Ashland Inc. Celebrates Opening of Mumbai Technical Center

MUMBAI, India, November 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

New chemical advancements to coatings and construction industries for India and Asia markets

Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) today celebrated the opening of its new technical center in Mumbai, India. The new Ashland Technical Center will develop additives and ingredients that deliver high-performance characteristics sought after by coatings and construction industry professionals. Approximately 100 customers, suppliers, channel partners and media members gathered with Ashland's senior management team and technical center employees to mark the opening.

The technical center offers the latest technologies for rheological additives, surfactants, foam-control agents, buffers for water-based paints, additives for cement dry ad-mix and for construction chemicals. "We are extremely pleased to open this high-technology facility in India," said John Panichella, president, Ashland Specialty Ingredients, during the opening ceremony. "We recognize the value and expertise available in India and look forward to the opportunities our new technical center will bring to this growing region of the world," he added.

Nandu Dhekne, vice president, Asia Pacific, Ashland Specialty Ingredients, spoke to those gathered during the customer welcome reception before the opening ceremony. "We have centered our efforts on bringing a world-class facility to India and have accomplished that goal," he said. "The technical and support functions that will be associated with this facility will continue to position Ashland Specialty Ingredients as an industry leader." Plans call for the technical center to be expanded to offer solutions for the personal care industry in early 2012.

Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers industry-leading products, technologies and resources for solving formulation and product performance challenges in key markets including personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, coatings and energy. Using natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers derived from plant and seed extract, cellulose ethers and vinyl pyrrolidones, Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers comprehensive and innovative solutions for today's demanding consumer and industrial applications.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications. Visit http://www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline).