The site produces cement additives that improve grinding efficiency, reduce the cost of cement production and enhance cement performance, according to the company. In the coming months, the site also will begin manufacturing admixtures for use in the production of concrete. Beyond manufacturing, employees at the location are responsible for supply chain, quality control, product development, sales and technical service.

Work began on the facility this past December, and construction was completed in June. After a rapid scale-up of trial batches, the plant is now running full commercial production batches, the company said.

“India is one of the world’s largest cement-producing nations and a natural location for us to invest in our global network,” said Greg Freeman, vice president and general manager for Grace Construction Products-Europe. “The new facility in Chennai brings us closer to our customers, which enables us to better and more rapidly meet their needs.”

In addition to its proximity to customers, the location is expected to benefit from an educated, multilingual workforce, talented scientific pool and an accessible air and sea transportation network that helps accelerate the delivery of raw materials, according to the company.

W.R. Grace has operated in India for more than a decade since the incorporation of the company’s subsidiary, W. R. Grace & Co. (India) Private Ltd., in Bangalore. Over the years, offices have followed in Chennai, Gurgaon (a suburb of Delhi), Surat and Mumbai. In 2005, Grace acquired Flexit Laboratories, a manufacturer of chromatography products headquartered in Pune.

Grace manufactures, distributes or supports several additional products in India, including catalysts and additives used in the refining of gasoline and other fuels; silica products used in consumer and industrial applications; adsorbents that serve as desiccants; packaging sealants and coatings used in cans, bottles and containers; and chromatography products used in life sciences, organic synthesis and analytical sciences applications, according to the company.