PVC additives producer Reagens (San Giorgio di Piano / Italy; www.reagens-group.com) has established a joint venture with speciality chemicals manufacturer Indofil Industries (Mumbai, Maharashtra / India; www.indofil-innovative.com), part of the KK Modi group (New Delhi / India; www.modi.com). The Mumbai company specialises in acrylic processing aids and impact modifiers for thermoplastics. The purpose of the JV to be known as Indo-Reagens Plastics Additives will be to find cost effective and sustainable solutions for the heat stabilisers market, said Reagens CEO Ettore Nanni, who will also be president of Indo-Reagens.

The JV’s new production facility, being touted as the largest of its kind in India, will be located in Dahej, Gujarat. Prior to its completion during the current fiscal year, the young company will begin supplying additives from 1 April 2019, drawing product from Indofil's Dahej plant. The new back-integrated site will produce a full range of PVC additives, combining Reagens’ complete portfolio of products for rigid PVC, CPVC and flexible PVC – including tin stabilisers and boosters as well as liquid mixed metal soap systems – with Indofil’s vinyl additives range.

The joint venture will also offer technical support and services from its regional application laboratory centres based at Thane, Maharashtra and New Delhi. This will be supplemented by support from existing Reagens facilities.

Krishan Modi, chairman of the KK Modi group, said the JV partners have complementary strengths that can be leveraged to create sustainable solutions and products used in PVC and CPVC. He said the new company aims to become the main supplier in this key and fast-growing developing market, leveraging its calcium-organic solid stabiliser technology to offer converters a “real cost/performance alternative to lead-based stabilisers.”