永光化學－更用心的化學、更美好的生活，打造歷久彌新的品牌價值

2025.10.10

永光化學－更用心的化學、更美好的生活，打造歷久彌新的品牌價值
Everlight Chemical — Thoughtful Chemistry for a Better Life, Building Lasting Brand Value

1972年，台灣紡織業的黃金年代，永光化學以兩支染料寫下故事序章；半世紀以來，不僅成為台灣首家上市的染料公司，且在全球色料市場綻放異彩。永光更開枝散葉，跨入高科技領域，如今五大事業體多元發展。這樣的成績沒有僥倖，是在創新、永續、品格三大面向不斷努力，淬煉出難以取代的品牌價值。

　　永光化學董事長陳建信是二代接班，當年叔叔陳定吉在迪化街經營貿易時接觸染整化學品，正值台灣紡織業蓬勃發展，嗅到商機，偶然結識擁有染料技術的日本永光染料株式會社社長，於是找來哥哥，即陳建信的父親陳定川，邀集朋友共7位股東，創立永光化學。

　　沒想到，創業隔年就碰上第一次石油危機，營運困難，股東紛紛撤資。陳定川在中華化工任職多年，以產業敏銳度，判斷染料仍有前途，決定兄弟接手，由陳定川擔任董事長，陳定吉擔任總經理。

  Chairman James Chen (Chen Chien-Hsin) represents the second generation of leadership. His uncle, Chen Ting-Chi, first entered the dye business while running a trading firm in Taipei’s Dihua Street, where he met the president of Japan’s Everlight Dye Co., Ltd. Sensing opportunity amid Taiwan’s booming textile era, he teamed up with his brother Chen Ting-Chuan and five partners to found Everlight Chemical.

  Just a year later, the first oil crisis hit, driving investors away. Still, with years of experience at China Chemical, Chen Ting-Chuan foresaw a bright future for dyes. The brothers decided to take over the company, with Ting-Chuan as chairman and Ting-Chi as general manager—a bold move that laid the foundation for Everlight’s rise.

　　草創初期，永光尚未打出知名度，技術也不夠純熟。「這時候，產品定位就很重要！」陳建信說，父親決定切入進入門檻較低的雨傘布染料市場，主因對染色品質要求不高，且早年的雨傘大多是黑色，色料調製相對簡單。永光更擬定「備胎策略」，染料大廠一缺貨，永光立刻遞補接單，此舉果然奏效，公司開始獲利。

　　當時染料市場都是歐美、日本大廠的天下，雖然永光努力主打自有品牌，實質上的定位卻仍是「進口替代」，產品都屬於『me too』，只能拼更低價格。為了突破現狀，永光尋思提升技術，因緣際會認識日本中外化成公司社長，對於陳定川的誠懇踏實十分欣賞，允諾提供技術指導，前後長達15年時間，共派遣3位國寶級顧問來台教學；永光也認真學習、力求創新，產品力一步步提升。

  In its early years, Everlight lacked both recognition and refined technology. “That’s when product positioning became critical,” recalls James Chen. His father chose to focus on umbrella fabric dyes, which had lower quality requirements—most umbrellas were black, making color formulation simpler.

  Everlight adopted a clever “spare tire strategy”: whenever major suppliers ran out of stock, Everlight stepped in immediately. This nimble approach paid off, helping the young company achieve profitability.

  At the time, the global dye market was dominated by Western and Japanese giants. Though Everlight promoted its own brand, it was essentially filling an import substitution role, producing “me too” products that competed mainly on price. To escape this trap, the company sought technical advancement and, through good fortune, built a partnership with Japan’s Chuo Kasei Chemical, whose president admired Chen’s sincerity and sent three master consultants to Taiwan over 15 years to provide technical guidance. Their mentorship fueled Everlight’s steady path toward innovation and quality.

　　1983年，永光推出第一支國產反應性染料，這項產品的色牢度更佳，以往僅歐美及日本大廠有能力製造；永光推出後，不止象徵自家營運的首次技術突破，也是台灣邁向高單價染料的開始。

　　此後，永光的創新之路愈走愈快；時至今日，永光的染助劑化學品，能夠幫客戶省水、節能、降低汙染，走在永續浪潮的最前端。以Everzol ERC Solution染料為例，可讓染整製程節省7成用水和能源消耗；無苯胺、無六價鉻及不含重金屬3個系列產品，也被環保署肯定為「下世代皮革染料」，納入大學「綠色產品」教材。



　　產品認證的超前部署更是腳步不停：以完成歐盟REACH（化學品法規）登記的產品數來看，永光是名列前矛的台灣廠商，代表環保、安全及供應鏈透明；此外更陸續取得Bluesign標章、GOTS全球有機棉認證、INDITEX產品安全認證，形同拿下銷售全球、暢行無阻的產品通行證，幫助客戶與世界接軌。

  In 1983, Everlight launched Taiwan’s first locally made reactive dye, with superior colorfastness once only achievable by European and Japanese companies. It was not only a technical breakthrough for Everlight but also a milestone for Taiwan’s move toward higher-value dye products.

  From there, Everlight accelerated its innovation journey. Today, its textile auxiliaries help customers save water, energy, and reduce pollution, keeping the company at the forefront of sustainability. The Everzol ERC Solution line, for instance, cuts water and energy use by up to 70%. Its aniline-free, chromium-free, and heavy metal–free dye series were recognized by Taiwan’s EPA as “next-generation eco-dyes” and included in university green product curricula.

  Everlight also took a proactive stance on global certification. It leads among Taiwanese firms in EU REACH registrations, demonstrating environmental responsibility and supply-chain transparency. The company further earned Bluesign®, GOTS, and INDITEX certifications—global “passports” that empower its customers to compete worldwide.

　　1988年，永光正式掛牌上市，展開多角化經營。「當時有一款塑膠添加劑，技術上與永光的合成染料相近，可縮短研發時程，永光就這樣跨入特用化學品領域。」陳建信還記得，第一項產品是紫外線吸收劑，添加於塗料中可保護材料免受紫外線破壞變色，例如汽車漆必須確保2年不變色，難度不小，「搖身一變，我們成了做表面功夫的高手，」陳建信笑著說。



　　從紡織染料到特用化學，永光緊跟著台灣產業發展主軸，90年代的高科技電子產業，多種關鍵化學品需要國產自主，才能免受國際大廠牽制。永光獲工研院技轉，投入IC微影製程的關鍵材料：光阻劑研製，並打入LED市場。在台灣LED產業全盛時期，永光的光阻劑和研磨液市占率高達9成。延續這些亮眼成績，永光又接連跨足碳粉和醫藥領域，提供綠色化學解決方案，從化學品出發，讓公司與社會一起邁向永續。

   Everlight went public in 1988, marking a new phase of diversification. “One of our first new ventures was into plastic additives,” recalls Chen. “The chemistry was similar to synthetic dyes, so we could shorten R&D time.” Its first product, a UV absorber, protected coatings from color fading—crucial for automotive paints that must resist sunlight for years. “We suddenly became experts in surface protection,” Chen laughs.

  Following Taiwan’s industrial evolution, Everlight expanded from textile dyes to specialty chemicals. In the 1990s, as Taiwan’s electronics industry rose, local sourcing of key chemicals became essential for independence from multinational suppliers. Through technology transfer from ITRI, Everlight entered photoresist materials for IC lithography and later LED applications, achieving over 90% market share at its peak. It then extended to toners and pharmaceuticals, providing green chemistry solutions that support a sustainable society.

　　陳建信說，永光賣的是工業產品，特別在意品質，「因為品質就是品牌的基礎，堅實品質才能贏得客戶信任。」為此，永光每年投入的研發經費占營業額4%以上，成功開發許多革命創新產品。2023年，永光成立逾半世紀，首度報名「台灣精品獎」，在近千件產品中，一舉拿下銀質獎殊榮；2024年更獲得最高等級金質獎的肯定，是台灣精品獎創立33年以來，首獲金質獎的B2B化學品牌。

　　「品格教育」是永光化學獨步產業的另一項特質。透過永光季刊，定期發表品格教育內容、表揚符合標準的同仁、鼓勵在工作及生活中實踐；每年印製品格年曆、發放口袋型品格小卡方便員工隨時查閱，同時要求各級主管身體力行，向團隊傳遞正向價值觀。

  “Everlight sells industrial products, and quality is everything,” Chen emphasizes. “Quality is the foundation of trust—and trust builds the brand.” The company invests over 4% of annual revenue in R&D, resulting in numerous breakthrough products.

   In 2023, marking its 50th anniversary, Everlight entered the Taiwan Excellence Awards for the first time—winning the Silver Award among nearly a thousand entries. The following year, it claimed the Gold Award, the first-ever B2B chemical brand in the 33-year history of the competition to receive the highest honor.

Beyond technology, Everlight stands out for its commitment to character education. Through its quarterly publication, the company promotes positive values, honors employees who embody integrity, and encourages moral reflection in work and life. Character-themed calendars and pocket cards remind staff of these principles, while managers lead by example, fostering a culture rooted in respect and sincerity.

　　從創新、永續到品格，永光的品牌DNA一直刻在骨子裡。不過，隨著事業體成長茁壯，陳建信認為，品牌理念必須進行系統化梳理，才能更有效凝聚內外部力量，朝共同願景邁進。2011年，永光成立40周年之際，陳建信找來國際級顧問公司，推動兩階段品牌工程，先透過內部訪談，發掘永光人的特質，再為五大事業單位，打造鮮明的品牌形象，並推出煥然一新的集團識別系統。



　　此次品牌再造，在既有核心精神「堅持品質、值得信賴、正派經營、愛心管理」之上，提出「更用心的化學，更美好的生活」的品牌承諾，並確立願景：與客戶共創價值、成為對人類有貢獻的高科技化學企業集團。

  Innovation, sustainability, and character form Everlight’s DNA. Yet as its business units grew, Chen recognized the need for a systematic brand framework to align internal and external forces.

In 2011, for Everlight’s 40th anniversary, he enlisted an international consultancy to conduct a two-phase branding project. Through employee interviews, the firm identified Everlight’s unique cultural strengths and crafted distinct brand identities for its five divisions. A new corporate identity system (CIS) followed, refreshing Everlight’s image.

  Building on its core values—quality, trust, integrity, and compassion—Everlight introduced a renewed brand promise: “Thoughtful Chemistry for a Better Life.” Its vision: to co-create value with customers and become a high-tech chemical enterprise that contributes to humanity.

　　許多人疑惑，B2B產業有必要經營品牌嗎？陳建信直指核心，「B2C的品牌經營，往往講究直接快速，像獵人開槍鎖定目標；但B2B更像農夫，栽種、澆灌、除草，時間到了才有收成，必須耐心耕耘，」他認為，B2B企業更要用心經營品牌，因為採購決策的每一關都是挑戰，建立良好的品牌價值，才能過關斬將，贏得信賴。現在，很多客戶聽到『永光』，二話不說直接採用，還能享受溢價效益，有些產品即使比國際大廠貴5～10%，客戶依然買單。

　　陳建信想得透徹，「未來的競爭，不是價格、不是品質，而在於品牌。」也許品質不輸人，價格也實在，但少了品牌，難以在激烈競爭中脫穎而出。永光的品牌之路非常清晰明確：用心以化學打造美好生活，不斷創新向前，永續其光。

  Is branding really necessary for a B2B company? Chen’s answer is clear: “In B2C, branding is like a hunter aiming for a quick shot. But B2B is like farming—you plant, water, weed, and wait patiently for the harvest.”

  He believes B2B branding requires even more care and persistence. Every step in a procurement decision is a test of credibility, and only a trusted brand can pass each stage to win long-term business.

  Today, when customers hear the name Everlight, many choose it without hesitation—sometimes even paying 5–10% more than for international competitors. That, says Chen, “is the power of brand value.”

  “The competition of the future isn’t about price or quality—it’s about brand,” Chen concludes. Everlight Chemical’s path is clear: through chemistry, it will continue to create a better life, advance innovation, and sustain its light for generations to come.