Archroma, Reinach, Switzerland, a supplier of color and specialty chemicals, this week announced that it has entered into a license agreement with Igcar, a Spain-based group producing optical brighteners for the paper, textile, detergent and coatings industry. The agreement provides Igcar with access to Archroma’s patented "improved optical brightening compositions" technology (patent family WO 2009/118247). This patent has been granted in many countries, and in Europe was confirmed after appeal.

The Optical Brightening Agent (OBA) technology developed by Archroma combines magnesium salts with optical brighteners. Papers treated with the patented process show enhanced brightness and whiteness levels, offering consumers a more pleasurable writing and printing experience. The patent covers mixed salts of most of the common paper optical brighteners with magnesium cations.

Archroma follows standard business practice in defending and respecting patents and has recently issued "cease and desist" orders to several OBA suppliers whose products have been shown by independent analysis to infringe its proprietary technology. 

Valerie Diele-Braun, President Paper Solutions at Archroma, said that "Archroma strives to offer innovation to our customers and partners. The license agreements announced this week recognize the value that our innovations add to paper to benefit papermakers and end-users, while protecting our property rights."