MONEYMAKERS
catalytic converter plant: UK-based Johnson Mathey has recently entered into an agreement with Calcutta's Arora Group for setting up a catalytic converter plant in Delhi. The company would investUS $1.5 million for the project. The new facility is expected to be operational by third quarter of 1998. The Delhi plant would be completed in two phases. In the first phase, the plant would produce five lakh catalytic converters for four-wheelers and 1.5 million catalytic converters for two- and three-wheelers. Production is expected to commence by the year 2000.
bio-degradable plastic: The National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) is expected to introduce bio-degradable plastic by end-1998. General manager of NRDC, D K Bhardwaj, says that the plastic could be obtained by combining starch and low-density polyethy-lene (LDPE). The plastic, of "adequate mechanical strength', will require only two months under soil burial for complete degradation. Granules comprising 10 per cent to 40 per cent of starch and LDPE and a "binding agent' are used to make these new bio-degradable plastic sheets.