Reinforcing the company's research and development capabilities in Asia, Rhodia Group has launched construction of a new Shanghai R&D facility.
To be completed sometime this summer, the center will employ 150 scientists to support the firm's industrial operations in China and across the Asia-Pacific region.
“Asia-Pacific is really our fast-growing market,” Rhodia President Laurent Schmitt said in an interview at Chinaplas. In 2007, the company saw a 40 percent increase in sales in the region, and from 2004-2006, it had 55 percent growth. China is the fastest-growing country in the region.
To fill customer demand, the new research facility will focus on the automotive, electronic, home and personal care, oilfield and agricultural formulation fields. One of the facility's primary directives will be to help develop sustainable products.