National, February 10, 2017- Tata Chemicals (TCL), a global company with interests in business that focus on LIFE: Living, Industry and Farm Essential, today announced that it will invest Rs. 565 crores in setting up two facilities in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat to manufacture soluble dietary fibres and silica.
Tata Chemicals had signed an MoU with the Government of Andhra Pradesh on January 27, 2017 to seal a Rs. 270 crores investment plan wherein a state-of-the-art, biotechnology unit will be set-up in Nellore district for the manufacturing of soluble dietary fibres with cutting-edge health benefits. Additionally, investments of Rs. 295 crores have also been approved to set up a plant in the state of Gujarat for manufacturing precipitated highly dispersible silica.
While dispersible silica, a specialty chemicals, represents downstream value addition to TCL’s soda ash business, precipitated silica has applications in several industries including rubber, coatings, pesticides and oral care and seven patents have already been filed for the company’s product.
The move is in line with Tata Chemicals’ focus on innovation and zest for delivering quality and value to their customers. These products are a result of the company’s in-house Research and Development efforts and were undertaken at their Innovation Centre in Pune. The Innovation Center has already filed 7 patents for its technology for manufacturing highly dispersible silica.
Speaking on the recent investments decision, Mr. R. Mukundan, MD & CEO, Tata Chemicals, said, “These investments in path-breaking innovative specialty businesses marks a significant milestone in our transformation journey to build technology enabled differentiation in our products and brands. With our Highly Dispersible Silica investment in Gujarat, we are aiming to value add to our soda ash business, and through investment in nutritional solutions business in Andhra, we aim to ideally serve demanding and critical segments such of Early Life Nutrition (infant nutrition) and medical foods through ingredients, formulations and customized products.”
TCL’s current biotechnology-based nutritional solutions, food ingredients and exploratory efforts in nano-materials at the Innovation Centre in Pune are outcomes of using principles of sustainability and green chemistry.
About Tata Chemicals Limited
A part of the over US$ 100 billion Tata Group, Tata Chemicals Limited (TCL) is a global company with interests in businesses that focus on LIFE —Living, Industrial and Farm Essentials. The story of the company is about harnessing the fruits of science for goals that go beyond business.
Through its Living Essentials portfolio the company has positively impacted the lives of millions of Indians. Tata Chemicals is the pioneer and market leader in India’s branded Iodised salt segment. With the introduction of an innovative, low-cost, nanotechnology based water purifier; it is providing affordable, safe drinking water to the masses. Extending its portfolio from salt to other food essentials, TCL unveiled India’s first national brand of pulses in 2010.
The company’s Industry Essentials product range provides key ingredients to some of the world’s largest manufacturers of glass, detergents and other industrial products. Tata Chemicals currently is the world’s second largest producer of soda ash with manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. Starting April 1st 2011, these key international subsidiaries have been rebranded as Tata Chemicals Europe Limited, Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited, Tata Chemicals South Africa Pty Limited, Tata Chemicals North America Inc., and Tata Chemicals (Soda Ash) partners.
With its Farming Essentials portfolio the company has carved a niche in India as a crop nutrients provider. It is a leading manufacturer of urea and phosphatic fertilizers and, through its subsidiary Rallis, has a strong position in the crop protection business.
The Tata Chemicals Innovation Centre is home to world class R&D capabilities in the emerging areas of nanotechnology and biotechnology. The company’s Centre for Agri-Solutions and Technology provides advice on farming solutions and crop nutrition practices.
The company has also entered into a joint venture with Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory Ltd. Singapore (JOiL) to develop jathropa seedlings to enable bio fuels capability.
In line with its mission, ‘serving society through science’, the company is applying its expertise in sciences, to develop high-tech and sustainable products.