Colour Tone Masterbatch
Colour Tone Masterbatch is a privately held UK manufacturer, founded 1996, of custom colour and additive masterbatches for commodity and engineering polymers, including the patented Vynacol PVC system, NIR-detectable blacks, and heat-reflective masterbatches, serving plastics processors worldwide via direct sales and distributors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersBedwas, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Colour Tone Masterbatch does
Colour Tone Masterbatch Limited is a privately held UK manufacturer of custom colour and additive masterbatches for commodity and engineering polymers, founded in July 1996 and headquartered at Unit D, Pant Glas Farm Industrial Estate, Bedwas, Caerphilly, Wales. The company supplies trade moulders, injection and blow moulders, profile/sheet/film/fibre extruders, and calendering operations across the UK, Europe, the Nordic region, North America, Australasia, and the Middle East, with an 11-50 employee headcount. Its core technology portfolio includes the patented Vynacol polymer-specific masterbatch for rigid PVC, a suite of NIR-detectable black colourants developed with Nextek and WRAP that enable sorting of black plastic packaging waste by recycling systems, and a heat-reflective infrared pigment masterbatch that reduces surface temperatures of coloured plastics by up to 40%.
The product line spans universal, engineering-polymer-specific, special effect, multifunctional, flame retardant, additive, and carrier masterbatches, with the latter available in prill form (1.2-1.5mm spherical beads) and micro-pellet. Colour Tone operates a same-day colour matching service with 24-hour delivery of initial quantities, and sells primarily through direct sales from Caerphilly supplemented by exclusive distributor partners Wilh. Willumsen (Nordic and Baltic States), Chemiz (Poland), and SIMCHEM (Israel), while distributing Dugdale Plc's Ducapurge universal purging compound out of the same facility.
Revenue is generated principally through bespoke masterbatch sales priced at £7-£25 per kilogram for standard products and £9-£16 per kilogram for NIR-detectable blacks, with additional licensing income from Vynacol technology and related carrier masterbatch sales. The company has been recognised as Innovative Company of the Year by the Business Awards for Wales and was a finalist in the 2014 SDC Innovation Awards and Plastics Industry Awards for its NIR-detectable black colourant work.
Colour Tone Masterbatch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Colour Tone Masterbatch
- Legal name
- Colour Tone Masterbatch Limited
- Website
- https://colourtone-masterbatch.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Colour Tone Masterbatch is a privately held UK manufacturer, founded 1996, of custom colour and additive masterbatches for commodity and engineering polymers, including the patented Vynacol PVC system, NIR-detectable blacks, and heat-reflective masterbatches, serving plastics processors worldwide via direct sales and distributors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Colour Tone Masterbatch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Plastic Masterbatch Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Masterbatch Manufacturing (Color, Additive, White/Black) (IMANABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Color Masterbatches & Dispersions (IMAEAHAK), Polymer Compounds & Masterbatches (Compounding, Color/Fill/Additive Concentrates) (IMAEANAJ)
Keywords
Where Colour Tone Masterbatch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bedwas
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Colour Tone Masterbatch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom colour masterbatches: Manufacture and sale of bespoke colour and additive masterbatches in commodity polymers (PE, PP, PS, ABS, PVC), engineering polymers (PC, PA, PET, POM/acetal, PMMA, PBT), and specialty polymers. Customers receive custom-matched formulations delivered within 24 hours for initial quantities.
- Ducapurge purging compound distribution: Distribution of Ducapurge universal purging compound (from Dugdale Plc) as exclusive/non-exclusive distributor. Cuts colour change and clean-down costs by at least 50% for non-PVC processors.
- Vynacol technology licensing: Technical licence agreements available for Vynacol polymer-specific PVC masterbatch technology, including prill-form carrier masterbatch that allows other masterbatch manufacturers to produce Vynacol products without entering licensing deals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom colour masterbatch - bespoke formulations for specific polymers and applications |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Colour Tone Masterbatch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Colour Tone Masterbatch manufactures custom colour and additive masterbatches in commodity polymers (PE, PP, PS, ABS, PVC) and engineering polymers (PC, PA, PET, POM/acetal, PMMA, PBT). Core offerings include the patented Vynacol polymer-specific PVCu masterbatch, NIR-detectable black colourants for plastic recycling sorting, and heat reflective, multifunctional, flame retardant, special effect, and additive masterbatches supplied as granules, prill, or micro-pellet with same-day colour matching and 24-hour initial-quantity delivery.
Product overview
Colour Tone Masterbatch is a manufacturer of colour and additive masterbatches for commodity and engineering polymers. The product portfolio includes Universal Masterbatch for broad polymer compatibility, Engineering Polymer Specific Masterbatch for precise applications, and the patented Vynacol PVC Masterbatch as a flagship product that revolutionized colouring rigid PVC. Specialty offerings include Heat Reflective Masterbatch with infrared pigment technology, Multifunctional Masterbatch combining colour with process additives, Flame Retardant Masterbatch, Special Effect Masterbatch for visual effects, Additive Masterbatch for functional enhancements, and Carrier Masterbatch for other manufacturers. The company also distributes Ducapurge purging compound. All products can be supplied in various forms including granules, prill (spherical beads 1.2-1.5mm), and micro-pellet.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vynacol: Patented polymer-specific colour masterbatch technology for PVCu that eliminates compatibility problems associated with conventional masterbatches. The technology makes it as easy to colour PVC as any other plastic material. Also available in prill form for other masterbatch manufacturers.
Products and services
- Universal Masterbatch Highly concentrated colour masterbatch with a carrier formulated for compatibility across a range of polymers, enabling a single product to be used in multiple polymer types for plastics processors and moulders.
- Engineering Polymers / Polymer Specific Masterbatch Masterbatch in which the carrier matches the base polymer type, enabling pre-drying with the host polymer and high loading without compatibility issues for engineering plastics applications.
- Vynacol PVC Masterbatch World's first polymer-specific colour masterbatch for rigid PVC (PVCu), eliminating compatibility and homogenisation problems historically associated with colouring PVC, available in granule or prill form for PVCu processors.
- Special Effect Masterbatch Masterbatches containing special pigments or fillers to achieve visual effects such as marble, metallic, phosphorescence, glitter, fluorescence, wood, granite, or colour-changing effects under temperature or UV light, for plastics processors seeking differentiated aesthetics.
- Multifunctional Masterbatch Composite masterbatches combining colour with functional additives such as UV stabilizers, anti-oxidants, anti-statics, and process-enhancing additives that optimise manufacturing processes for plastics converters.
- Heat Reflective Masterbatch Masterbatch incorporating infrared reflective pigments that solve thermal stability problems and offer heat reflection performance up to 40% better than conventionally coloured materials, for outdoor PVCu products and other high-temperature applications.
- Flame Retardant Masterbatch Proprietary flame retardant masterbatches including halogenated additive compounds and a halogen-free UL94 V0 PP compound, for plastics converters requiring fire-safety certified end-products.
- Carrier Masterbatch Fully compounded Vynacol PVCu carrier masterbatch in prill form that allows other masterbatch manufacturers to produce Vynacol PVCu masterbatches on conventional masterbatch plant.
- Additive Masterbatch Additive masterbatches delivering specific product or processing enhancements including UV protection, flame retardant, antistatic, slip, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and process aids, for plastics converters requiring functional performance.
- Ducapurge Universal Purging Compound Universal purging compound distributed by Colour Tone from Dugdale Plc, designed for immediate use without soaking, capable of cutting colour-change and clean-down costs by at least 50% for non-PVC processors.
Quantifiable outcome
- Colour changes in 15 minutes; clean down costs cut by at least 50% using Ducapurge
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Colour Tone Masterbatch
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Colour Tone Masterbatch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Colour Tone Masterbatch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wilh. WillumsencoreExclusive partnering arrangement targeting increased sales in the Nordic region (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Baltic States). Wilh. Willumsen, founded in 1878 and based in Helsingborg, Sweden, is an independent thermoplastics materials expert and distributor. Initially pursuing sales of Vynacol polymer-specific PVC masterbatch, with potential to expand to other polymer-specific masterbatches, multifunctional and custom performance products.
- Dugdale PlccoreColour Tone acts as distributor for Dugdale's Ducapurge universal purging compound (non-PVC) and Ducafreeze PVC purge/freeze compound. Ducapurge cuts colour change and clean-down costs by at least 50%, designed for immediate use without soaking. Distributed out of Colour Tone's Caerphilly facility.
- Nextek LtdcoreNextek Ltd was commissioned by WRAP to undertake a project developing materials technology enabling NIR spectroscopy sorting of black plastic packaging waste. Colour Tone contributed by developing NIR-detectable black colourants (Black 95491, 95492, 95493, IRR Black 95530, Black 95591) that allow black plastic to be sorted by polymer type and recycled. This partnership delivered innovations with potential to create new business for plastics colourant suppliers, packaging manufacturers and recycling companies.
- WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme)coreWRAP commissioned the project with Nextek Ltd to address the problem of black plastic packaging waste that cannot be sorted by NIR systems. WRAP's cost assessment provided preliminary evaluation of financial viability of alternative black pigments compared to carbon black, and identified approximately 26,000-60,000 tonnes per annum of black plastic packaging in the UK waste stream as addressable market.
- ChemizminorOfficial distributor for Colour Tone's Vynacol PVCu masterbatch products in Poland, including prill form products. Located in Czestochowa, Poland.
- SIMCHEMminorDistributor for Colour Tone masterbatch products in Israel. Based in Givatayim, Israel.
- Freefoam Plastics (Cork, Ireland)coreJoint development partnership between Colour Tone Masterbatch and Freefoam Plastics to develop Vynacol masterbatches incorporating heat reflecting infrared pigment technology for PVCu roofline products. This joint development solved thermal stability problems in PVCu building products, dramatically increasing service life and enabling any colour (including dark shades) to be used successfully.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Colour Tone Masterbatch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ampacet Corporation: One of the world's largest independent masterbatch manufacturers, offering colour, black, white and additive masterbatches across commodity and engineering polymers. Directly comparable product portfolio and customer base (film, packaging, injection moulding), though at much greater scale than Colour Tone.
- Avient (formerly Clariant Color Solutions): Avient's Color, Additives & Inks segment supplies colour and additive masterbatches globally, with strong positions in packaging, consumer products and healthcare. A direct competing masterbatch specialist comparable to Colour Tone across polymer systems.
- Hubron International: UK-based specialty masterbatch manufacturer offering colour, black and additive masterbatches with similar size profile to Colour Tone. Direct competitor in the UK plastics colouring market with overlapping customer segments in extrusion and injection moulding.
- Silvergate Plastics: UK-based custom masterbatch manufacturer serving packaging, consumer goods and industrial customers. Comparable in scale, customisation focus and polymer range to Colour Tone, with similar same-day colour matching service model.
- Penn Color: US-based specialty colour masterbatch and pigment dispersion manufacturer serving plastics, coatings and ink markets. Comparable specialty colorants business with custom formulation capabilities overlapping Colour Tone's product approach.
- Tosaf Compounds: Israel-headquartered (with a UK distributor footprint) manufacturer of colour and additive masterbatches for plastics. Direct competitor in custom masterbatches; the Israeli footprint is also relevant given Colour Tone's SIMCHEM distribution arrangement.
- Cabot Corporation: Global leader in carbon black and black masterbatch for plastics. Direct competitor specifically in black masterbatches — Colour Tone's NIR-detectable blacks are positioned as a recyclable alternative to conventional Cabot carbon-black-based masterbatches.
- Rowa Masterbatch: Germany-based specialty masterbatch producer offering custom colour and additive masterbatches for engineering polymers, including polymer-specific systems similar to Colour Tone's engineering polymer range. Comparable technical positioning in the European market.
Broad incumbents
- LyondellBasell (A. Schulman): Major petrochemicals and polymers producer that acquired A. Schulman, giving it a large masterbatch and specialty compounds business. Competes across the full polymer spectrum with scale advantages over independents like Colour Tone.
- BASF (Colorants & Additives for Plastics): Global chemical major with a dedicated pigments and colourants business serving plastics masterbatch producers. Sets industry benchmarks on quality, regulatory compliance and scale that Colour Tone must meet to retain enterprise customers.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Colour Tone Masterbatch social profiles
Digital presenceColour Tone Masterbatch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Colour Tone Masterbatch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Colour Tone Masterbatch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Colour Tone Masterbatch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Colour Tone Masterbatch
What does Colour Tone Masterbatch do?
Colour Tone Masterbatch manufactures custom colour and additive masterbatches in commodity polymers (PE, PP, PS, ABS, PVC) and engineering polymers (PC, PA, PET, POM/acetal, PMMA, PBT). Core offerings include the patented Vynacol polymer-specific PVCu masterbatch, NIR-detectable black colourants for plastic recycling sorting, and heat reflective, multifunctional, flame retardant, special effect, and additive masterbatches supplied as granules, prill, or micro-pellet with same-day colour matching and 24-hour initial-quantity delivery.
Is Colour Tone Masterbatch a public or private company?
Colour Tone Masterbatch is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Colour Tone Masterbatch founded?
Colour Tone Masterbatch was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Colour Tone Masterbatch based?
Colour Tone Masterbatch is headquartered in Bedwas, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Colour Tone Masterbatch make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom colour masterbatches are the primary driver. The others are ducapurge purging compound distribution and vynacol technology licensing.
Who are Colour Tone Masterbatch's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ampacet Corporation, Avient (formerly Clariant Color Solutions), Hubron International, Silvergate Plastics, Penn Color, Tosaf Compounds, Cabot Corporation and Rowa Masterbatch. Broad incumbents are LyondellBasell (A. Schulman) and BASF (Colorants & Additives for Plastics).
Does Colour Tone Masterbatch have an API?
No public API is recorded for Colour Tone Masterbatch.
What industry is Colour Tone Masterbatch in?
Colour Tone Masterbatch's product category is Plastic Masterbatch Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANABAD, Masterbatch Manufacturing (Color, Additive, White/Black), with a secondary code of IMAEAHAK, Color Masterbatches & Dispersions. Its NAICS code is 32513 and its SIC code is 3080.