Air Products further expands Asia Technology Center in Shanghai
Air Products has recently completed further expansion of its Asia Technology Center in the Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Shanghai, China. The expansion will accelerate the development of industrial gas applications and solutions for general industries, as well as the electronics industry, to support increasing demands in these high growth markets in China and across Asia.
Air Products was the first global industrial gas company to establish a R&D capability in China when it set up its Asia Technology Center in 2005 with initial focus on its performance materials business. The facility has already been through one expansion cycle in 2007. The recent expansion, which will double the lab footprint and R&D staff numbers over the next year, makes the Asia Technology Center the company’s second largest R&D facility in the world.
This expansion, built on the existing capabilities serving high growth performance materials segments including polyurethane chemicals, and epoxy and specialty additives for coatings, inks, adhesives and related markets, adds standard laboratories and high-bay space for industrial gas applications, product and process R&D, and analytical and testing capabilities for other key growth markets. These include metals processing, electronics packaging and assembly, industrial cryogenics, water treatment and energy applications.
Air Products has also established other R&D capabilities in Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand with each facility having specific market focus. All of these regional centers are fully integrated into the company’s global innovation network, and they complement and support one another by leveraging the company’s strength in materials and surface science, clean energy, applications technology and engineering excellence.
“Asia and especially China are growth engines for Air Products. The demand for industrial gases and gas applications has been increasing along with the strong economic growth in the region,” said Choon Seong Saw, Asia vice president, liquid bulk and generated gases, for Air Products. “We have been increasing our gases production capacities and have built a strong supply network to meet customers’ demands. This latest step to expand our Asia Technology Center’s capabilities will bring Air Products closer to our customers helping them achieve success through reliable supply and cutting edge solutions.”
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