Imerys, a company specializing in the provision of specialty mineral-based solutions for industry, announced on Thursday the start of commercial sales of its new calcium aluminate plant. It was commissioned remotely from Lyon, France.
Imerys has invested 350 billion yen in building the Visakhapatnam plant and employs around 100 locals who have been trained to operate the plant.
The establishment of the plant enables the company to serve domestic customers with products tailored to their local needs. This is said to be a rare FDI in Andhra Pradesh since the beginning of the pandemic.
The new plant will supply both the refractories and construction markets with SECAR 70V, a calcium aluminate binder with controlled chemistry and optimized mineralogy for conventional casting applications, and SECAR 68V, a calcium aluminate binder for the growing demand for low-cement castings.
These products were developed by Imerys scientists to meet the specific needs of the Indian refractories and construction industry and adapted to the climate of the subcontinent, according to a communication from the company.
The plant will also serve as a distribution center for imported ready-to-use mortar and bentonite solutions to serve the rapidly growing infrastructure sector for applications such as sewage, tunneling and civil engineering in general.
The city was chosen for its port access.
Imerys India currently employs around 800 people at 16 industrial sites and eight sales offices. In addition to the production of calcium aluminate binders, the group produces special solutions for ceramics, plastics, polymers and refractory products.
“The opening of this new facility is an important milestone for Imerys. This is further evidence that the group continues to invest in growing markets and regions, said Alessandro Dazza, chief executive officer of Imerys.
Imerys, an MNC, deals with special mineral solutions for the industry with a turnover of 3.8 billion euros and employs around 16,400 people worldwide.