German speciality chemicals group Altana has agreed to acquire the Silberline Group subject to customary closing conditions. Terms are not being disclosed. The business will henceforth form part of Altana’s Eckart division. Based in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, Silberline employs over 450 people and had sales of about $80 million in 2022. It makes effect pigments for applications ranging from automotive coatings and printing inks to plastics, protective coatings and packaged consumer goods.

Altana and Covestro have separately made exits from the 3D printing market, in each case selling to a specialist in the field. The former has sold its stake in 3D printing systems manufacturer DP Polar to 3D Systems, while the latter is to sell its Additive Manufacturing business to Stratasys.