Indian expansions: Toray to launch PPS compounding; Milliken opens pilot plant

Japanese polymers maker Toray says it will build a new plant to produce polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) compounds at its site in Sri City, in India’s Andhra Pradesh state.

Production capacity will be around 3,000 tonnes/year, with operations scheduled to start early next year and the first samples to be supplied to customers from April 2027.

Torelina-brand PPS will therefore be added to the polyamides and PBT already compounded in India by Toray Industries (India), with the aim of meeting growing demand for engineering plastics, particularly for the automotive sector.

Under the Make in India initiative, which aims to turn the country into a global manufacturing hub, domestic manufacturers are increasing efforts to source locally and produce various types of components in India. In the same vein, the Production-Linked Incentive scheme supports the localisation of manufacturing and supply chains, reducing reliance on imports of raw materials and finished products.

For these reasons, Toray has also decided to strengthen its support activities for local companies by opening a new sales office in Pune, in Maharashtra state, in July.

In other news, US-based Milliken & Company has opened a new pilot plant facility in Pune, India, further strengthening its polymer solutions business and advancing its ability to accelerate innovation for customers worldwide.

The facility is designed to support end-to-end processing across powder, dough and paste, and liquid systems. By enabling the simulation of real-world manufacturing conditions, the pilot plant allows Milliken to develop scalable, reliable, and high-quality solutions with greater speed and precision, helping move ideas from concept to commercialisation more efficiently.

"The opening of this pilot plant reflects Milliken's continued investment in innovation and customer focused capabilities," said Joseph Varghese, VP Operations & Country Manager for Milliken in India. "By bringing advanced processing and testing capabilities together in one location, we can accelerate development timelines and deliver solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers globally."

The facility is equipped with advanced pilot scale machinery and flexible systems that support a wide range of processing needs, including mixing, extrusion, granulation, drying, and milling. Its capabilities span multiple formulation types, from powders to high viscosity liquids, allowing teams to replicate diverse production environments and validate processes under varying conditions. Built with high grade contact materials and integrated safety features, the site is designed to ensure efficiency, consistency, and safe operation across all activities.

Specialised equipment at the facility supports key processing and formulation requirements, from extrusion and particle size reduction to controlled granulation and temperature managed liquid blending. These capabilities allow Milliken to explore a broad range of applications and provide customers with solutions that are both technically robust and ready for scale-up.

With this investment, Milliken says it strengthens its ability to shorten development cycles, support faster scale up, and respond more effectively to evolving customer needs. The facility also expands the company's capabilities in consumer-packaged goods and adjacent applications, reinforcing its commitment to delivering innovation, speed, and customer collaboration across global markets.

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