Speciality chemicals producer Lanxess (Leverkusen / Germany; www.lanxess.com) has broken ground for its EUR 10m compounding facilities at its production site in Jhagadia, Gujarat / India. The new plant will have an initial capacity of 20,000 t/y and will start producing “Durethan” PA and “Pocan” PBT compounds at the beginning of 2012 – see Plasteurope.com of 22.06.2010. The development will create 60 new jobs. The company has invested around EUR 60m in the 13-hectare Jhagadia site, including in the new compounding facilities.

A plant for ion exchange resins as well as a rubber chemicals plant both started up production in 2010. The business currently employs around 230 people in Jhagadia. Lanxess board member Rainier van Roessel said at the groundbreaking ceremony: “Jhagadia provides the perfect platform to strengthen our position as a premium supplier to our customers not only in the rapidly-growing local market but also in the Asia-Pacific region.”