What is Colorbiotics?
A Q&A with Vice President, Kent Rotert
What is Colorbiotics?
Colorbiotics is based in Ames, Iowa and have been innovating products that enhance the beauty of homes, businesses, parks and athletic facilities for more than 30 years. Colorbiotics is the industry leader in the science behind landscape colorant, recreation surfaces and the equipment that makes them better. Recently, we have entered the asphalt industry utilizing soybean-based science that enhances the strength and flexibility of asphalt while also being one of the most environmentally friendly products on the market.
What does Colorbiotics produce?
Since 2006, Colorbiotics has produced a growing family of colorant products that can be applied to landscape mulch and recreational ground coverings like turf football fields, rubber playgrounds and even colored sand for golf greens. Nearly 50% of all colored mulch in the US has been colored by a Colorbiotics color and ran through a Colorbiotics Sahara machine.
Additionally, we have developed and produced the industry-leading equipment that applies this colorant evenly and efficiently. The Sahara line of machines, along with the proprietary GEM Studio computer system, is an industry-changing technology that allows for vibrant color coverage with minimal waste.
In 2020, Colorbiotics entered the asphalt industry with Invigorate®. This soybean-based oil can be utilized two ways: mixed into hot asphalt when being produced or sprayed topically on already completed asphalt roads and parking lots. Invigorate interacts at the molecular level to actually turn back time and make asphalt molecules younger and lengthen the life of new and old asphalt.
Where is Colorbiotics located?
Ames, Iowa
Even though the business is so different, how can Sika benefit from Colorbiotics?
Colorbiotics’ expertise in colorant development can stretch across multiple product groups. Currently, Colorbiotics also produces concrete colors for the Master Builders business. The new soy-based product line for asphalt has the ability to have the molecule changed. This will allow the based chemistry to bridge across multiple business lines.
How much business does Colorbiotics bring in?
$102M/year
Who uses Colorbiotics?
Our largest customers are wholesale mulch producers who take raw materials (wooden mulch, rubber and sand) and use our machinery to apply color and then sell to consumers. We have approximately 900 locations we service in the United States and Canada that produce colored products. On the asphalt side of our business it is mainly asphalt plants, and companies that apply asphalt to roads and parking lots.
Is there any room for cross-selling Colorbiotics products in
the Sika World?
We have products that would fit the consumer market and Colorbiotics will be working with Sika distributors to carry other products.
Mulch and asphalt projects
Invigorate Plus re-binder is a bio-based liquid topical that seals millings to create a smooth, final surface.
This project was completed at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Colorbiotics Sahara X3 in production at Living Earth in Nashville, TN.
Colorbiotics Sahara XP in action at a mulch yard in Michigan.
VISIT THE COLORBIOITCS WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE
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