In April, the Actega division opened a new laboratory building for coatings and sealants at its production site in Foshan. Elantas commissioned a new plant for wire enamels in Tongling, and BYK signed a contract for the purchase of a site for developing and manufacturing chemical additives in Shanghai.
With these projects, the Altana Group is investing a total of over €30m in the further growth of its China business.
“With our investment initiative, we’re aiming to increase our presence in Asia further with emphasis on China and take advantage of the enormous market potential here,” said Dr Matthias L Wolfgruber, CEO of Altana AG. “Consequently, the ability to act rapidly, efficiently and in concert with local managers and employees in these markets is critical for our success.”
In 2013, Altana achieved its highest growth rate in this region in China. The Asian region as a whole grew by 7%, driven primarily by the increased demand from China.
With the new research facility at its existing production site in Foshan, Guangdong Province, the Actega division is aiming to deliver even more intensive customer service and cut response times for inquiries relating to technical applications.
“We want to demonstrate our competence in the packaging industry even more definitively in the growing Chinese market,” said Dr Roland Peter, president of Actega Coatings & Sealants. “To do so, we speak our customers’ language and are now offering local, rapid development service.”
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