Global specialty chemicals company LANXESS has announced the start of local manufacturing of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids (FRHF) at its Jhagadia facility in Gujarat, strengthening its manufacturing presence in India and expanding its ability to serve customers across India, the Middle East and other international markets.
The latest development follows the recent commissioning of the company’s manufacturing facility at Jhagadia and represents another milestone in LANXESS’ long-term growth strategy for India. By producing fire-resistant hydraulic fluids locally, the company aims to improve supply reliability, shorten delivery timelines and provide customers with easier access to advanced industrial fluid solutions. The initiative also aligns with the Government of India’s “Make in India” programme by increasing domestic manufacturing capabilities for specialty chemical products.
Production at the Jhagadia site will focus on LANXESS’ Reolube® range of phosphate ester-based fire-resistant hydraulic fluids, which are widely used in applications where fire safety, equipment protection and operational reliability are critical. These fluids are designed for demanding industrial environments, including power generation facilities and other sectors where hydraulic systems operate under high temperatures and challenging conditions.
The company has built a strong global reputation in fire-resistant hydraulic fluid technology through decades of product development and application expertise. Local manufacturing will enable customers in the India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) region to access internationally proven products supported by regional production and technical capabilities.
The expansion comes at a time when India is witnessing substantial investments in power infrastructure, industrial manufacturing and digital infrastructure. The rapid growth of energy-intensive sectors such as data centres, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing is creating increasing demand for high-performance industrial fluids that improve operational safety and equipment efficiency.
Commenting on the announcement, Neelanjan Banerjee, Senior Vice President and Global Head of the Lubricant Additives Business Unit at LANXESS, said the commencement of local production represents an important step in bringing globally established solutions closer to customers. He noted that manufacturing in India will strengthen customer support while enhancing supply chain reliability in one of the company’s fastest-growing markets.
The investment also complements LANXESS’ recently established Application Development Center in Thane, Maharashtra, which provides technical support, product development and application engineering services for customers in the region. Together, the Jhagadia manufacturing facility and the Thane development centre create an integrated network that combines production, research and customer support under one regional platform.
LANXESS believes these investments will strengthen its position as a trusted supplier of specialty chemical solutions while supporting industries that require reliable, high-performance products for critical operations. By expanding its manufacturing and technical capabilities in India, the company aims to meet growing regional demand, improve customer responsiveness and reinforce its commitment to long-term industrial growth across India and neighbouring markets.
