Rhodia hikes taste-masker production
capability to produce N-2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropylbutanamide (more
commonly known as WS-23) with the recent addition of a second
production stream at its UK facility in the Scottish town of Annan.
The new stream more than doubles Rhodia's capacity to produce the flavour and fragrance building block, which is used in over-the-counter pharmaceutical products as a taste-masker or enhancer, according to a company spokesman. The company also produces WS-23 at its facility in Dudley, near Newcastle in northeast England.
In addition to its pharma applications, the new production stream in Annan will be used to produce WS-23 for chewing gums, shower gels, beverages, and cosmetics applications where a physiological coolant is desired, Rhodia said in a statement.
"The new stream in Annan will enable us to meet customer demands and grow with the market," said Nick Green, president of Rhodia Pharma Solutions. "It positions us as the only company that can offer WS-23 from two facilities, both of which are cGMP compliant."
Rhodia is the leading producer of WS-23 in the world. The company is also a leading producer of popular flavour and fragrance ingredients such as methyl salicylate, vanillin and coumarin, as well as speciality surfactants and phosphorus derivatives for personal care products.
