A British manufacturer of speciality chemical ingredients has more than doubled the capacity of its plant on Jurong Island.

Croda International officially opened the new facilities yesterday in a ceremony held at the Fullerton Hotel.

Dr Nick Challoner, president of Croda Asia-Pacific, said in a statement: "This is another step... to develop and supply innovative solutions in Asia for our customers."

The nearly £18 million (S$38 million) capital investment will allow the firm to increase its production of products like emulsifiers, detergents and foaming agents through chemical processes.

It would also expand the breadth of products made here. It is Croda's largest investment in Singapore since 1990.

Croda, headquartered in Britain, said it intends to employ 12 to 15 new employees at the site and continue to invest here in the coming years. Croda opened its first sales office here in 1985. In 1990, Croda Singapore started manufacturing esters. It then started its first integrated alkoxylation plant in Asia on Jurong Island in 1999.

In April last year, Croda, whose speciality chemical ingredients enhance everyday consumer and industrial products, announced it had opened a Collaboration & Training Centre (CTC) in Singapore. The centre's facilities include product validation and claim substantiation laboratories, a hair and skin salon, and a training centre to support customer needs within the region.

Ms Cindy Koh, director of the energy and chemicals group of the Economic Development Board, said at the ceremony that Croda's expansion is a testament to Singapore's continued attractiveness as a manufacturing location for high-value-added speciality chemicals.

Croda has more than 3,600 employees working across 18 manufacturing sites and offices in over 30 countries. It focuses on delivering innovative ingredients for sectors like crop care, geo technologies, and healthcare.