Chemical firm Lubrizol to invest $150 mn to build CPVC resin plant in Guj

US-based specialty chemicals company Lubrizol Corporation on Monday announced investment commitments of more than US$150 million across several projects in its portfolio in the country.

The proposed investment will go towards building the world’s largest CPVC resin plant at Vilayat in Gujarat in partnership with Grasim Industries; Doubled its CPVC capacity at its Dahej Gujarat plant to 1.4 tons. The Berkshire Hathaway-owned company said in a statement that it has opened a second grease plant in Navi Mumbai.

Founded in 1928, Lubrizol supplies specialty chemicals to the transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Its products include additives for motor oils and other transmission-related fluids, additives for industrial lubricants, and additives for gasoline and diesel fuel.

The Wickliffe, Ohio company operates more than 100 manufacturing, sales, and technical office facilities around the world and employs more than 8,000 people.

“India has a favorable climate for business investment, including in many of the industries we support,” said Rebecca Lippert, President and CEO of Lubrizol, announcing the investment.

“We are building on 50 years of success here by adding new manufacturing sites, laboratories, and research and development, supporting innovation within the country and adding jobs that benefit from the growing workforce and working conditions in this country, allowing us to serve needs not only in the local market but also,” she added. in neighboring countries.”

She said that the new investments will enable the creation of 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Lubrizol has been operating in the country since 1966. The new investment will enable Lubrizol to own the world’s largest CPVC resin production facility with Grasim Industries.

Lubrizol and Grasim, the flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, will break ground on the first phase of a 1 lakh ton CPVC resin plant at Grasim’s Vilayat site later this year. This will be the largest capacity of a single CPVC resin production site globally, the company statement said.

Lubrizol will double its current CPVC pipe production capacity in Dahej from 70,000 tons to 1.4 tons, and plans to set up a domestic R&D center, which will be the second global R&D center after North America.

With this investment, Lubrizol has become the only company in India with end-to-end CPVC capability. This plant will also serve Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

The company said it also plans to boost capacity at its Turbhe, Navi Mumabi grease plant by opening a new lab to support the testing and development of calcium sulfonate greases.