PARSIPPANY, NJ - Sun Chemical and its parent company, Dainippon Ink & Chemicals (DIC), have formed a joint venture with Nantong DIC Metallic Pigments Co. Ltd., a leading aluminum pigment manufacturer in China.

The joint venture expands on a distribution agreement announced in October 2007 that allows Sun Chemical and DIC to market the Nantong Shanjing products for the coatings, plastic and graphic arts industries worldwide under the new SunMetallics brand. These products will be launched globally in the first quarter of this year.

Nantong Shanjing specializes in the production and sales of aluminum pigments and pastes. The manufacturing plant, based in Nantong of Jiangsu Province, produces aluminum pigments and pastes.