From manufacturing special chemicals used across diverse industries, to discovering sustainable solutions for the fast-growing agrochemical industry, Solvay conducts an array of cutting-edge activities in Singapore.
The Belgian company is one of the earliest specialty chemical firms to expand their operations here. Solvay has been present in Singapore for over 30 years, growing its workforce to more than 200 employees today.
Singapore serves as its regional headquarters, housing five key regional business units of Novecare, Specialty Polymers, Aroma Performance, Energy Services, and Soda Ash. It also provides regional support for functions such as finance, HR and information services.
Solvay’s first manufacturing facility in Singapore is a state-of-the-art alkoxylation plant. Set up on Jurong Island in 2015, it is the largest of its kind for the company in the Asia Pacific.
The S$50m plant focuses on producing specialty alkoxylate surfactants, which complements Solvay’s facilities in India and China. These formulations are developed for products such as agrochemicals, coatings, as well as home and personal care products, all of which are in hot demand across Asia’s burgeoning consumer markets.
The plant can produce up to 50,000 tonnes of surfactants a year. The large scale plant receives ethylene oxide, a key raw material, via a dedicated pipeline from Shell, which is located nearby on Jurong Island.
In February 2014, Solvay set up a 1,100 square-metre laboratory to lead global innovation projects primarily for its business unit Novecare. It focuses on innovations in key sectors such as Home and Personal Care, Coatings and Oil & Gas. The lab also serves as a regional hub in developing sustainable solutions for the Agrochemical business, while providing technical support to Solvay’s regional customers.
