Expansions: Lanxess opens lubricant additives plant in India; Evonik opens PEEK magnet wire lab in China

German specialty chemicals firm Lanxess recently inaugurated a new lubricant additives production facility at its chemical manufacturing site in Jhagadia, Gujarat, marking a significant expansion of its local manufacturing footprint and reinforcing its commitment to India’s fast-growing lubricants market.

Designed to serve both domestic and international markets, the facility will primarily cater to customers across India, West Asia, and other key global markets. The facility has been developed with a strong focus on safety, energy efficiency, and responsible environmental practices.

The new plant represents a significant milestone for the lubricant additives business in India strengthening its position in the region.

Hubert Fink, member of the board of management at Lanxess, commented, “India stands at the forefront of global economic growth, offering significant opportunities across industries. Lanxess is committed to deepening our presence and investing in India’s future, aligning our long-term strategy with the nation’s dynamic potential. Through prudent investments and a focus on sustainable growth, we aim to contribute meaningfully to India’s evolving industrial landscape.”

The company also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) bringing its technologies to the Indian market. In addition, Lanxess has also started third-party manufacturing activities for the business unit lubricant additives in India.

In other news, compatriot German chemical firm Evonik has announced the opening of its PEEK Rectangular Magnet Wire Lab during an inaugural ceremony at the Chinaplas exhibition recently. Built to serve the needs of major Chinese and Asian markets, the lab will focus on research and innovation for polyether ether ketone (PEEK) powder-based applications for electric motors, especially for new energy vehicles , which are hybrid-electric or fully electric-drive vehicles, and constitute a growing segment of the regional and global automotive market.

“The NEV industry chain in China and across Asia Pacific is rapidly moving upmarket and globalizing, raising the bar for performance limits and delivery speed of critical materials,” said Jinhong Zhang, Vice President and General Manager of Evonik’s Asia-Pacific region, High Performance Polymers business line. “This lab will support our work with partners to advance the large-scale adoption of Vestakeep PEEK solutions in electric-drive systems, magnet wires, and equipment.”

Among other tasks, the lab will focus on key technical challenges in magnet wire applications, including processing-parameter optimisation, coating-structure design, improved adhesion performance, and control of dimensions and concentricity. In collaboration with third-party organizations, the lab will carry out reliability tests on key electrical properties such as breakdown voltage (BDV), partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV), corona resistance, and oil-aging resistance, providing material assurance for safe, long-term operation of NEV electric-drive systems. The lab will also be used for sample preparation, validation of new PEEK formulations, and benchmarking against standard products, helping customers accelerate new product development and qualification.

As NEV drive systems evolve toward higher power density, higher efficiency, and greater reliability, magnet wires used in motors place increasingly stringent requirements on heat resistance, electrical performance, and long-term stability of insulation materials.

The Evonik lab is set up to cover the full process chain, from copper conductor pretreatment and PEEK extrusion coating to in-line dimensional inspection and final winding. Additionally, the new pilot extrusion line uses internationally leading core components and is designed and integrated locally, combining high quality and high reliability with flexibility.

SUBSCRIBE to Get the Latest Updates from PRA    Click Here»