About
Our goal at Clarke is simple.
Assist both large and small concrete producers to make virtually any shade of colored concrete. With the introduction of BK555, exterior concrete projects can move dramatically into deeper colors that will not fade over time. Adding BK555 to Earth Tone Iron Oxides will help create more dramatic darker concrete colors, especially for accent designs. BK555 added to Cobalt Blue will create shades of affordable Bluestone. Chrome and Copper pigments combined with BK555 create new Green colors that have never been possible until now. This new range of color will elevate concrete into a whole new world of color that Designers, Architects and Homeowners demand.
Murray Clarke, Founder & CEO Biography
Murray Clarke has been in the pigment industry for over 42 years and is one of the world’s leading concrete pigment experts. With over 350 Million LBS of pigment sold to date during his career, Murray knows color. It all began with Manufacturing Iron Oxide at Northern Pigment in Toronto Canada. He was involved in all aspects of pigment manufacturing including QC, blending and grinding, R&D and new particle development.
He has sold to all industries that use pigment including concrete and cement terrazzo, paint, plastic, rubber, textile, ceramic, brake linings as well as selling to other pigment companies including Bayer (now Lanxess) & Solomon. Career includes Regional manager for Western Canada and then the Southeastern U.S. with Pfizer/Harcros which later became Elementis/Rockwood & Venator.
Joined R&M Chemical Technologies, a leading admixture producer with an extensive range of Patented advanced efflorescence control products. Enhanced performance of long term color using unique pigment and admixture combinations was also an objective and lead to R&M being acquired by Master Builders/BASF in 2001.
Founded B&J Colorants and the brand BlueConcrete.com in 2002 focusing on a wider range of more affordable Blue pigments for use in concrete. These included Bluestone shades of pigment by combining Cobalt Blues and Black Iron Oxides. Supplied hundreds of concrete countertop producers throughout North America, Europe and Australia with thousands of new colors. Customers included Cheng Design/Concrete Exchange and Buddy Rhodes.
B&J Colorants merged with Delta Performance Products in 2008 and growth continued in the pool, paving stone, concrete countertop and Cement Terrazzo Flooring sectors. Moved on from Delta in 2011 and founded Clarke Colors. For the past 12 years, Clarke has worked closely with most of the world’s largest pigment producers improving and expanding the range of pigments for concrete and cement applications.
Now with Black Oxide BK555 (BK Triple Five), Clarke Colors is producing the World’s Strongest Black pigment for concrete that contains ZERO Carbon Black. BK555 is over 3 times stronger than all industry Black Iron Oxides. Black concrete is now possible as well as a wider range of much darker concrete colors by combining BK555 with Red 110 and 130, Yellow Oxide, Cobalt Blues, Green and many other pigments. Over 24,000 shades of Custom concrete colors are in the Clarke formula data base.
Clarke Colors is able to match over 95% of any paint color in concrete AND virtually any Epoxy Terrazzo color in Cement Terrazzo. The journey continues.
Over the past 15 years, I have created our precast products in 400+ custom colors for clients and I could not have had such great success if it was not for Murray Clarke’s pigments, insight and expertise…truly one of the industry’s Best
I have been working with Murray with Clarke Colors for over 10 years now. His knowledge of color blending and design background has helped me immensely with matching concrete colors and keeping up on all the trends that relate with my trade. He has taught me a lot about blending my own colors and mix designs which has enabled me to achieve a final product that keeps me ahead of the game with all my clients. Fair pricing for a quality product. Highly recommend.
I have had the pleasure to work and develop colorants for our Cementitious Terrazzo works with Mr. Murray Clarke for almost 10 years. Mr. Clarke and his team have consistently produced the colors we needed to match and accomplished the tasks at hand efficiently. Anyone looking for consistent service and colors… call Murray. His service is impeccable.
