Materia, a green chemical technology developer, has planned to open a new catalyst manufacturing plant in Singapore.
In addition to catalyst production, the facility will include research and development activities. The site selection process for the new facility is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2011. The company expects to start the construction by the end of the year.
The initial operating capacity of the Singapore plant will produce 10 metric tons of catalyst by 2012 end. Materia Singapore, a newly formed subsidiary of Materia, will operate and control the activities of the new catalyst manufacturing site.
Dr. Michael A. Giardello, CEO of Materia, stated that the new facility expansion is an initial step in the company’s plan to better serve its customers' requirements. He added that there is a rising global demand for its Grubbs catalyst technology.
Robert H. Grubbs, Nobel Laureate Professor at the California Institute of Technology, added that he is excited to notice the increasing demand for the catalyst technology in Singapore.