Altana group invests Euro 30 mn for expansion in China

As a part of its plan to increase its presence in Asia, the German specialty chemicals company, Altana, is significantly expanding its presence in China. In April, the Actega division opened a new laboratory building for coatings and sealants at its production site in Foshan. Elantas, the company's division that produces insulating materials for the electrical and electronics industry, has commissioned a new plant for wire enamels in Tongling. And BYK, the division of Altana that supplies additives and instruments for the quality control, signed a contract for the purchase of a site for developing and manufacturing chemical additives in Shanghai. With these projects, the Altana Group is investing a total of over Euro 30 million in the further growth of its China business.
 
"With our investment initiative, we are aiming to increase our presence in Asia further with emphasis on China and take advantage of the enormous market potential here. Consequently, the ability to act rapidly, efficiently and in concert with local managers and employees in these markets is critical for our success,” declared Dr Matthias L Wolfgruber, CEO of Altana AG.
 
In 2013, Altana achieved its highest growth rate in this region in China. The Asian region as a whole grew by 7%, driven primarily by the increased demand from China. Currently, Altana operates eight subsidiaries, five production facilities and ten laboratories in the country. With 450 employees here, the company generated sales of around Euro 290 million, or 16% of its entire global business in 2013.
 
With the new research facility at its existing production site in Foshan, Guangdong Province, the Actega division is aiming to deliver even more intensive customer service and cut response times for inquiries relating to technical applications.
 
At the Tongling site in Anhui Province, already the world's largest production facility for wire enamels, the Elantas division is expanding capacity by a further 40%, to over 60,000 tonnes per year. “The new plant in China is an optimum fit for Elantas’ global strategy, and, along with the founding of a further Elantas subsidiary in Malaysia, a decisive step toward meeting the needs of our customers in the Asian region. It also backstops the sister plants in Europe, North America and India," explained Dr Guido Forstbach, President of Elantas Electrical Insulation.
 
With the signing of a contract to purchase a property of approx. 30,000 sq m in Shanghai, BYK is seeking to bundle its competencies in China. In addition to a large production plant, the Fenxiang Shanghai Chemical Industry Park will also be the home of the new BYK China headquarters with administration, a ware-house for raw materials and finished goods and a laboratory complex.
 
"With this integral concept, we are not only bundling our competence at the new Shanghai site, but we are also moving right to where our customers are and benefiting from the proximity to our suppliers and the ideal, attractive infrastructure," stated Dr Christoph Schluenken, President of BYK Additives & Instruments. Altana is planning to open this plant in 2016.
 
BYK started its own manufacturing operations in China very early on in order to meet customer needs locally. The division also operates multiple laboratory facilities, eg in Tongling, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.