US-based supplier of biopolymers NatureWorks, in which Thai firm PTT Global Chemical has a 50% stake, has located its first Asia Pacific (A/P) regional headquarters in Bangkok and has expanded its team of senior commercial, managerial and technical personnel to enhance support of its Ingeo customers throughout the region and to expand business.

"In many parts of Asia, most notably China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan, as in North America and Europe, Ingeo is already helping brand owners lower the carbon footprint of their plastic and fiber products, while giving these same companies significantly improved material price stability," said Marc Verbruggen, President/CEO, NatureWorks. "The opening of our first Asian headquarters is an important move as we add support for current customers and introduce Ingeo to many more."

Rich Weber will serve as the new A/P commercial director, and Viboon Pungprasert is the new general manager of NatureWorks Asia Pacific. Weber will lead existing Ingeo market development work throughout the region. He is also responsible for establishing and managing new distribution relationships in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. He will coordinate Ingeo sales across segments and geographies and will set up commercial operations to support regional business development opportunities. Viboon Pungprasert, the new general manager of NatureWorks Asia Pacific, will manage the NatureWorks A/P business from Bangkok.

The firm has also hired business development and technical personnel in Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan to increase support for customers and to further market development.

The company's first and only bioplastics plant, in the state of Nebraska, has an annual capacity of 150,000 tonnes. It is also planning a second plant in Asia, in Thailand, with a capacity of 75,000 tonnes/year. Last year, public-listed PTT Global Chemical bought 50% of NatureWorks for US$150 million.