Clariant announced the inauguration of an important new extension to its production facility in Roha, southeast of Mumbai, India. The expansion doubles its capacity at the facility for pigments and pigment preparations. This higher output will enable the company to increase its market coverage in India and the neighboring countries of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and to provide products better tailored to customer needs.

The increase in capacity has been made possible with the introduction of the very latest equipment for high-end pigment preparation. The improved plant, in which Clariant has invested CHF 3.2 million (INR 20 crores), forms part of a strategic program that the company has been carrying out in recent years to support customers in emerging markets with high quality pigments and pigment preparations that comply with local and international eco-labeling schemes.

Pigments and pigment preparations produced at the Roha plant are for a wide range of applications, including interior and exterior coatings, packaging, personal, home and fabric care products seed coatings, and dispersions for printing.

“Clariant is investing across Asia to develop production, technical support and commercial service capabilities that will enable our customers in this rapidly growing region to be successful in growing their business,” said Hariolf Kottmann, CEO of Clariant. “The enhanced capability in Roha complements improvements we have made and continue to make in our various operations in China, Indonesia, and elsewhere.”

“The capacity expansion in pigments and pigment preparations will support our dynamic growth in the domestic Indian market for high quality, environmentally safer colorants and point of sales tinters used by our customers in coatings, printing and other special applications where we continue to experience double digit growth,” said Marco Cenisio, senior vice president and general manager Business Unit Pigments, Clariant.