Rallis opens Gujarat plant to build polymer for aerospace industry

ANKLESHWAR: Gujarat will now house the world���s only facility to produce poly ether ketone ketone (PEKK), a high-end application polymer used in the aerospace industry.

Rallis India has set up the facility in Ankleshwar to produce advanced composites for US-based Cytec Engineered Material, which will move further into new-age aircraft making.

Rallis, the Rs 760-crore agrochemical leader, has invested about Rs 10 crore in the 1,00,00 kg PEKK production facility, and aims to achieve exports worth Rs 400 crore over five years.

Rallis chairman R Gopalakrishnan inaugurated the plant at Ankleshwar on Monday. Talking to ET, Mr Gopalakrishnan said, ���After posting a Rs 100-crore loss in FY 2002-03, Rallis is now back in the black. The company has increased profit and capacity to invest in new factories. The new facil-ity highlights the company���s strong international alliances in contract manufacturing and its commitment to expand in new fields.���