwoven.
• Opacity Pigment™ Additive Masterbatch A 60% Opacity Pigment™ additive masterbatch sold to end converters and masterbatch producers, allowing 5–30% replacement of TiO2 masterbatch while maintaining optical performance, lowering cost and reducing carbon footprint.
• Flame-Retardant Solutions for Coated Non-Wovens Halogen-free coating pigment with built-in flame-retardant functionality based on ATH or MGH, delivered as ready-to-use slurry with opacity, brightness and coverage. Targeted at wetlaid nonwoven producers needing flame retardancy plus opacity in a single coating, jointly delivered with sister company CH-Polymers for integrated binder solutions.
• Coil Coatings Solutions Application-specific FP-Opacity Pigments™ solution for industrial coil coatings producers, providing cost savings while preserving film integrity, physical properties, application behaviour and natural weathering durability.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-30% TiO2 replacement without performance loss
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Power International DMCCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 January 2026FP-Pigments Oy and Power International DMCC established FP Power Pigments joint venture to build state-of-the-art FP-Opacity Pigment manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi (KEZAD). Facility will produce high-performance pigment grades for Coatings, Plastics, and Paper & Board serving Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and East Africa. Commercial launch: Early 2026, Full-scale production: Early 2027.
• ChemeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company with shared Research Centre in Raisio, Finland. Co-operation enhances customer solutions through combined expertise in coatings and pigments.
• CH-PolymerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company sharing Research Centre in Raisio. Collaboration for specialty coating binders and integrated flame-retardant coating solutions. Partners for wetlaid nonwoven flame-retardant solutions.
• CH-BioforcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company sharing Research Centre facilities in Raisio, Finland. Works in cooperation to enhance customer solutions.
• VilkritisminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerVilkritis manufactures and markets an Opacity Pigment Additive masterbatch. FP-Pigments works in cooperation with Vilkritis allowing them to offer 60% Opacity Pigment additive masterbatches to customers. Based in Vilnius, Lithuania.
• Chromaflo TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to develop reformulation protocol for TiO2 reduction in Point of Sale tint bases without need to adjust colour library or tinting software.
• KRAHN ChemieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of reformulation protocol for Point of Sale tint bases, allowing TiO2 reduction without colour-matching software adjustments.
• ChemQuest Powder Coating ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration (10+ years) establishing pedigree of FP-Opacity Pigments in powder coating systems. Company (formerly PCRG - Powder Coatings Research Group) provides independent testing and formulation guidance.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Omya: World's leading producer of calcium carbonates (PCC and GCC) used as functional fillers and TiO2 extenders in paper, paints, plastics, and inks. Competes with FP in PCC-based opacity and TiO2-efficiency solutions across the same end-markets.
• Imerys: Global specialty minerals company producing ground and precipitated calcium carbonates, along with other performance mineral additives, for paints, plastics, paper, and inks. Direct overlap with FP in mineral-based opacity and TiO2 extension.
• Minerals Technologies Inc. Through its Specialty Minerals and Performance Materials segments, MTI is a major global PCC producer with offerings directly comparable to FP's PCC-based composite pigments, including precipitated calcium carbonates used as TiO2 extenders in paper and coatings.
• J.M. Huber Corporation / Huber Engineered Materials: Specialty minerals producer including precipitated calcium carbonates and functional additives for paints, plastics, paper, and adhesives. Direct overlap with FP in PCC-based opacity and TiO2 efficiency solutions.

Broad incumbents

• Chemours Company: Largest Western titanium dioxide producer (Ti-Pure brand), serving the same coatings, plastics, and paper customers as FP. Competes with FP from the incumbent TiO2 supply side with vastly greater scale and global reach.
• Tronox Holdings: Vertically integrated global TiO2 producer serving architectural/industrial coatings, plastics, and paper. Incumbent competitor whose pricing and market position are directly affected by FP's substitution technology.
• Venator Materials: Specialty TiO2 producer (formerly part of Huntsman) supplying coatings, plastics, and paper applications. Competes head-to-head as an incumbent TiO2 supplier against FP's substitution value proposition.
• Kronos Worldwide: Major global TiO2 pigment producer with strong coatings and plastics customer base in Europe and North America. An incumbent TiO2 supplier whose market share FP's technology directly targets.
• Solvay S.A. Diversified specialty chemicals group with precipitated calcium carbonates and performance additives used in similar industrial applications. Overlaps with FP in supplying functional pigments/additives for paper, coatings, and consumer goods.
• LANXESS AG: Specialty chemicals company with inorganic pigments (iron oxide, chrome) and functional additives serving coatings, plastics, and construction end-markets. A broad incumbent whose specialty pigments portfolio competes for similar customers and applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fp-pigments

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 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 FP Pigments