Ashland Life Sciences strengthens presence in Asia Pacific with strategic investment in aquarius™ tablet coatings manufacturing facility

WILMINGTON, Del., June 3, 2026, – Ashland, a global leader in specialty pharmaceutical excipients has announced the groundbreaking of a fourth Life Sciences’ aquarius™ film coatings manufacturing facility, located in Ambernath, Maharashtra, India. The new site is the company’s first tablet coatings manufacturing facility in South Asia and represents the largest manufacturing commitment in India to date. The Life Sciences business currently manufactures tablet coatings in the United States, China and Brazil.

Located in the well-established industrial hub of Ambernath, the new facility is strategically planned and strengthens Ashland’s ability to serve one of the world’s most dynamic pharmaceutical markets. With proximity to Mumbai and seamless connectivity to key pharma clusters including Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, the site is ideally positioned to support India’s thriving generic drugs industry and expanding export footprint.

Once operational, the Ashland facility will manufacture a full portfolio of aquarius™ tablet coating systems and supply pharmaceutical and nutraceutical customers across India and the broader Asia Pacific region.

“Our Life Sciences strategy is to deliver organic growth while advancing our pharmaceutical excipients manufacturing footprint closer to the markets we serve,” said Alessandra Faccin Assis, senior vice president and general manager, Life Sciences and Intermediates. “Establishing our aquarius™ tablet coatings facility in Ambernath reflects a clear strategic decision to localize excellence and innovation, strengthen supply chain resilience and deliver consistent, world-class quality across our global operations.”

A global strategy, executed locally
Ashland’s Life Sciences business serves manufacturers in more than 100 countries, delivering high-performance excipients that enable innovation, efficiency and compliance. The aquarius™ tablet coatings portfolio stands among the industry’s most comprehensive and technically advanced, with fully formulated systems engineered to enhance tablet aesthetics, optimize processing efficiency, improve moisture protection and meet evolving regulatory standards. The portfolio spans a broad range of applications, including immediate-release, enteric, sustained-release, barrier coatings and TiO₂-free systems, offering customers flexible solutions across diverse formulation needs. This facility positions Ashland to better serve India’s more than 3,000 pharmaceutical manufacturers with reduced lead times, enhanced technical support and improved supply chain resilience in the region.

“Our new facility reflects a clear strategic view of how Ashland is supporting the Asia Pacific pharmaceutical market. India is already the world’s leading supplier of generic medicines, and its formulation sector continues to grow at an exceptional pace,” said Saju Joseph, general manager, Life Sciences APAC and regional director. “Our decision to establish this plant in India is anchored in strong infrastructure, a highly skilled talent base and proximity to key customer centers. For our customers across India and South Asia, this translates into shorter lead time, reliable supplies, localized technical engagement and a partner aligned with their growth.”

To learn more about Ashland aquarius™ tablet coatings or to request a sample please visit: https://www.ashland.com/industries/pharmaceutical/film-coating-systems

About Ashland 
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a global additives and specialty ingredients company with a conscious and proactive mindset for environmental, social and governance (ESG). The company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including architectural coatings, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical. Approximately 2,900 passionate, tenacious solvers – from renowned scientists and research chemists to talented engineers and plant operators – thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex problems for customers in more than 100 countries. 
Visit ashland.com and ashland.com/ESG to learn more.

™ Trademark, Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries.

Media Relations:
Alissa Bye 
alissa.bye@ashland.com