Clariant’s Additives business is opening new facilities to foster R&D and joint application technology developments at its One Clariant Campus (OCC) in Shanghai.

It aims to bring faster lead times and more speed in development efforts for various application sectors including fibres, films, adhesives, coatings and inks.

Supplementing Clariant’s additives production facilities in China, the new R&D centre will offer customers from-the-ground-up opportunities for joint development and application testing, at every step of the value chain – from polymerization to compounding and conversion and to performance testing.

“The demand for high-end additives is growing strongly in China,” said Francois Bleger, head of the Clariant Additives business. “As local manufacturers develop more sophisticated processes, technologies and products to align with market needs and China’s environmental goals, sustainable additives can be key to boosting progress effectively and efficiently. Our new R&D centre creates the opportunity to be more agile in our development and foster China-relevant innovation from the start of the creative process.

Located in the main market for polyamide (PA) and polyester (PET) fibres, engineering thermoplastics and thermosets, and increasingly, biopolymers, the new facility will feature a state-of-the-art processing and testing laboratory equipped with related technologies such as for polycondensation, compounding, spinning, injection moulding and foaming, and establish a broad range of relevant testing and analytical capabilities.

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