The firm will invest CHF 50m (€35m; US$45m) over the next three years in the construction of a new nicotinate plant to help it meet growing market demand, fulfill long-term customer commitments and support and grow Lonza’s global leadership in vitamin B3. The new plant will serve the global and Chinese food, animal feed, pharmaceutical and cosmetic markets. The Nansha facility will provide an additional 15,000 tonnes of product per year, increasing current capacity by more than 40%. The capacity will be added in phases, with the first phase expected to come on stream in 2011, followed by full operation in 2012. Nicotinates, including both nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, are vitamin B3 supplements used in the food, animal feed and pharmaceutical industries.