Solvay Upgrades Facility In India

Brussels based biopharma major, Solvay group has decided to expand and upgrade its facilities in Panoli in Gujarat.

The expansion will result in the creation of a new, world class production unit for polyetherether ketone (PEEK) and other materials in the ultra-performance segment of the specialty polymers business.

The installation will be built to provide for a natural expansion of production, resulting in a stepwise increase in capacity as warranted by demand. It will come on stream in the first quarter of 2008, with a production capacity of 500 metric tons per year of KetaSpire, the new line of PEEK products developed by Solvay Advanced Polymers.

Vincenzo Morici, general manager of the specialty polymers strategic business unit, Solvay said, "The expansion of the Panoli plant and the launch of our new KetaSpire PEEK materials are instrumental in our high and ultra performance polymers strategy. With these expansion and upgrade plans, we can capitalise on the inherent strengths of Panoli, which contributed Outstanding talent to the Group, as well as a prime location at the heart of the world's fastest growing economies."

Solvay employs some 30,000 people in 50 courtiers. In 2005 its consolidated sales amounted to $10.75 billion generated by its three activity sectors, chemicals, plastics and pharmaceuticals.