Clariant opened its new Leather Excellence Center in Ranipet, Chennai today. The Swiss-based specialty chemicals company has two Indian production sites, both located in the vicinity of major leather processing zones. The company said the excellence center will enable it to provide a central application laboratory and technical services for the whole country, and especially for all the key accounts across southern India.

"We see the country's leather related businesses growing and we expect to see above average growth for our products and services," said Oliver Kinkel, who heads up Clairant's global leather business. "We are looking for double-digit growth of the business in India."