The Lubrizol Corporation, a global manufacturer of specialty chemicals, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to acquire a 120-acre plot in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, marking a significant expansion in India. The company plans to construct a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on the site, with the initial phase representing an investment of approximately $200 million. This investment is the largest ever made by Lubrizol in India.
Once completed, the new plant will be Lubrizol’s second-largest manufacturing facility globally and the largest in India. The construction will be executed in phases over the coming years, with provisions for future expansion to meet growing demand in the transportation and industrial fluid markets.
“Lubrizol has made meaningful investments in India for more than five decades,” said Flavio Kliger, President of Lubrizol Additives. “This new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will allow us to enhance our local capacity and capabilities for our Additives business with the potential to support other Lubrizol businesses and regions in the future.”
This announcement follows a series of significant investments by Lubrizol in India. In 2023, the company pledged $150 million for the construction of the world’s largest CPVC resin plant in Vilayat, Gujarat, the expansion of capacity at its Dahej site, the opening of a grease lab in Navi Mumbai, and the creation of additional jobs and innovation hubs in the country. Additionally, this year, Lubrizol inaugurated its first global capability center in Pune to foster regional growth and facilitate collaboration.
“Lubrizol understands the importance of a local-for-local approach, from India-based manufacturing to in-region innovation to continued investment in local talent,” said Bhavana Bindra, Managing Director of Lubrizol IMEA (India, Middle East, and Africa).
Nitin Mengi, Vice President of Lubrizol Additives IMEA and CMD of Lubrizol India, emphasized the strategic importance of this investment: “The growing transportation and industrial markets in India represent a tremendous opportunity, and Lubrizol is thrilled to be a part of the bright future of these industries.”
The Aurangabad facility will not only meet the demand within India but also serve as an export hub for surrounding countries and other Lubrizol sites. The commencement of manufacturing at the site is expected to coincide with Lubrizol’s 100th anniversary in 2028, marking a century of innovation and growth.
