- New production facilities for engineering plastics
- Initial capacity of 20,000 metric tons/year
- Investment of over EUR 10 million
- Start-up at the beginning of 2012
Specialty chemicals group LANXESS remains committed to its growth strategy in the BRIC states and plans to expand its production site in India. The Group is now set to build compounding facilities with an initial capacity of 20,000 metric tons/year for the production of the engineering plastics Durethan and Pocan at Jhagadia in Gujarat.
Construction of the new compounding facilities will begin this year and they are due to go on stream with a workforce of 60 at the start of 2012. “With an investment of over EUR 10 million, we will be strengthening our position as a premium supplier of high-tech plastics in the Asia-Pacific region. As one of the fastest-growing markets for high-tech plastics, India offers the ideal environment for this,” said Hubert Fink, head of the Semi-Crystalline Products business unit at LANXESS.
Together with the compounding plant in Wuxi, China, the new facilities will supply the entire Asia-Pacific region with Durethan and Pocan. LANXESS recently announced that it would be expanding capacity for the production of these high-tech plastics in Wuxi. This expansion will be completed by mid-2011 and will raise capacity in Wuxi to 60,000 metric tons per year.
In terms of its potential, India is on course to become the third largest consumer market for engineering plastics after the U.S.A. and China. The Indian economy as a whole is predicted to grow by around eight percent in the medium term, while the automotive sector is forecast to increase by as much as ten percent this year and in 2011. The electrical and electronics industries on the subcontinent are expected to expand by around ten percent in the medium term. Large numbers of global automakers, their suppliers and numerous international producers of electrical and electronics goods are already active in India or are investing in new plants. Many of these companies are already key customers of the Semi-Crystalline Products business unit. “Our new facilities in Jhagadia will enable LANXESS to supply its customers with high-tech plastics directly and quickly using short distribution channels,” added Fink.
The Jhagadia site has particular geographical advantages for Semi-Crystalline Products. The state is home to numerous plants operated by the business unit's customers. Excellent links to international ports ensure a reliable supply of feedstocks to the compounding plant and fast delivery to customers outside India. The state of Gujarat is also one of India’s leading chemical regions, which means very highly skilled technicians and engineers are available on the regional labor market.
LANXESS has invested a total of around EUR 50 million in the 13-hectare Jhagadia site. A new facility for ion exchange resins is due to start production at the end of this year. LANXESS will then have a workforce of approximately 250 employees at this site by the end of 2010.
The first construction phase for the new Jhagadia production site was concluded at the beginning of March with the completion of a facility for the production of rubber chemicals. Production has started in that facility as planned, after the relocation of the Thane operations in the state of Maharashtra.
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On this occasion, Dr. Joerg Strassburger, Managing Director and Country Representative, LANXESS India said, “We want to benefit from the growing opportunities offered by the Indian market, particularly from the user industries like automotive, electrical and electronics. We would now be able to cater to our customers in India locally, pertaining to Semi-Crystalline Plastics.”
About LANXESS:
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 5.06 billion in 2009 and currently around 14,300 employees in 23 countries. The company is represented at 42 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.
Information for editors:
100 years of synthetic rubber – interesting information about the anniversary and the numerous areas of application can be found at http://www.worldrubberday.com/.
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About Ankleshwar Industries Association
Ankleshwar Industries Association was established in 1978, when it was in the initial stage of industrial development. The AIA plays a keen role in catalyzing industrial growth in this area. It is one of the largest industrial estates in the Asian continent. More than 1200 industrial units work in this estate. Ankleshwar is known as the Major Chemical Zone of the State.
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