Underscoring its commitment not only to Poland, but to Eastern Europe in general, Swiss speciality chemicals producer Clariant (Muttenz; www.clariant.com) recently celebrated the ground-breaking of its new CHF 11.3m (EUR 9.2m) site in Konstantynow Lodyki / Poland. The colour concentrates plant, which will double the company’s existing masterbatch output in Poland, is due on stream in March 2014. Clariant did not specify the exact output of Clariant Polska, saying only that the new facility would “strengthen its position on Polish and European markets.”

The 6,800 m² site will include a production plant, laboratory, warehouse and offices, and offer a number of new job opportunities in the region. Once it becomes operational, Clariant will also use the location to develop new solutions geared towards specific customer needs. Commenting on the investment, Clariant International CFO Patrick Jany said, “Central Europe is a very promising market and Poland, as a large and dynamically growing country in the region, is the natural place for further investments.”