PennWhite to establish a manufacturing plant in Chennai

PennWhite India Private Ltd (PWI), a subsidiary of Manali Petrochemicals Ltd (MPL), has announced plans to build a manufacturing plant in Chennai, India. The facility will focus on producing foam control chemistry to meet the rising demand in India and across Asian markets.

The company has secured a long-term lease for land and a building at Oragadam, near Chennai, for the proposed internally funded manufacturing unit. However, investment details were not disclosed.

PennWhite, headquartered in Middlewich, UK, is a leading global manufacturer of antifoam chemistry under the FoamDoctor brand, along with a diverse range of specialty chemicals. These chemical processing aids are widely used across industries, including food and beverage processing, wastewater treatment, printing, oil refining, coatings, and construction.

The expansion into India follows PennWhite’s acquisition by MPL in November 2022. MPL, an integrated manufacturer of polyols, is part of AM International, Singapore. To accelerate its presence in the Indian market, PennWhite India Private Ltd was incorporated in February 2024.

“Last year, we established PennWhite India Pvt Ltd as the first step in our long-term investment plan for India. Additionally, last month, we announced the acquisition of a competitor’s defoamer business in India. Today’s announcement marks the next phase of our growth in the region,” Tobias Tasche, Chief Executive Officer of PennWhite Ltd, UK, and a Director of PennWhite India Private Ltd. said.