Specialty chemicals company Lanxess inaugurated its India Application Development Center (IADC) in Thane, Mumbai on 18 February.
“This moment fulfills a promise I made to our Indian team a year ago, affirming our commitment to strengthening our presence in India,” said Matthias Zachert, chairman of the board of management of Lanxess.
Lanxess, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, went public on 31 January 2005. Lanxess was spun off from Bayer Group in 2004. At the time, it was the largest industrial separation in Germany, generating significant attention in Europe. Over the past decade, Lanxess has strategically shifted its portfolio away from polymers towards specialty chemicals.
“This occasion is not just about celebrating our 20th anniversary; it is about looking ahead to the next decade, a period in which India will play a crucial role in our growth strategy. Over the past 20 years, we have established our place in the chemical industry. In the coming decade, we will continue to develop solutions that address our customers’ needs while contributing to a better future for our planet and people,” Zachert said.
The IADC underscores Lanxess’ strategic focus on India as a key market and innovation hub, enhancing the company’s ability to deliver high-value, specialized solutions tailored to local needs. In the first step, it integrates expertise from two key businesses in India: lubricant additives (high-performance additives and additive systems, synthetic base fluids and ready-to-use lubricants) and material protection products (antimicrobial, disinfection, and preservation solutions).
“By establishing the IADC, we are bringing our expertise closer to our Indian customers. This center will not only support innovation but also strengthen our ability to address evolving market trends with speed and precision,” Namitesh Roy Choudhury, vice chairman & managing director at Lanxess India, said.
Lanxess has a long-standing presence in India, with representation from all 10 of its business units and a workforce of around 800 employees. The company operates two production hubs: one in Jhagadia, Gujarat, focusing on Rhein Chemie, liquid purification technologies, and material protection products, and another in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh, which specializes in flavors and fragrances.
Expanding engineering team
The company is also investing in India’s engineering capabilities. Over the past year, it has been building an engineering excellence team. “India will become a hub for engineering talent, supporting not only our local plants in Nagda and Jhagadia but also projects across Europe and potentially worldwide. Our goal is to establish a team of 50–60 engineers who will drive innovation and operational efficiency on a global scale,” Zachert said.
