Jul 26 2010
Minerals Technologies Inc. (NYSE: MTX) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Specialty Minerals Inc., has agreed to construct a satellite precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) facility to supply Ballarpur Industries Limited’s (BILT) Sewa Unit at Gaganapur in the state of Orissa, India.
The facility will initially produce 15,000 metric tons of PCC per year and supply the paper-filling needs of the Sewa paper mill. The facility will be owned and operated by the existing joint venture company, SMI NewQuest India Private Ltd., and, subject to completing various contractual and regulatory formalities, is expected to be in operation early in the first quarter of 2011. Minerals Technologies provides PCC to BILT’s Ballarshah Unit in the state of Maharashtra, India, and to its paper mill in Sipitang, Malaysia.
“We are very pleased that Minerals Technologies will provide PCC technology to a third BILT paper mill, which continues to affirm the value of our strategic relationship” said Joe Muscari, chairman and chief executive officer of Minerals Technologies. “The addition of this facility brings our total number of satellite PCC plants in the region to ten, and is integral to our Asia growth strategy for PCC. We look forward to building a long and mutually rewarding relationship with this excellent paper company.”
BILT, part of the $4 billion Avantha Group, is India's largest manufacturer and exporter of paper. BILT's total paper sales for the most recent year exceeded 700,000 metric tons.
PCC is a specialty pigment for filling and coating high-quality paper. By substituting PCC for more expensive wood fiber, customers like BILT are able to produce brighter, higher quality paper at lower cost. Minerals Technologies originated the satellite concept for making and delivering PCC on-site at paper mills and the concept was a major factor in revolutionizing North American papermaking from an acid to an alkaline-based technology. Minerals Technologies constructed its first PCC satellite plant in 1986. Today, the company has 51 satellite plants in operation or under construction around the world and continues to lead the industry with consistent quality and technical innovation.