Croda International Plc announced last week that it completed an expansion that doubled the size of its alkoxylation plant in Singapore. The plant combines amines with ethylene oxide or propylene oxide to produce a variety of amino alcohols, some of which are used in the lubricants industry.
The company, which is based in East Yorkshire, United Kingdom, said the 18 million (U.S. $27.8 million) project gives it additional production capacity close to growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
Croda produces specialty chemicals from plant and animal oils and sells them into a range of industries, including lubricants, coatings, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Chemicals sold into the lubricants industry are used as lubricity additives, friction modifiers, emulsifiers, dispersants and surfactants.
Asia-Pacific has seen several alkoxylation investments this year. Solvay opened the regions largest alkoxylation plant in Singapore in July. In March, AkzoNobel began building a facility in Ningbo, China.
Croda said its expansion was the largest investment in Singapore since the plant opened in 1990.