Bayer MaterialScience has inaugurated a manufacturing facility for polyisocyanates at Ankleshwar, in the state of Gujarat, India. Polyisocyanates are used as raw materials for the production of polyurethane coatings and adhesives. With the investment of approximately EUR 20 million, the company wants to expand its business in India and to participate in the strong growth of this local market for coatings and adhesives.

The plant will produce Desmodur? N grades based on aliphatic hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). These raw materials are used for automotive, industrial and plastics coatings. Furthermore, Desmodur? L grades will be manufactured from aromatic toluylene diisocyanate (TDI). These are used as raw materials for wood and furniture coatings as well as for the formulation of adhesives for flexible packaging.

The initial capacity amounts to 15,000 tons per year. It will be increased in stages in the coming years in accordance with the predicted growth for polyurethane coatings and adhesives. The plant employs 35 people and adheres to state-of-the-art standards in terms of production processes, quality and safety. Ankleshwar was selected as the location because it is one of the biggest chemical manufacturing centers in India.

"This unit is the first of its kind in India and also a further indication of the confidence that Bayer MaterialScience places in this country and its economic future," said Dr. Tony Van Osselaer, Member of the Executive Committee of Bayer MaterialScience, at the inauguration ceremony.

Bayer MaterialScience already operates a production facility for thermoplastic polyurethanes in Cuddalore, an applications development laboratory for coatings and adhesives in Thane, and a regional technical training center for the Asia Pacific region in Chennai. The Greater Noida site, near New Delhi, is home to three new buildings that were inaugurated only recently: the EcoCommercial Building, the polyurethanes systems house and the Color Competence and Design Center for polycarbonates.