Materials: Jindal expands in Belgium; Croda invests in UK site

Indian maker of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) filmsJindal Films’ subsidiary in Europe, Jindal Films Europe, has increased its extrusion capabilities at its Virton site in Belgium. This expansion represents the next phase of its broad reinvestment strategy which was initiated in 2015 at its Brindisi facility.

A 10.5 m orientation line will be installed with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes/year. The new asset will replace production lines currently in operation in Virton and is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter, 2018.

“Virton is the most flexible plant to produce our wide range of specialty and new generation products,” said Serge François, Virton Site Director, Jindal Films Europe. “The new orientation line will allow us to better serve our valued customers with end products that meet their evolving expectations in terms of product innovation, quality and dimensions. In combination with the recently installed Global Technology Innovation Centre, the Virton site will be the launch platform for our next generation products.”

Jindal has affiliated production plants in Europe (Virton, Belgium; Kerkrade, The Netherlands; and Brindisi, Italy), and in the US (LaGrange, Georgia; and Shawnee, Oklahoma). The company and its affiliates have sales offices to support customer needs in countries around the world, including North America, Europe and Asia, with a total headcount of 3,000.

Elsewhere, also in Europe, speciality chemicals maker Croda is undertaking a major capital expansion at its Hull manufacturing site in the UK, which will nearly double existing capacity of additives. The £27 million investment is in line with the group’s strategy of investing in faster growth markets.

The Hull site is one of three polymer additive manufacturing plants in Croda, with the others located in Gouda, Netherlands, and Mianyang, China. The plants produce fatty acid amides and slip additives including Incroslip SL, the ultimate in high slip and stability. This investment further cements Croda’s commitment to the global polymer market and enhances its position as the market leader in this technology.

Established in the UK in 1925, Croday has 4,200 employees, across manufacturing sites and offices in 36 countries. Croda Polymer Additives is a global business offering speciality additives into a wide range of polymer applications to provide effects such as anti-fog, anti-static, anti-scratch, mould release, pigment dispersion, slip & anti-block, torque release, UV absorption and speciality plasticisers.