Company News

Clariant upbeat about China, but cuts jobs elsewhere
While Swiss speciality chemicals company Clariant continues to strengthen its presence in China, with the opening of a new headquarters in Shanghai, in a global restructuring exercise it is undertaking it will reduce up to 100 jobs in eight sites, but not in China.

The new Chinese facility also includes a technical application centre for pigments. Clariant has also started up its new Quinacridon pigment joint venture in Hangzhou. Additionally, last year, Clariant launched a multi-purpose-plant in Zhenjiang. A new ethoxylation facility in Dayabay, the industrial hub in Southern China is currently under construction. Its opening is scheduled for mid-2011, bringing the company's investment in the country to CHF150 million over the last 30 months.

With an expected increase of 30% to come from sales in China, the country will gain a share of around 8% of the worldwide Clariant business. The company employs up to 1,300 people in China and is represented in 13 cities with a total of 21 locations.

In other news, the company will transfer its R&D staff from Switzerland to Germany, in line with its strategy of creating a critical mass for R&D in Germany, which is its global R&D hub.

In France, it is relocating its headquarters, while in the US and Turkey, it will close production sites to consolidate country production arrangements and reduce costs. In Guatemala City, Clariant will amalgamate three sites into a single production, warehousing and office facility. At its sites in India and Japan, it will close individual production lines.