LANXESS opens three production plants in Gujarat [01, February 2012]

February 1, 2012 8:44 am

Specialty chemicals maker Lanxess has inaugurated three new plants in Gujarat to serve the growing markets in India. The company has invested around Rs 490 crore and created roughly 300 new jobs at the site. Last year, the company has relocated its manufacturing.
The semi-crystalline products business unit that has started production at the new plant for high-tech plastics used by the automotive industry, including leading car manufacturers Tata Motors, Volkswagen and Ford.
In addition, the material protection products business unit inaugurated a plant for biocides used in the construction industry. Lanxess subsidiary Rhein Chemie also started up a plant for release agents and additives used in the manufacturing of tires and rubber products. Both plants were relocated from Madurai (Tamil Nadu) during the last year.
“Lanxess is heavily investing in the Indian subcontinent and this commitment has already paid off: We surpassed our 2010 sales already in the first nine months of 2011,” said Axel C. Heitmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Lanxess. Lanxess in India has achieved sales of nearly Rs 1,200 crore in the first nine months of 2011.
“We see a promising future for India ahead, with our customer industries all showing healthy growth rates. This justifies our investments in India, making it a manufacturing base for world-class products”, added Dr. Joerg Strassburger, Managing Director and Country Representative of Lanxess India.
Jhagadia is Lanxess’ second largest production site in India after its facility at Nagda in Madhya Pradesh. Jhagadia is a state-of-the-art, 18-hectare-site and the production facilities have been set up with the most recent technology. The company has also opened its new head office in Thane near Mumbai.
LANXESS is tapping into India’s growth with its flagship brands for high-tech plastics Durethan (polyamide) and Pocan (polybutylene terephthalate), which represent a lighter-weight plastic alternative to metals. In addition, they enable carmakers and car parts suppliers to realize considerable savings by providing less costly production methods and easier assembly. Lanxess will be showcasing its high-tech plastic products and innovative technologies at the Plastindia Expo from February 1 to 6.