Specialty chemicals suppliers, Clariant and DKSH, are investing in the Asian cosmetics markets. Clariant has opened a new laboratory in Tokyo dedicated exclusively to supporting Japan’s Personal Care industry, while DKSH has opened its first dedicated colour cosmetics innovation centre in Korea.
Clariant in Japan
Clariant’s new laboratory is located inside the Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute (TIRI) in Tokyo’s central business district. The facility supplements Clariant’s existing Shizuoka Technical Service Centre in providing customers with more opportunities for collaboration early on in their formulation development. Clariant’s new laboratory will take advantage of the TIRI’s support on commissioned analytical work through various equipment and facilities available at the Institute.
"The laboratory will open a new door to our customers in the personal care industry who, in order to speed up response to market, have a growing need for technical support early on in the development stage of their new products. Our Tokyo laboratory, which is within half an hour reach of Tokyo station, gives us the opportunity to interact more closely with local customers through such means as co-development meetings and technical seminars, enabling us to better support their product needs," says Francois Bleger, Head of Clariant’s Industrial and Consumer Specialties Business Unit in Asia Pacific.
DKSH in Korea
DKSH also intends to build on the growing importance of the Asian beauty markets and brands with a brand-new innovation centre in Seoul solely dedicated to the development and formulation of colour cosmetics. Located at DKSH’s Korea head office in Seoul, the centre is DKSH’s first to specialize in colour cosmetics, catering for face, eye, lip and nail make-up applications. It will provide a range of services to companies in the personal care and cosmetics industry, including product evaluations and comparisons, localized guide formulations and the provision of samples, assistance with quality claims as well as support and regulatory consultation for the Korean cosmetics market.
The new centre joins a global network of twelve DKSH innovation centres dedicated to the personal care and cosmetics industry.
“We are very proud to open our first innovation centre dedicated solely to colour cosmetics. Korea is the world’s hub for trendsetting colour cosmetics and the facility will allow us to assess new technologies, innovate world-class formulations and strengthen our global business development. The centre will grow our position as a key partner for cosmetics companies in the region and beyond,” said Cesar Saez, Vice President, Global Personal Care Industry, Performance Materials, DKSH.
