DuPont seeks to grow 'beyond TiO2'

DuPont, the number one producer of titanium oxide worldwide, is planning to expand its $1.7 billion-$1.8 billion/year operation beyond TiO2, to meet a 6%/year growth target. The TiO2 market is growing at only 3%/year, which means that the bulk TiO2 business alone in its present form is not sufficient to meet the growth target. A number of development initiatives are under way, including DuPont's SmartPaint branding effort that the company introduce in Europe in 2001; and nanoparticle technologies currently under development at DuPont's eillmington. DuPont is also developing 'special effects' pigment grades that provide color shift.