PHILADELPHIA, March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC) broke ground today on its new world-class microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) manufacturing facility in Rayong, Thailand. The company will invest more than $100 million in the region's first fully integrated colloidal MCC manufacturing and blending site to supply the growing Asia market with FMC's industry-leading MCC. 

"Today is very exciting for FMC as we answer the call of our customers and the marketplace to help meet the growing demand for innovative food and beverage products in Asia," said Mike Smith, vice president and global business director, FMC BioPolymer, at today's ground breaking ceremony. "This state-of-the-art site, which increases our global MCC capacity for the food industry by 35 percent, will allow us to more easily and quickly supply the Asian marketplace with our MCC products and the tailored blends we deliver to meet customer needs."

The new facility is expected to come on line in late 2014 and will be fully integrated with MCC production, blending, packaging and warehousing. The Thailand facility will initially manufacture colloidal MCC, which is widely used as a key ingredient in food and beverages. However, the facility's design will allow for future volume expansion and the manufacture of different product lines for both the food and pharmaceutical markets. 

"We are continuing to invest in a great business to grow with our Asian customers," said Michael Wilson, president, FMC Specialty Chemicals Group. "Our new advanced food laboratory at the FMC Singapore Technical Center, which opened last year, along with the company's new Asia Innovation Center in Shanghai, scheduled to open late this year, plus this new manufacturing facility, are all symbols of our long-term commitment to support our growing customer base in this region."

The new Rayong, Thailand, plant is FMC's third MCC manufacturing facility. The company recently completed expansion at its BioPolymer MCC sites in Newark, Delaware, U.S., and Cork, Ireland. The Rayong plant will incorporate FMC's high standards of safety and environmental protection and has been recognized for its sustainability efforts by the Thailand National Innovation Agency.

FMC is also investing to broaden its line of food ingredients with the recent acquisitions of natural colors and pectin companies, making FMC the only company that integrates both texturants and colors for the food industry.

About FMC Corporation 
FMC Corporation is a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial, environmental and consumer markets globally for more than a century with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. In 2012, FMC had annual sales of approximately $3.7 billion. The company employs approximately 5,700 people throughout the world, and operates its businesses in three segments: Agricultural Products, Specialty Chemicals and Industrial Chemicals. For more information, visit www.FMC.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Act of 1995: Statements in this news release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning specific factors described in FMC Corporation's 2012 Form 10-K and other SEC filings. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. FMC Corporation does not intend to update this information and disclaims any legal obligation to the contrary. Historical information is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

SOURCE FMC Corporation