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Degussa expands research capabilities in China

https://www.chemnet.com   Aug 15,2007 Keith Boi
14 August 2007 – Degussa has expanded its R&D centre in Shanghai, China, which includes the opening of a new technical centre for its high performance polymer business unit to develop new application and polymer technologies in the Asia Pacific region.

First inaugurated in 2004, the enlarged R&D centre located at the Xinzhuang Industry Park is expected to help strengthen collaborations between Degussa’s various business units and customers, universities, and research institutes in China.

“Our centre will also be the principle site for our marketing and sales activities,” said Dr Dahai Yu, regional president of Degussa China. He added that Degussa aims to raise sales in China to EURO800 million by 2009.

The newly unveiled technical centre houses a pilot plant where a comprehensive range of polymer processing machines and testing laboratories are installed.

Dr Stefan Schulze, Asia Pacific general manager of Degussa High Performance Polymers, explained that its specialty compound products are highly tailored towards customer needs, which necessitate the installation of injection moulding, tube and film extrusion, and compounding equipment to speed up the application development work conducted in the region.

Degussa remains committed to spend a significant share of its R&D budget on new technologies. In China, for instance, Degussa has worked with local partners to develop new polyamide materials for tube extrusion applications in automotive brake systems.

Another role the technical centre will play is to support the polymerisation and compounding plant Degussa is currently building at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park, for which the production of specialty polyamides is the frontrunner. An interesting development also announced is that the company is drawing up plans to produce polymers based on naturally sourced raw materials at the upcoming Chinese production facility
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