Ashland Specialty Ingredients to open pharmaceutical laboratory in Düsseldorf

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland - Ashland Specialty Ingredients (ASI), a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), today announced plans to open a new pharmaceutical application laboratory in Düsseldorf, Germany, in December 2012. The laboratory will provide high-level technical support to Ashland's European pharmaceutical and nutraceutical customers.

"With a location central to major pharmaceutical and nutraceutical customers in the region, this new lab will enable us to offer sizable value and convenience to global multinational companies as we bring on board research projects," said Dr. Edmont Stoyanov, technical director pharmaceutical, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, ASI. "In addition, it will ensure our capability to realize novel ideas and developments quickly and sharpen our R&D profile. Ultimately, this will help strengthen our position as a leading innovator and deepen our relationship with originator companies, helping to boost our future sales."

The new laboratory will be outfitted with the state-of-the-art equipment covering all the processes required for classical pharmaceutical formulation and research. Staffed with experienced pharmaceutical experts, Ashland's Düsseldorf lab will ensure that Ashland's customers continue to receive the high level of technical support to which they've grown accustomed, and open doors to promising new opportunities.
The new laboratory will be part of Ashland's global pharmaceutical facilities network, which includes numerous laboratories and research centers worldwide, facilitating technical assistance for drug solubilization, including hot-melt extrusion and spray drying.

"Placing Ashland's experienced pharmaceutical experts in Düsseldorf will provide the highest level of technical support for customers in areas like granulation, coating and tableting, including direct compression, roller compaction and wet granulation," added Stoyanov. ""We can offer our European customers quick and detailed support on all tableting issues. The lab location in Germany will accelerate and optimize the cooperation with the R&D departments of our European customers."

Additionally, the lab will extend its services to host hands-on applications training and technical seminars for up to 20 people at a time.

Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers industry-leading products, technologies and resources for solving formulation and product performance challenges in key markets including personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, coatings and energy. Using natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers derived from plant and seed extract, cellulose ethers and vinyl pyrrolidones, Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers comprehensive and innovative solutions for today's demanding consumer and industrial applications.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Jennifer Knoblach
+31 10 497-5529
jknoblach@ashland.com