Dorfner, a family owned company founded in 1895, is a leading European industrial and specialty minerals supplier to the coatings industry. Recently, the company has reported a remarkable increase in revenues, attributing this growth to the strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI).
 
 The past few years have posed significant challenges for raw material suppliers and paint formulators, including the pandemic, logistical difficulties and rising energy costs. In response, Dorfner made the bold decision to invest in integrating cutting-edge AI technologies into its formulation and development processes. Through a strategic partnership with Citrine Informatics, Dorfner has revolutionized its formulation process. This collaboration has accelerated the optimization of paint formulations, facilitated the development of new raw materials and promoted sustainable development.
 
 The results have been transformative: formulation development time has been reduced from six months to just one month. Dorfner can now identify optimal ingredient combinations, refine formulations and meet customer requirements with unprecedented precision, leading to exceptional customer feedback. Additionally, formulations can now be adapted for new regions while maintaining quality and consistency with local raw materials, opening up new markets outside Europe.

“The technical team has delivered impressive results, leveraging years of laboratory results, thanks to a systematic treatment of data throughout the years. Citrine’s dedicated platform and technical support gave us the best possible opportunity to combine data, formulation expertise and AI. Furthermore, our AI models will help us implement our sustainability strategy,” said Peter Van Herzele, head of the Business Unit Coating Solutions at Dorfner.

By leveraging an AI-driven experimental process, Dorfner has significantly reduced the number of time-consuming and resource-intensive tests. This transformation has radically changed the workflow of its laboratory team, allowing them to allocate more time to gaining deeper insights within their domain and fostering greater innovation.

“We understand our own laboratory more than before. It’s fun to work in this way,” said Oliver, head of research and development at Dorfner.

This transformation has been made possible by a user-friendly AI platform, designed for individuals without a coding or data science background. The platform transparently showcases the AI's "thought process," highlighting the underlying chemical features that impact critical final properties. Hear directly from the laboratory team about their experience in this video.

“AI felt very far away. [But] with Citrine you don’t even need any programming skills,” said Florian, application engineer at Dorfner.

Another advantage Dorfner has experienced is the ease with which individual raw materials can be replaced when in short supply.

“This strategic initiative marks a significant step forward for Dorfner, solidifying its commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation in the coatings industry,” added Mirko Mondan, CEO of Dorfner. “Dorfner is already rolling out this technology to other business units, and we have already reached first successes in our composites BU.”

By embracing AI to transform how it interacts with and optimizes formulations for its customers, Dorfner has leapfrogged competitors and is in a strong position to tackle future challenges in an agile way.

*Images courtesy of Dorfner.