was relocated to Sins and finally discontinued. At the 1959 AGM, it was decided to back integrate into petrochemistry, and Montecatini was contracted to build the world's smallest cracker in Visp. The initial failure of this plant to meet its specifications triggered a CHF12mio penalty, which Lonza used to build a research center. 1962: Lonza acquired the Ftalital works in Scanzorosciate, Italy which manufactured intermediates for polyester resins, and started work on the new headquarters building in Basel. 1969 Lonza expands into the United States and founds Lonza Inc. in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. This and the acquisition of a Mapleton, Illinois plant producing sorbitol, tertiary amines and quaternary ammonium compounds creates the Chemical Specialties Business Unit. 1974, the group merged with aluminium firm Alusuisse, after which the group moved into the biotechnology sector. 1977: Lonza's first US fine chemicals plant starts operation in Bayport, Texas 1980: Lonza's Polymers and Additives Business Unit starts with HQ in Milan, and the acquisition of a plasticizers and unsaturated polyester resins plant in San Giovanni Valdarno site. 1984: Startup of the first multipurpose plants at the fine chemicals complex in Visp, Switzerland, marking the inception of Lonza's contract manufacturing business. 1985: Acquisition of Molding Compounds SpA (Brembate Sopra, Italy) a company producing Sheet Moulding Compound and Bulk Moulding Compound. 1990: Acquisition Reglar Srl (Scanzorosciate, Italy) another SMC and BMC producer and Resinmec SpA, Pontirolo Nuovo and Pandino, Italy, a thermoplastic resin compounder. 1991: Purchase of Duroform GmbH in Miehlen, Germany, another SMC and BMC producer, later incorporated into Polynt. 1992: Acquisition of Biotec sro, (Kourim, Czech Republic) a biotech producer of fine chemicals. 1996: joint venture 80:20 with the Economic Development Board signed for a $125mio, 70kt/y isophthalic acid plant on Palau Sakra. 1996: acquired Celltech Biologics and began producing mammalian cell cultures and monoclonal antibodies. 1999 Lonza de-merged from the Alusuisse-Lonza Group and listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange. 2005 Lonza Poland Sp. Zoo launched with construction of a new site in Niepołomice (Poland) for the production of compounds and unsaturated polyester resins. 2006,1Aug: Lonza S.p.A. changed its name to Polynt S.p.A., listed on the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange, on 30 October. This marked the exit of Lonza from the resins business. In 2020, Polynt is held by private equity. 2007: Lonza Singapore Pte Ltd. (the owner of the isophthalic acid plant) sold to Perstorp Group (already, and still