Lonza Building B3 Plant in Nansha

BASEL, Switzerland Lonza will build a new vitamin B3 manufacturing facility in Nansha, China, a leading high-tech, life-science area of the country. The companys board of directors approved the investment to help meet growing market demand, fulfill long-term customer commitments and support Lonzas global position in the food, feed, cosmetic and nutrition markets for nicotinates, including nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. Lonza plans to use synergies from existing operations, including the local presence of its Engineering Business Unit, to optimize the operation.

The new facility will provide additional 15,000 metric tons of product per year, representing an increase of more than 40 percent over current capacity. Lonza will invest approximately CHF 50 million (US$45.1 million) in the construction of the new nicotinate plant over the next three years. The capacity will be added in phases, with the first phase expected to come on-line in 2011, followed by full operation in 2012.

The new facility underlines our commitment to be the global leader in the nicotinates business and to deliver the food, feed, cosmetic and pharma industry with high quality vitamin B3 products, said Roman Quinter, senior vice president and head of Lonzas Nutrition Ingredients business. We will also take advantage of very promising innovations in technology and process development. These innovations will provide cost and efficiency advantages to all the companys nicotinate facilities.