Inline & offline digital printing primers certified for use with HP Indigo presses.
Water-based overprint coatings increase durability and enhance the look & feel of inkjet-printed materials.
High-performance primers for inkjet that improve print quality & ink adhesion on film & paper.
Advanced materials designed to enhance the performance and processing of agricultural products.
Recyclable water-based coatings that confer high barrier to paper-based packaging and wraps.
Enhancing composite performance through optimized fiber-polymer interface adhesion
Water-based sizing solutions designed to optimize interfacial adhesion in composites using carbon fiber.
2030 Goals
Michelman is committed to sustaining our planet by continually reducing our footprint and bringing planet-positive solutions to the marketplace.
Sustainable Packaging
Future proofing, problem solving, and above all, collaborating. Our people, our planet, shaping the circular economy of tomorrow.
Thinking Ahead
Discover trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the future of carbon fiber technology and applications.
News (Wednesday, 12 February 2025)
The 70-ft line consists of equipment contributed by Michelman and enables hands-on training for composite engineers.
News (Tuesday, 21 January 2025)
Collaboration with FibreCoat leads to basalt fiber for EMI, RFI shielding, and thermal management applications.
News (Thursday, 21 November 2024)
Wilma will direct Michelman’s people engagement, organizational design, and culture initiatives.
Our corporate values are a testimony of our highest priorities as individuals and as a company.
Our Board Members provide expert guidance to enable global success.
Michelman's thought leadership around sustainability and the circular economy.
A Legacy of Innovation
Supporting our local communities.
Collaborating with like-minded partners to move industries forward.
Whether you are a customer or supplier, Michelman Values are at the core of our business relations.
Michelman is a global company with offices in the Americas, Asia and Europe.
Located all over the world, Michelman distribution partners have the expertise to help you win.
The Michelman brands of water-based primers and coatings offer critical functionality to complex packaging structures for food, medical, and consumer goods applications.
Michem® Flex P-series primers render packaging films and papers more receptive to extruded PE and PP film, thus the extrusion process is more efficient at lower temperatures, and the extrudate has better adhesion to the substrate. Available primer grades are optimized for applications ranging from very demanding retort packages to more basic end uses.
Michem® Lube wax emulsions are added to water-based flexible packaging coatings to maximize the efficiency of form, fill and seal operations, and provide slip control, anti-blocking, mar resistance, and release. Michem® Flex formulated coatings work with both film and paper applications and offer gas, mineral, and moisture barriers with options available for food contact compliance.
Michem® Flex HS-series heat seal coatings are water-based, often primerless, and balance low initiation temperatures with high ultimate bond strength. Owing to our continuous innovation of the product line, a broad range of products are available to suit various application requirements.
Performance brands such as VaporCoat®, Michem® Coat, and HydraBan® are the recognized industry solutions for paper products and packaging used in the most demanding applications.
The market for single-serve food containers continues to evolve to paper-based solutions such as folding cartons (aka folding boxboard), microflute corrugated trays, molded pulp, and many other structures. Michelman coating solutions provide oil and grease barrier and other key functionality for the safe and reliable use of paper in food service containers.
Tubes and cores, gypsum board, packaging for corrodible metal components (auto parts, etc.), tier sheets, and numerous other industrial applications rely on Michelman coating technology. Our solutions include release, anti-corrosion vapor barrier, moisture vapor barrier, low slip, and many other effects. Michelman's experience in developing solutions to these challenges was pioneering and continues to grow.
Paperboard is a versatile carton material that demands a barrier treatment when used in aggressive environments. Corrugated boxes are a staple solution for the shipping and storage of fresh produce and other perishables as well as environmentally sensitive materials. For longstanding or emerging applications, Michelman has the trusted brands of barrier and functional coatings to cover the gamut of performance requirements for paperboard and corrugated.
Primers and OPVs each play different roles in the digital production environment, but together they provide printed material with water resistance, chemical resistance, scratch resistance, and thermal resistance. They also increase gamut, prevent colors from fading, and enable greater customization.
Michelman's family of high-performance primers for inkjet are designed to improve print quality and ink adhesion on both film and paper substrates, including solutions for both pigmented water-based and UV inkjet printing applications.
HP Indigo, as a global leader in high quality digital printing technology, has tested and recommends a broad range of Michelman's DigiPrime priming solutions that optimize paper and film media to produce the best possible printed output. Also Indigo tested and recommended are Michem In-Line Primers for Indigo presses with ILP stations, as well as Sapphire brand primer. Product selection guidance, data sheets, and usage guidelines for this fast-growing area are available online here or upon request.
DigiGuard® aqueous and UV curable overprint varnishes protect and enhance the appearance of printed materials. Various grades are available for commercial print jobs; form, fill and seal packaging; and food contact applications.
Michelman products make composites stronger by tailoring the surface chemistry of reinforcement fibers to the chemistry of the matrix resin.
Hydrosize® film forming dispersions optimize the surface chemistry of reinforcement fibers that are integral to high performance composites. The diverse Hydrosize product range is optimized for a broad range of thermoplastic, thermoset, and very high temperature resin matrices. Hydrosize is applied during the manufacturing process of chopped or continuous strand fiberglass, carbon fiber, and natural fibers and fillers.
Technical Textiles are materials and products manufactured primarily for their technical and performance properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics, sometimes as a component or part of another product to improve its performance. Michelman solutions improve the performance and functional behavior of textile applications requiring chemical & water resistance, thermal stability, rub & abrasion resistance, drapability, coating adhesion, lubricity, and anti-blocking.
We offer binders used in the processing of nonwoven rolled goods manufactured from materials including polypropylene, polyester, nylon and glass.
NurtureYield® waterborne formulation additives improve flow and planting behavior of seeds; processing and controlled release in fertilizers; and shelf life of harvested produce.
NurtureYield® quick drying, anti-caking agents form a hydrophobic layer around fertilizer granules slowing the rate of moisture absorption.
Seed treatments and coatings increase the usefulness of high value seeds from field crops to vegetables and ornamentals. Michelman additives can aid in ensuring the even processing and planting of seeds. They can also help in controlling moisture, aiding antiblock and providing binding properties.
Michelman technologies offer optimum protection, durability, and surface qualities in a wide array of architectural and special purpose coatings.
We offer a complete line of performance-enhancing aqueous surface modifiers for use in both interior and exterior building paints
Our polymers and additives help extend the maintenance cycle of low VOC water-based clear wood finishes and stains designed for exterior wood decking and siding. Added to wood finish formulations, Michem® Wood Coating products penetrate and protect wood against water swelling while polymers add toughness and longer service life.
Licomer® system of polymer dispersions and wax emulsions for the care and maintenance of high traffic surfaces in flooring, automotive, furniture, and soft goods applications.
Michelman's additives enhance vehicle appearance and maintenance products, including washes, waxes, polishes, and 2-in-1 products for auto, marine, RV, and motorcycles. Performance attributes include improved adhesion, gloss, lubricity, buff-ability, water beading, and mar & water resistance. Many contain plant-based, renewable carnauba wax.
Buffable polishes for fine wood furniture that produce a hard, lasting finish, based on Michelman wax emulsions and polymers.
Licomer® products for dry-bright polishes and other easy-to apply household formulations are available for all types of commonly used hard and resilient floor surfaces. These products are low VOC, APE-free, and formaldehyde-free.
Designed for the most demanding I&I applications, the Licomer® system is maintenance-friendly for all types of flooring surfaces. Our environmentally friendly products feature: • Low VOC, APE-free, formaldehyde-free • Optimum balance of polish buffability, low maintenance, hardness, durability, slip resistance and gloss • Leveling aids for a superior finish • Durability against scuff & mar, black heel marks, and harsh cleaning chemicals
ProHere®, Michem®, and other specialty brand solutions for factory-applied and field-applied protective coatings on metal, concrete, wood or plastic.
The addition of a Michelman emulsion or dispersion enhances the processing and performance of a wide range of metal products by improving mar and scratch resistance, mobility, slip/lubricity and corrosion resistance. Many of our products are waterborne and achieve these goals without solvents.
For maximum formulation flexibility, our extensive line of Michem® surface additives, NatureShield® natural oil emulsions and Michelman polymers add specific attributes to water-based protective and cure and seal formulations.
Mold release agents and sprays are designed specifically for use with all types of rubber, plastic, composites, wood fiber composites/panel pressing, concrete, stone veneers, and polyurethane parts to allow easy and clean release. A wide variety of wax types are used in die lubricants and mold releases for plastics, metals, and concrete, where high-temperature lubricity is required.
ProHere® polymers and surface modifiers for waterborne metal coatings enhance lubricity; torque, tension and noise control; as well as appearance, haptics, durability, and anti-scratching of the finish.
Michelman wax emulsions improve the in-plant handling and service life of natural and synthetic rubber gloves.
Michelman offers a broad range of Michem® surface modifier additives to enhance the performance properties of water-based coatings for leather.
Selected Michelman waterborne polymers and additives are ideally suited for direct-to-metal primer and coating formulations, offering a range of functional properties.
ProHere® waterborne polymer dispersions and emulsions specifically developed for use in metal coatings enhance the binding properties of coatings used in electroplating, supporting the key benefits electroplating offers in improving the durability of metal parts.
Metalworking fluids (MWFs) are specialized liquids used in machining and metal-forming processes to cool, lubricate, and improve the quality of metal parts. They help reduce friction, dissipate heat, prevent tool wear, and remove metal debris (chips). They are essential in industries like automotive, aerospace, and general metal fabrication. ProHere® E water-based additives help MWFs protect against corrosion and improve surface finishes.
Michelman's range of polymers allows formulators to develop factory-applied wood coatings for a broad range of end-use applications. Typical applications include cabinetry and furniture, parquet flooring, wood doors, and window frames. Various surface modifier additives enhance many formulations' surface appearance, haptics, and durability.
Michelman's range of polymers allows formulators to develop wood coatings for in-field use for a broad range of applications, including parquet flooring, wood doors, and window frames. Various surface modifier additives enhance many formulations' surface appearance, haptics, and durability for contractor and do-it-yourself (DIY) applied solutions.
Selected Michelman water-based binders are ideally suited for textile coating formulations. Generally used as topcoats, they offer functional properties such as good abrasion and water-resistance.
Michem® additives that add critical qualities in graphic arts applications – block, rub, and water resistance, with gloss control.
Water-based ink formulations with higher performance and better processing through the addition of APE-free Michelman additives.
Additives for the highest quality graphics in packaging and publishing.