5 June, 2026 15:42:22 IST 
US-based speciality ingredients firm, Ashland, has announced that its Life Sciences business has begun work on its fourth aquarius branded film coatings manufacturing facility in Ambernath, near Mumbai.
The new site is the company’s first tablet coatings manufacturing facility in South Asia and represents the largest manufacturing commitment in India to date. The Life Sciences business currently manufactures tablet coatings in the US, China and Brazil.
With proximity to Mumbai and seamless connectivity to key pharma clusters including Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, the site is ideally positioned to support India’s thriving generic drugs industry and expanding export footprint.
Once operational, the Ashland facility will manufacture a full portfolio of aquarius tablet coating systems and supply pharmaceutical and nutraceutical customers across India and the broader Asia Pacific region.
“Our Life Sciences strategy is to deliver organic growth while advancing our pharmaceutical excipients manufacturing footprint closer to the markets we serve,” said Alessandra Faccin Assis, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Life Sciences and Intermediates.
Ashland’s Life Sciences business serves manufacturers in more than 100 countries, delivering excipients that enable innovation, efficiency and compliance. The aquarius tablet coatings portfolio spans a broad range of applications, including immediate-release, enteric, sustained-release, barrier coatings and TiO₂-free systems, offering customers flexible solutions across diverse formulation needs.
“Our new facility reflects a clear strategic view of how Ashland is supporting the Asia Pacific pharmaceutical market. India is already the world’s leading supplier of generic medicines, and its formulation sector continues to grow at an exceptional pace,” commented Mr. Saju Joseph, General Manager, Life Sciences APAC and Regional Director. “Our decision to establish this plant in India is anchored in strong infrastructure, a highly skilled talent base and proximity to key customer centres. For our customers across India and South Asia, this translates into shorter lead time, reliable supplies, localised technical engagement and a partner aligned with their growth.”
