NEW YORK,
April 23, 2009
(Business Wire) -
Minerals Technologies Inc.announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Specialty Minerals Inc., has entered into an agreement with Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT) to construct a satellite precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) facility at BILT's Ballarshah Unit in the state of Maharashtra, India. The facility will produce approximately 65,000 metric tons of PCC per year and supply the paper-filling needs of the Ballarshah pulp and paper mill and BILT's Ashti Unit, located a short distance away. The facility will be owned by a newly formed joint venture company, SMI NewQuest India Private Ltd., and is expected to be in operation during the fourth quarter.
"We are very pleased that BILT has selected Minerals Technologies to construct and operate a satellite PCC plant that will provide our PCC technology for their uncoated freesheet paper machines at its Ballarshah and Ashti mills," 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 nine, and is integral to our Asia growth strategy for PCC. We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship with this excellent paper company."
BILT, part of the $3 billion Avantha Group, is India's largest manufacturer and exporter of paper. BILT's total paper sales for the most recent year exceeded 600,000 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 53 satellite plants in operation or under construction around the world and continues to lead the industry with consistent quality and technical innovation.
