Albright and Wilson Chemicals India (AWCIL), incorporated on September 25, 1965, started operations in 1967 as a manufacturer of phosphate chemicals. Since then, and now a part of the Rhodia Group, its portfolio has grown by servicing home care, personal care, industrial and agrochemical formulations with inorganic phosphates and surfactants. It has two ISO 9001-2000 certified plants near Mumbai, manufacturing industrial phosphates and surfactants.
AWCIL is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and has staff strength of 25 in its Mumbai office. At Roha, located 140 km south-east of Mumbai, is the site making sulphuric acid and surfactants. Spread over 0.75 million square feet (8 hectares) and employing 120 people, it houses sulphuric acid, hexameta phosphate, sulphonation and sulphation units. This site also has the capability to produce solid surfactants. The manufacturing unit is located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. The shareholders gave their nod late in 2007 to sell the phosphate business along with the loss-making and closed company unit in the Thane district of Maharashtra. This is in line with its strategy to increase its presence in the home and personal care business. The company embarked on a four-fold expansion of capacity for the manufacture of surfactants at Roha. This new plant is expected to contribute towards future profits from 2008 onwards.
Business areas of the company:
The company manufactures and distributes acids and industrial phosphates, including sodium tripoly phosphate and active sulphonates; processing of linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid.
Milestones:
1965 - Albright and Wilson Chemicals India was incorporated on September 25, as Albright, Morarji and Pandit. Subsequently, on June 5, 1997, the company changed its name to Albright and Wilson Chemicals India. The company's ultimate holding company is Albright and Wilson, United Kingdom. It is principally engaged in the manufacture and sale of sodium tripoly phosphate and active sulphonates and in the processing of linear alkyl benzene sulphonic acid. The company also provides agency services to Albright and Wilson entities in connection with the sale of their products in India. Albright was promoted by Dharamsi Morarji Chemical Company, Albright Wilson of U.K. and S.P. Pandit and his family for manufacturing sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), a detergent raw material. - The company has tied up with Saltzgetter of Germany for technology.
1991 - A turbo generator set has been installed at Roha to utilise surplus by product steam from sulphuric acid plant. - To increase production at lower energy input, bigger furnace for manufacture of SHMP has been commissioned at Roha.
1992 - The company proposes to enter into an agreement for sale for purchase of the synthetic detergent and active sulphonate plant of the the Dharamsi Morarji Chemical (DMCC) at Roha which is adjacent to the company's Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid plant.
1994 - The company made a rights issue of equity capital in the ratio of 1:5 with 5% preferential allotment to employees at a premium of Rs 55 per share. - The company has entered into collaboration agreement with Albright andWilson, L.K. for supply of technology for the manufacture of international quality Di-Calciumm Phosphate.
1995 - B.R. Sule was appointed Chairman of the company with effect from October 1, 1994. - L.C. Work, Sharda Mukerjee and H.T. Kapadia retire by rotation and, being eligible, offer themselves for re-appointment.
1996 - The company had made a rights issue amounting to Rs 374.14 lakh during 1993-94 to part-finance a 3,000 TPA Di Calcium Phosphate (DCP) project. Subsequent to the rights issue the market conditions for DCP has changed adversely. - By a memorandum of understanding dated March 15, 1996. The Dharamsi Morarji Chemical Co. (DMCC) have offered to sell their entire shareholding in the company at a price of Rs 130 per share to Albright and Wilson UK (A and W) and A and W have accepted the offer, subject to requisite approvals of the authorities concerned. - W.M. Winstanley and J.R. Adsetts resigned from the directorship of the company and S.E. Chia and S.S. Foo were appointed directors in their respective places with effect from 13th February. - B.R. Sule and R.M. Goculdas retire by rotation and, being eligible, offer themselves for re-appointment. S.E. Chia who was appointed as director in the vacancy caused by the resignation of W.M. Winstanley, will hold office till the conclusion of the thirteenth annual general meeting.
1997 - The name of the company was changed to Albright and Wilson Chemicals India as approved by the shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting held on 10th April, after receiving the approval of the Central Government on 5th June, as required under the Companies Act. - The Dharamsi Morarji Chemical Co. to Albright and Wilson. Messrs R.M. Goculdas,J. L. Thakkar and H.T. Kapadia resigned from the directorship of the company with effect from 31st October, 1996. - Messrs L.C. Work and S.S. Foo resigned from the Directorship on 18th July and G.C.M. Kow was appointed as a director with effect from 4th August, 1997 in the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. L.C. Work. - S.P. Pandit retires by rotation and, being eligible, offers himself for re-appointment. Resolution for his re-appointment as a director is being proposed at the annual general meeting.
1998 - S.E Chia and Mrs Sharda Mukerjee resigned as Directors with effect from 20th February and 15th July respectively. - On 30th April, T. C. Tan was appointed as director in the vacancy caused by the resignation of S E Chia and H K Bilpodiwala was appointed as an additional direction G.C.M. Kow was appointed Chairman from 25th May.
1999 - The company received Certificate of Appreciation from the Government of India as a model contributor to the exchequer. - S.M. Datta was appointed as director on August 29, 1998. - S.M. Datta was appointed Chairman from February 8, 1999. - Naval Choudhary was appointed as Managing Director of the Company. - The Company had installed two electrostatic precipitators at the Roha unit to minimize emission levels. The Roha unit is presently in the 10th year of accident-free operations.
2000 - The company has decided to invest Rs 15 lakh for the acquisition of 10,000 No. of equity shares of Rhodia Chemicals India.
2001 - S.M.Dutta has stepped down from the Chairmanship of the company - D. D. Chopra appointed as a Director and Non-Executive Chairman of the company, from April 24.
2009- Albright and Wilson Chemicals India has informed that the Board of Directors vide their resolution dated June 09, 2009 have appointed Yogesh Thar as Director of the Company.
2010 - Rhodia launches a photovoltaic solar power facility project with Solairedirect and OFI Asset Management
- Rhodia launches a certified halogen-free Polyamide range for the photovoltaic industry
- Rhodia announces new powders to challenge the limits of plastics parts manufacturing.
2011 - Rhodia and Fulgar agree to expand Emana® intelligent textile yarn in the European market.
- Rhodia and China Rare Metals and Rare Earth Co., Ltd. signed a strategic cooperation agreement on rare earth business.
- Rhodia acquires worldwide FSSC 22000 accreditation for the manufacture of the company's brands Rhovanil® and Rhodiarome®
- Inauguration of the first international joint research unit in China dedicated to eco-friendly chemistry
-Company has changed its name from Albright & Wilson Chemicals India Ltd. to Rhodia Specialty Chemicals India Ltd.
2012 - Rhodia presents its Innovative and Wide range of Solutions for Hair Care Applications at SCS Formulate Trade Show in UK.
- Rhodia introduces Govanil™ an innovative generation of vanilla flavors offering a revolutionary taste experience in bakery and confectionery products.
- Rhodia and Tantalus sign LOI for technical co-operation and offtake from Madagascar rare earths project
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