Sigma-Aldrich unveils plans for Indian complex

Sigma-Aldrich and the Andhra Pradesh provincial government have announced that the company plans to construct an US$8m, 50,000ft² laboratory scale production complex in Hyderabad's ICICI Knowledge Park.

The facility, which will eventually house 70 to 80 new chemists doing contract research, process development and small scale custom synthesis work largely for pharmaceutical customers, will be constructed within the Sigma Aldrich's previously announced $88m capital budget for 2004. It will serve as a 'feeder site' for the company's larger scale production operations in Germany, Switzerland, the UK and the US. The company expects the facility, sitting on 10 acres of recently acquired land, to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2005.

In commenting on the planned expansion, Jai Nagarkatti, president - Scientific Research said: 'This complex is the next logical step in our company's expansion in India. From beginnings as a liaison office in 1992, our business in India has grown rapidly, doubling to just under $11m in sales over the past three years alone.'

Nagarkatti went on to say: 'We fully expect that A. Rajaram, our country manager, and his team headquartered in Bangalore will exploit these new capabilities to make India an even more important country in our truly global business portfolio. And we are pleased to be working closely with representatives of India's and Andhra Pradesh's governments to locate the complex in Hyderabad.'