Chennai, India – Momentive Performance Materials (Momentive) has expanded capacity at its south India-based facility in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to support a strategic growth investment for polyurethane applications. The expansion is in line with growing applications for polyurethane in various industrial segments of the market.
“We have doubled the capacity to cater for the markets of India, Africa and the Middle East in order to fulfil the surging demand in these markets. The focus is also on ‘made-in-India’ for the domestic market, besides serving the other markets,” said Balaji B, a segment leader for slabstock PU at Momentive. The Chennai site has been equipped with locally produced machinery, in line with the Indian government initiative.
The capacity expansion aims to serve growing commitments in the region, whilst also providing high supply flexibility of environment-friendly, low-emission products like Niax silicone additives for bedding and furniture, insulation, automotive foams, and the new GeoCell product line for mattress-in-a-box applications.
Balaji said: “We have just launched GeoCell additives for mattresses-in-a-box applications to address the changing trend towards lightweight, compressed, easy-to-ship mattress-in-box demand.”
When asked about future investment plans, Balaji said: “We continue to invest closer to the customer base to meet the growing demand and are also committed to the government policies of supporting the region, for the region.” Momentive’s India portfolio is focusing on sustainability, design, and innovation, in products specific for the market.
Asked about growth, and without sharing the exact figures, Balaji said: “We are growing double-digit in India.” He said that it was experiencing single-digit growth in other markets.s
Momentive’s sIndia operation remain focused on specialty foams for slabstock, rigid and moulded foam applications. Recently, its Chennai facility has been given the additional responsibility of catering for the Southeast Asia market.
