Stahl, a Netherlands-based manufacturer of speciality coatings for flexible materials, has reopened its coatings facility in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu, after a six-year closure. The reopening marks a strategic expansion of the company’s manufacturing and research capabilities in India.
The Ranipet site will focus on leather finishing, performance coatings, and packaging coatings. The upgraded facility integrates production, research and development, application testing, and laboratory functions under one roof to improve innovation speed and collaboration with customers.
Originally commissioned in April 2000, the Ranipet unit had remained closed since 2019. The reopening follows the company’s recent divestment of its wet-end leather chemicals business and aligns with its “local for global” strategy aimed at strengthening regional production.
“The reopening of our Ranipet site is an important milestone in Stahl’s transformation journey,” said Maarten Heijbroek, Chief Executive Officer of Stahl. “This investment reflects our strategic focus and aligns our capabilities with future market demands. Being able to produce locally in India strengthens our position and enables us to better support our customers with tailored, innovative solutions.”
The modernised facility features advanced automation and environmental management systems, including a wastewater treatment plant that recycles all process water to achieve zero liquid discharge. The site currently employs about 140 people, many of whom were part of the original workforce prior to its closure.
Ranganath BV, Managing Director for India and Bangladesh, stated that the reopening marked “both a homecoming and a new beginning,” adding that the company aims to enhance local manufacturing and innovation to serve regional and global customers.
India is among the fastest-growing markets for Stahl across its three business segments. The company said the facility’s expansion would enable closer engagement with customers and faster development of sustainable, high-performance coatings for domestic and export markets.
Founded in 1930 and headquartered in Waalwijk, the Netherlands, Stahl develops speciality coatings and process chemicals for flexible substrates, including leather, textiles, and synthetics, serving customers across the automotive, apparel, and packaging industries.