By investing €18million in a new production line, Croda opens new growth prospects at its industrial site in Chocques, Northern France.

Croda International Plc (Croda), who create, make and sell innovative and sustainable speciality chemicals, has announced the launch of a new production plant at its Chocques site in northern France. With a value of €18million, the new facility, inaugurated yesterday in the presence of local elected representatives, will increase site production capacity by 20% and create 15 new jobs.

"This strategic investment in the French market is part of our global investment plan. We want to strengthen our activity so that the Chocques plant continues to be a major site for our activities in Europe and becomes a reference model," said Maarten Heybroek, Croda Europe President.

The Chocques site, in operation since 1927, has its own Research and Development department equipped with advanced technologies that make it the most advanced Croda site for alkoxylation in Europe.

The new production line, built around a new reactor, will increase the production capacity of the site by 20% to meet the growing demand in many industrial sectors including Personal Care, Health Care, Polymer Additives, Crop Care and Home Care.

It will also contribute to improving site performance in terms of efficiency, reliability and sustainable development. 90% of the site's energy needs come from steam produced by the Labeuvrière waste recovery center.