Swiss color manufactory for architectural colors made from natural and mineral pigments, handcrafted in Uster.
ktCOLOR AG
Uster (CH) · Kirchentellinsfurt (DE)New on Amplifa
About the color manufactory
ktCOLOR AG is a Swiss color manufactory based in Uster in the canton of Zurich with a branch office in Kirchentellinsfurt near Tübingen. The company produces wall paints, varnishes and façade paints from natural and mineral pigments and crafts each color by hand only after an order is placed, with every recipe individually adjusted batch by batch. The palette comprises 180 architectural colors made with over 130 pigments, many of which are used exclusively by ktCOLOR, including eight different umbras, Carrara marble powder, champagne and Rügen chalk, porcelain clay and ultramarine (lapis lazuli). In addition, the manufactory develops color concepts for architecture, reconstructs historical color recipes (including 81 original recipes by Le Corbusier) and produces handmade original color samples. Since 2019 the manufactory has operated climate-neutrally and sources all of its production energy from sustainable sources, including from the hydroelectric power plant on the company premises in Uster. The owner-managed company employs 20 people and serves architecture, design, the skilled trades and heritage conservation in the DACH region.
- Site
- Uster
- Processes
- Manufacture of architectural colors (wall paints, façade paints, varnishes) from natural and, Color consulting / color concept development (analysis of light, space and architecture), Production of hand-painted original color samples and sample collections, Training: seminars, webinars, workshops, lectures, manufactory tours on pigments and, Reconstruction of historical color recipes (including 81 original recipes by Le Corbusier), Color consulting (color concepts for architecture), Handcrafting of architectural colors to order (wall paints, varnishes, façade paints), Handmade original color samples and sample collections
- Materials
- Umber (8 different umbers), Carrara marble powder, Champagne chalk, Rügen chalk, Porcelain clay, Ultramarine (lapis lazuli), natural and mineral pigments (over 120 and 130 different, respectively), Umber (8 varieties)
- Founded
- 1997
- Employees
- 20
- Industries
- Architecture, Design, Skilled trades (painting and varnishing trade), Heritage conservation and historical color reconstruction, Skilled trades (painting/varnishing trade), Heritage conservation/historical color reconstruction
- 01
Pigment and recipe research
- 02
Color consulting and color concept development
- 03
Handcrafted color samples
- 04
Manufacture of colors only after ordering, batch by batch
- 05
Authenticity certificate with color shade, binder and batch number
- 06
Seminars, workshops and manufactory tours
Pigments and raw materials
Umber (8 varieties)
Natural earth colors used at ktCOLOR instead of black pigments for tinting and deepening color depth.
Carrara marble powder
Natural white pigment for lightening instead of titanium white.
Champagne chalk
Natural light mineral pigment for white and light shades.
Rügen chalk
Mineral white pigment with characteristic luminosity.
Porcelain clay
Mineral white pigment carrier for light, refined shades.
Ultramarine (lapis lazuli)
Rare artist's pigment for deep blue tones.
Natural and mineral pigments (over 130)
The basis of all 180 architectural colors; many pigments are used exclusively by ktCOLOR.
Locations
Uster
CHHeadquarters, color manufactory, showroom and pickup
- Lot size
- Manufacture only after ordering, individual recipe per batch
- Materials
- Natural and mineral pigments
- Hydroelectric power plant on the company premises (energy supply for the manufactory)
Kirchentellinsfurt
DEGerman branch office (EU), showroom and pickup
Colors and samples
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of architectural colors (wall paints, façade paints, varnishes) from natural andSurface | – | – | – | Manufacture only after ordering, | natural pigments, mineral pigments, binders |
| Color consulting / color concept development (analysis of light, space and architecture)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Production of hand-painted original color samples and sample collectionsSurface | – | – | – | – | natural pigments, mineral pigments |
| Training: seminars, webinars, workshops, lectures, manufactory tours on pigments andEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Reconstruction of historical color recipes (including 81 original recipes by Le Corbusier)Engineering | – | – | – | – | natural pigments |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydroelectric power plant on the company premises (energy supply for the color manufactory) | – | 1 | – | – | Uster |
Additional services
History
- 1997
Founding of ktCOLOR AG in Switzerland by Dr. Katrin Trautwein
- 1998
Start of research into the original Le Corbusier color recipes; according to the homepage, architectural colors have been produced since 1998
- 2007
Establishment of the branch office in Kirchentellinsfurt (Germany)
- 2012
End of licensed production of the Le Corbusier colors; since then production of its own recipes under the name ktCOLOR
- 2019
The color manufactory operates climate-neutrally and sources 100% of its energy from sustainable sources (hydroelectric power plant on the company premises in Uster)