The new center is anticipated to leverage global talents and also serve as the Asia Pacific center for the company’s Composites segment. It will also focus on combining knowledge with future technologies in order to solve the customers’ challenges.
Shanghai/China – Ashland has recently opened a new Composites research and development technical service center in the Jinling Valley Sci-Tech Industrial Park. This move will reinforce the company’s commitment to innovation. The new center in Shanghai will leverage global talents along with facilities to strengthen the company’s innovation as well as commercialization efforts and serve as the Asia Pacific technical center of Ashland’s Composites segment.
The new composites R&D technical service center will focus on combining existing chemistries knowledge with future technologies to solve customers’ most complex materials challenges. The center is nearly 1500 square meters and will house approximately 20 scientists and engineers who will lead R&D efforts on advancing technologies for markets such as transportation, construction, marine and infrastructure products, enhancing and driving closer partnerships with customers.
Ashland is a global leader in unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins and gel coats. The Composites business manufactures and sells a broad range of general-purpose and high-performance grades of unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins, gelcoats and low-profile additives for the reinforced plastics industry. The products in the Composites business provide an array of functional properties including corrosion resistance, fire retardance, ultraviolet resistance, water and chemical resistance, high mechanical strength, impact and scratch resistance and high strength-to-weight ratios.
With the opening of the new center in Shanghai, Ashland will be able to expand and reinforce its global R&D expertise via local channels. The center is designed to meet current and future needs of customers in the rapidly growing Asia Pacific region.
