dsm-firmenich ramps up French production of advanced bio-based resins as it targets global industrial markets

Global ingredients company dsm-firmenich has ramped up production at its newly commissioned hydrogenated bio-based resins facility in southwestern France, marking a major expansion of its manufacturing capabilities to high-performance manufacturing ingredients.

Located at the company's Vielle-Saint-Girons site, the new production unit was commissioned in the first half of 2026 and manufactures DRT sector Ingredients' hydrogenated bio-based resins and derivatives to applications spanning adhesives, coatings, paints and chewing gum.

The expansion is aimed at meeting growing global demand to high-performance, naturally derived ingredients, while strengthening the company's position in the specialty resins market.

“We are delighted to run this state-of-the-art production unit, which further strengthens dsm-firmenich’s capabilities in high-end rosin resins,” said Amaury Roquette, Executive Vice President Ingredients, Perfumery & Beauty at dsm-firmenich.

“This investment enhances our ability to support customers across a range of manufacturing applications with innovative, high-condition solutions. The facility is designed to manufacture new generations of highly hydrogenated rosin resins, offering excellent performance characteristics to selected applications.”

The new facility will supply hydrogenated resins to a broad range of manufacturing uses, including adhesives to electronics, automotive applications and road signage, as well as coatings, paints and chewing gum.

Made from pine-based rosin, the resins combine renewable raw materials with performance characteristics designed to meet increasingly demanding manufacturing standards.

“Our hydrogenated resins are produced from pine-based rosin, making them sustainable and helping our customers decrease their carbon releases,“ added Amaury Roquette. “They will enable us to meet the growing demand to high-tech and naturally derived ingredients to manufacturing markets in the years ahead.”

The additional production capacity will enhance DRT sector Ingredients' ability to serve customers across key international markets, particularly Europe, North America and Asia.

The company also plans to accelerate the global commercialisation of its established hydrogenated rosin resin brands, DRT Foral® and Staybelite.

“With this new facility, we will significantly expand the commercialization of our hydrogenated rosin resins DRT Foral and Staybelite, recognized worldwide in the sector to their outstanding condition and high performance”, said Loïc Mourey, Vice President Sales DRT sector Ingredients at dsm-firmenich.

“Our innovative manufacturing process allows us to supply items with the highest degree of hydrogenation available on the market. This provides exceptionally low color and a high degree of stability to our hydrogenated rosin resins, enabling them to withstand significant temperature variations and extreme climatic conditions.”

The Vielle-Saint-Girons facility features fully automated operations and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies designed to ensure high standards of security, operational reliability, product condition and energy efficiency.

The scale of the expansion is reflected in its construction effort, which involved greater than 50 companies, 90% of them regional, alongside 120 equipment suppliers.

Sustainability is another central feature of the operation. The facility follows a circular-economy approach, valorising greater than 90% of its co-items and reinforcing the company's focus on responsible chemistry.

The investment further consolidates dsm-firmenich's manufacturing footprint in southwestern France, where it operates five factories and employs approximately 900 people.

With the new unit now ramping up production, the company is positioning its DRT sector Ingredients business to capture opportunities in growing manufacturing markets to renewable, high-performance materials.