Clariant said its future plans see making the site into a new global hub for its healthcare business, thereby speeding up the supply of high-quality ingredients for life-changing medicines and supporting pharmaceutical, personal care, home care, and industrial application customers.

In a major milestone, after successfully obtaining the drug GMP certificate, the Muttenz-based company said its Chinese site has become the country's first API manufacturer of advanced pharmaceutical ingredients with certified polyethylene glycol Polyglykol (PEG) 3350.

The successful production and registration of the pharmaceutical grade PEGs are examples of Clariant’s determination to grow its strategic business segment and support its customers, said Zhigang Miao, head of industrial applications in the Care Chemicals business.

Clariant is also looking to expand existing production capacity for its ethylene oxide derivatives (EODs) and broaden its chemical portfolio at Daya Bay. Here it said it wants to accelerate production of more sustainable ingredients that can help customers advance their environmental targets and create differentiated, more sustainable solutions to meet sector demands.

As one example, Clariant said its EcoTain-branded mild, plant-based surfactant Hostapon supports personal care brands and formulators in developing milder, cleaner beauty in applications such as solid beauty bars, body washes and cream-type shampoos.

With the new projects, Christian Vang, Head of Care Chemicals, said Clariant will advance this location to an integrated Multi-Purpose Plant / Ethylene Oxide Derivatives site, with good proximity to key manufacturing locations.

The markets the Swiss company serves from Daya Bay are evolving to reflect changing sustainability targets and end-product performance needs, Vang said, and “we want to bring our own innovation and expertise closer to these customers to help drive their developments forward.”

In October, Clariant said it would add a second production line for halogen-free flame retardants at the additives plant it is currently building at Daya Bay The first line is due to open mid-2023, the second some time in 2024.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist