Page 54 - Plastics News January 2017
P. 54
Business NEWS 10
INDIA 2017
International Plastics Exhibition & Conference
Where the future of plastic is...
JAN 2017
19 20 21 22 23 MUMBAI. INDIA
Indo-Swiss masterbatch JV plant
Swiss masterbatch producer Granula AG is forming a we see enormous opportunities in the steps India is taking
joint venture with Gujarat, India-based Som Shiva to open up the domestic market and moving to higher
(Impex) Ltd. to manufacture a range of masterbatches quality products,” he said. Currently, the company sells
at a new plant in the city of Ahmedabad. Friedrich proprietary compounds and formulated color, additives
Kosian, managing director of the joint venture Granula and combination batches in markets around the world,
including Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
Granula’s German plant in Rudolstadt supplies automotive
masterbatches to European car brands. “The majority, 90
percent, of the production of the German plant caters to
the automotive industry, and we are also targeting India’s
large automotive industry from Ahmedabad,” Kosian said.
Masterbatches India Pvt. Ltd., said the facility plans to Hindustan Petroleum Corp
open in April. The new Ahmedabad facility will be part of Ltd mulls 25% stake in 60 mln
the Swiss company’s efforts to reach out to its clientele in tpa refinery
Asian, African and Middle Eastern markets. Kosian said the
joint venture also plans to expand the India plant in the State owned Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL)
next year. “We will double the plant capacity in 2018,” is planning to pick a 25% stake in a US$30 bln mega
he said. Initially, it would provide direct employment to refinery and petrochemical complex being set up in
30 with more hires expected with the plant expansion. Maharashtra, India. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will
He said the joint venture has not ruled out further hold 50% stake and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL)
expansion in India: “If another plant is required at a will hold the balance 25%, in the 60 mln tpa refinery
later stage depending on growth in business and product and petrochemical facility- India’s biggest refinery.
acceptability, we may expand further in India.” Kosian The refinery and
declined to give details of plant capacity and investment petrochemical
from both partners. “We will mainly target sectors complex will
including food packaging, medical, cosmetic, household be set up in
electrical appliances and automotive industries in India,” two phases, of
he added. which the first
phase will have
The family-controlled companies have no previous a capacity of
commercial ties but have been known to each other many 40 mln tpa and
years. Kosian said the joint venture sees opportunities will have a naphtha cracker; and an aromatics and
with India’s growing middle class. “The demand for polymers production facility.
quality consumer goods is rising, opening up enormous
growth opportunities with the increasing size of the While the first phase will cost between Rs 1.2 and 1.5
middle class in India,” he said. Jürg Weibel, owner and lakh crore and will be started in 5-6 years from the
director of Merenschwand, Switzerland-based Granula date, land is acquired, the second phase will have a
AG, said in a statement that there is large unmet need 20 million tons refinery costing between Rs 50,000
for consumer goods in India. “As masterbatch producers, and 60,000 crore. The mega west coast refinery will
produce petrol, diesel, LPG, ATF and feedstock for
petrochemical plants in plastic, chemical and textile
industries in Maharashtra
• January 2017 • Plastics News 54
