HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Clariant Mining  will increase its global footprint in the production of PIBSA emulsifiers with the expansion of its plant in Victoria, Australia. The $3.5 million investment will allow Clariant Mining to better support its customer base in the Southern Hemisphere and will support the continued growth of the company in the Asian region.

The upgrade to the Australia plant will add to Clariant's existing PIBSA production capacity based in Tarragona, Spain. Once the Victoria plant upgrade is completed (estimated for late 2013), both plants will support global demand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres for Clariant's high quality PIBSA-based emulsifiers for explosives, which provide customers with superior emulsion stability, longer sleep times, better water resistance and greater shear stability.

"Clariant is committed to improving its supply chain for customers in the Asian region and across the globe, and this new investment will allow for dynamic growth in the Southern Hemisphere," said Andrew Forward, Global Business Development Manager of Explosives for Clariant Mining.

clariant.com

Clariant is an internationally active specialty chemical company, based in Muttenz near Basel. The group owns over 100 companies worldwide and employed 22 149 employees on December 31, 2011. In the financial year 2011, Clariant produced a turnover of CHF 7.4 billion. Clariant is divided into eleven business units: Additives; Catalysis & Energy; Emulsions, Detergents & Intermediates; Functional Materials; Industrial & Consumer Specialties; Leather Services; Masterbatches; Oil & Mining Services; Paper Specialties; Pigments; Textile Chemicals.

Clariant focuses on creating value by investing in future profitable and sustainable growth, which is based on four strategic pillars: Improving profitability, innovation as well as research and development, dynamic growth in emerging markets, and optimizing the portfolio through complementary acquisitions or divestments.

mining.clariant.com

Clariant Mining is a leading provider of flotation chemicals and explosion emulsifiers to the global mining industry. Clariant Mining's strong and growing team of technical experts operates around the globe and is dedicated to providing world-class specialty chemical solutions that add value to customers' mining operations. The company operates a state-of-the-art R&D laboratory at its headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas, which is dedicated to the development and optimization of chemical solutions for North American customers.

SOURCE Clariant Mining