Sayerlack

Sayerlack is an Italian coatings business and brand focused on the protection, finishing and decorative treatment of wood. Established in Bologna in 1954, the company developed around the needs of furniture manufacturers and producers of furniture accessories, fittings and other wood-based products. Its portfolio has expanded beyond traditional solvent-based finishes to include polyurethane, water-based, nitrocellulose, polyester, ultraviolet-curable and water-based ultraviolet-curable coatings, together with stains and specialist treatments. The company’s development has been closely associated with technical research. Sayerlack opened its first research and development centre in 1958, only a few years after its formation. In 1988 it introduced its first waterborne coatings, an important step in the evolution of industrial wood finishing because these systems could reduce reliance on conventional solvent-based technologies while meeting the performance requirements of professional users. Research and development activities are located at the company’s facilities in Pianoro, near Bologna, and Mariano Comense, near Como. Sayerlack operates two production sites in Italy. Its main site, headquarters and sales offices are in Pianoro, while a second production facility is located in Mariano Comense. The Italian operation employs more than 300 people according to the cited reference material. Manufacturing is primarily oriented toward industrial customers, while the brand also serves do-it-yourself users. The Linea Pro range is associated with professional and industrial applications, and Linea Blu addresses the DIY segment. Applications span much of the wood-products sector. Sayerlack coatings and stains are used for furniture in rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and bedrooms, as well as for parquet flooring, doors, windows, nautical furnishings and picture frames. The range also includes fire-retardant and antibacterial coatings, allowing the brand to address performance and functional requirements in addition to appearance and surface protection. The brand has developed an international presence through branches in France, Great Britain, Spain, Singapore and the United States, supplemented by a wider distribution network. The company therefore combines an Italian manufacturing and research base with international sales coverage. Its products are primarily aimed at businesses that need repeatable, technically specified wood-finishing systems, although its DIY range gives the brand a consumer-facing presence as well. Ownership has changed several times. Hickson International PLC acquired the entire company in 1987. Following Hickson’s subsequent acquisitions, Hickson Coatings Europa was formed in 1990 and Hickson Coatings Italia was established in December 1993. Arch Chemicals acquired 90 percent of Hickson International PLC in July 2000, bringing Hickson Coatings Italia, the owner of the Sayerlack brand, into the Arch Chemicals group from August of that year. In 2010, Sherwin-Williams acquired Sayerlack. The brand is now part of Sherwin-Williams, a major coatings group, while continuing to operate from its Italian production, research and commercial base.

Sayerlack was established in Bologna, Italy, in 1954 to manufacture coatings intended to finish, protect and enhance wood. Its initial emphasis was on furniture, furniture accessories and fittings, placing the company within the industrial wood-finishing sector rather than the broader architectural-paint market. The business later developed a wider product offering for furniture, flooring, doors, windows, nautical furnishings and other wood applications. A research and development centre was opened in 1958. This early investment in technical development became an important part of Sayerlack’s identity as a specialist coatings supplier. In 1988, the company produced its first waterborne coatings. The development was significant because water-based systems represented an alternative to conventional solvent-based finishes and helped industrial users respond to changing technical and environmental requirements. Sayerlack was acquired by Hickson International PLC in 1987. In 1990, after Hickson had completed additional acquisitions, Hickson Coatings Europa was created. Hickson Coatings Italia followed in December 1993. The Italian company continued to own and develop the Sayerlack brand within this broader corporate structure. In July 2000, Arch Chemicals acquired 90 percent of Hickson International PLC. Beginning in August that year, Hickson Coatings Italia became part of Arch Chemicals. This transaction placed Sayerlack within another international chemicals group while preserving its Italian operating base and specialist focus on wood coatings. Sherwin-Williams acquired Sayerlack in 2010. Under Sherwin-Williams ownership, the brand continued to operate from Italy, with headquarters and sales offices in Pianoro near Bologna. Its principal production site is also in Pianoro, and a second production site is located in Mariano Comense near Como. Research and development laboratories are located at both sites. The Italian operation employs more than 300 people according to the cited reference. Sayerlack’s manufacturing and commercial model combines industrial specialization with segmented product ranges. The Linea Pro range is directed toward professional and industrial users, while Linea Blu serves the do-it-yourself market. Its product technologies include polyurethane, water-based, nitrocellulose, polyester, UV and water-based UV coatings, as well as stains. Specialist products include fire-retardant and antibacterial coatings. The brand’s international distribution has expanded through branches in France, Great Britain, Spain, Singapore and the United States, along with distributors serving more than 80 countries. Its history therefore reflects both continuity and corporate change: the company has retained its Italian production and R&D identity while moving through the Hickson, Arch Chemicals and Sherwin-Williams groups.

• 2010

  Sherwin-Williams acquires Sayerlack

  [1]Sayerlacken.wikipedia.org

  Sayerlack becomes part of Sherwin-Williams and continues as an Italian wood-coatings brand within the multinational coatings group.

• 2000

  Arch Chemicals becomes the controlling owner

  [1]Sayerlacken.wikipedia.org

  Arch Chemicals acquires 90 percent of Hickson International PLC, bringing Hickson Coatings Italia into its group from August.

• 1993

  Hickson Coatings Italia is created

  [1]Sayerlacken.wikipedia.org

  Hickson Coatings Italia is established in December and becomes the Italian corporate home of the Sayerlack brand.

• 1990

  Hickson Coatings Europa is formed

  [1]Sayerlacken.wikipedia.org

  Hickson’s acquisition activity leads to the formation of Hickson Coatings Europa.

• 1988

  First waterborne coatings are developed

  [1]Sayerlacken.wikipedia.org

  Sayerlack creates its first waterborne coatings, broadening its technology platform beyond conventional solvent-based systems.

• 1987

  Acquisition by Hickson International

  [1]Sayerlacken.wikipedia.org

  Hickson International PLC acquires the entire company.

• 1958

  First research and development centre opens

  [1]Sayerlacken.wikipedia.org

  Sayerlack establishes its first R&D centre, strengthening its technical focus in wood-finishing coatings.

• 1954

  Sayerlack is established in Bologna

  [1]Sayerlacken.wikipedia.org

  The company is founded to produce coatings for finishing, protecting and enhancing wood, especially for furniture, accessories and fittings.

A technically focused Italian wood-coatings specialist serving furniture, architectural woodwork, flooring, nautical furnishings and related industrial applications, with both professional and DIY product ranges.

• Professional and industrial wood coatings

  Linea Pro

  Linea Pro is Sayerlack’s professional-oriented range for industrial and trade users. It supports the finishing and protection of wood products used in furniture, fittings, architectural woodwork and related applications. The broader Sayerlack technology portfolio includes polyurethane, water-based, nitrocellulose, polyester, UV-curable and water-based UV-curable systems, allowing professional customers to select finishes according to substrate, appearance, curing process and performance requirements.

• DIY wood coatings

  Linea Blu

  Linea Blu is the range associated with Sayerlack’s do-it-yourself market. It brings wood-finishing and protective products to non-industrial users, complementing the company’s main industrial business. The range is positioned for practical wood applications where users need coatings or stains for maintenance, decoration and protection rather than the highly specified production systems used by furniture and other manufacturing customers.

• Wood colorants and finishing products

  Wood stains

  Sayerlack’s stains are designed to alter or enrich the appearance of wood while forming part of a broader finishing system. They are used across applications such as furniture, doors, windows, flooring, nautical furnishings and picture frames. The stain offering complements clear and pigmented protective coatings and supports the brand’s focus on both decorative results and surface treatment.

• Functional wood coatings

  Specialist protective coatings

  The Sayerlack portfolio includes functional coatings with fire-retardant and antibacterial properties. These products extend the brand beyond appearance-focused finishing by addressing additional performance requirements for wood products. They are part of the company’s specialist offering for professional and industrial applications where the treated surface may need properties beyond color, gloss, durability or basic protection.

• 2010

  Sherwin-Williams acquires SayerlackM&A

  Background

  Sayerlack was an internationally distributed Italian wood-coatings business with production and research facilities in Italy.

  Action taken

  Sherwin-Williams acquired Sayerlack.

  Aftermath

  The brand became part of Sherwin-Williams while continuing to serve industrial, professional and DIY wood-coatings markets from its Italian base.

  Source

• 2000

  Arch Chemicals acquires a controlling interest in Hickson InternationalM&A

  Background

  Hickson International had reorganized its activities into a European coatings structure that included the Italian owner of the Sayerlack brand.

  Action taken

  Arch Chemicals acquired 90 percent of Hickson International PLC. Hickson Coatings Italia became part of Arch Chemicals from August 2000.

  Aftermath

  Sayerlack continued under the ownership of another international chemicals group while retaining its Italian operations.

  Source

• 1987

  Hickson International acquires SayerlackM&A

  Background

  Sayerlack was an established Italian specialist in wood-finishing coatings when Hickson International expanded its coatings interests.

  Action taken

  Hickson International PLC acquired 100 percent of the company.

  Aftermath

  Sayerlack subsequently operated within the Hickson coatings structure, including Hickson Coatings Europa and Hickson Coatings Italia.

  Source

1. 1Sayerlacken.wikipedia.org