Hyderabad, Aug 10 (IANS): Ion Exchange (India) Limited, a leader in water and environment management solutions, on Friday announced the launch of its new Research & Development Centre at Patancheru in Telangana.

The centre will focus on the company's chemicals, resins and membranes business. It will also provide technical and scientific support to the company's existing technology and engineering segments for designing new processes and products, the company said.

The R&D centre, which has come up with an investment of Rs.30 crore, will develop new resins, membranes, polymers and speciality chemical technologies related to water, waste water treatment, process separation and purification, speciality process application and catalysis.

The microbiology lab within the centre will lay emphasis on enzyme research and application specifically for the textile and food & beverage industry. Many of these products will be import substitutes with very large potential for enhancing the company's exports.

Spread over 24,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art R&D centre is certified by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). It includes latest analytical instruments and is manned by a team of highly qualified and experienced researchers.

Rajesh Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director, Ion Exchange (India) Limited said that this centre is an expansion of current research and development facility in Hyderabad and Navi Mumbai and will provide an impetus to enhance the company's competitiveness.