German chemical company: No crisis: Why Altana is doing so well

Many chemical companies are cutting jobs and closing plants. But Altana is reporting record profits. This is due to environmental protection – and to the former owner, who delisted the company 15 years ago.

There's a buzzing, roaring, and humming in the 300-square-meter laboratory. Inside, there are gray-blue cabinets connected by a rail system. Jars and cans containing paint and varnish samples are moved along the rails from station to station. In some cabinets, the samples are mixed or stirred; in others, measuring devices analyze the ingredients. Through a pane of glass, you can see a robotic arm pressing a sponge onto a piece of cardboard covered in white paint: The machine simulates painting with a roller. In another cabinet, cameras check for bubbles in the applied paint.