Solvay guar production expansion focuses on China

The facility will concentrate on the production of derivatized guar, which is a polymer produced from a bean that is mainly sourced in India.

As a naturally derived ingredient, it has proved to be increasing popular for natural and organic cosmetic and personal care products, where it is most commonly used as a hair conditioning ingredient.

Guar polymer has a wide range of applications​

That popularity has continued to increase due to the fact that there have been proven to have no adverse effects on health, and are also used in other products besides hair care, including shaving cream, soap bars and toothpaste.

The company has chosen to increase capacity at its Zhangjiagang site in Jiangsu province, which is focused on supplying the personal care sector, and in recent years has been increasingly over-stretched trying to meet demand for manufacturers of for high-end hair care products.

As part of the targeted 40 percent production increase, the company is also expanding production of guar at its Vernon, Texas facility in the US, which will focusing on supplying the substance to the oil and gas industry as a gelling agent, and in the agrochemicals sector, as an anti-drift formulation.

Expansion will meet 2016 growth ambitions​

“These expansions represent a significant step in the execution of our 2016 growth ambition,”​ Solvay Novecare president Emmanuel Butstraen said.

“They enhance our leadership position and will support the growth plans of our customers and their innovation needs.”​
The company also has a guar production facility in Melle, France, which gives it the claim to being the only worldwide supplier of Guar to be manufacturing in Asia, Europe and the Americas.