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[November 2000]
Johnson Matthey Opens New Autocatalyst Manufacturing Facility in India
Johnson Matthey has today opened its new autocatalyst manufacturing facility at Manesar in India's Haryana State. The Manesar facility has initial capacity to produce 2 million car catalysts and 4 million motorcycle catalysts per year and is capable of further expansion to meet future growth in catalyst demand in the region. A second phase of investment is already envisaged in which manufacturing technology will be included in the plant to enable the production of a future generation of emission control catalysts with the capability to meet tougher new standards.
India now represents an important market for autocatalysts. While legislation has been in place since 1995 requiring the use of car emission control systems in India's four main cities of Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi and Madras, it has been continually tightening throughout the country and extended to motorcycles and three wheeled vehicles. From April this year all new passenger vehicles sold in the National Capital Region of Delhi have had to meet equivalent to EU II emission standards and EU I equivalent standards have applied to the rest of the country. Most of India's other metropolitan areas will require vehicles to meet the same standards as Delhi from early next year and further legislation is expected that will implement new standards for progressively tighter pollution control over the period 2004 to 2007.
Commenting on the opening of the facility, Neil Carson, Executive Director of Johnson Matthey said: "This investment confirms our commitment to our autocatalyst customers in India where Johnson Matthey is the clear market leader. It also further strengthens our operations in the Asia region where it stands alongside our Technical Centre in Japan, our plant in Malaysia and our new factory in China, which will open shortly."
John Walker, Managing Director, CSD Asia Region said: "This major expansion of our autocatalyst business in India enables us to provide our customers with an even better service and will allow the manufacturing of the latest catalysts to meet the needs of this exciting market as emissions standards continue to tighten."
ENDS