• New rubber mixing/testing laboratory to accelerate development of innovative rubber products for domestic Chinese market
• Group R&D investments to increase by ten percent in 2009 despite economic downturn
• Investment of around EUR 10 million in facility

Qingdao/Leverkusen – German specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG today inaugurated the expansion of its High Performance Rubber R&D Center (RRCQ) in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. In doing so, the company is underlining its strategy of profitable growth in Asia through targeted investments in research and development.

“To be ahead of the competition especially in BRIC countries, we need to deliver tailor-made and innovative products to our Chinese customers. This new research center will give us a competitive edge by developing new products and applications for the growing Chinese rubber market,” commented Werner Breuers, Member of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG, at a media event.

“To foster such strategic developments, LANXESS is raising its Group R&D investments even despite the economic crisis. We will increase our expenditures by ten percent in 2009 to ensure top quality, reliability, and innovation for our customers and partners, especially in China – now and in the future,” added Breuers.

The expanded RRCQ has an additional 400 sqm rubber mixing/testing laboratory and a 400 sqm pilot plant. RRCQ covers an area of 3,000 sqm in total and enjoys complete functions, ranging from fundamental research involving the development of new products and techniques to technical customer support and preparing the commercialization of future inventions. The center, which is staffed by 15 employees engaged in research activities, is jointly operated by the LANXESS business units Technical Rubber Products (BU TRP), Butyl Rubber (BTR) and Performance Butadiene Rubbers (PBR), and represents an investment of around EUR 10 million.

Recently, LANXESS signed a cooperation agreement with Qingdao University of Science and Technology (QUST) to join forces in R&D and staff training for the rubber industries. The center of the Chinese rubber industry is located in and around the port of Qingdao and it is therefore not surprising that the university is the top address for Chinese rubber engineers.

“China is, and will continue to be, one of the major markets for LANXESS driving future growth,” explained Martin Kraemer, Country Representative of LANXESS Greater China. “In spite of the economic downturn, we expect long-term growth in the tire market and for other major rubber applications. Our goal is therefore to provide the Chinese market with value-added products by expanding our R&D network and local production to meet our customers’ exact needs.”

LANXESS’s first manufacturing plant in Qingdao, Rhein Chemie Qingdao, was built in 1999 to produce polymer additives for the electrical, electronics, and automotive industries. Since then, the company has made significant and ongoing investments in Qingdao, including a plant for the manufacture of lubricant oil additives.

 

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