UniteChem Opens New R&D Center in Shanghai

UniteChem Group, a leading global supplier of light stabilizers for plastics in diverse high-performance industrial applications, has announced major investments to further expand the availability of its technical support capabilities for customers across Europe and worldwide.

As part of its commitment to invest 5 percent of the company's total revenues in R&D, UniteChem recently opened a second Research & Development and Innovation Centre in Shanghai, equipped with state-of-the-art testing, analytical and process evaluation equipment. [caption id="attachment_125790" align="aligncenter"] Comprehensive equipment at UniteChem's second Shanghai R&D and Innovation Centre includes an advanced multi-element analyzer with excellent reproducibility for intermediate products. (Photo: UniteChem)[/caption]   UniteChem Group CEO Junyi Lin states, "With expertise supported by more than twenty years of market experience in light stabilizers and other performance additives, we are committed to extending our capabilities beyond China and meeting the growing demands of global customers at all levels." "The investment in our new second Shanghai R&D Centre validates this strategy and is a logical complement to our recent sales expansion, including our European warehouse in Antwerp, Belgium, and our newly opened sales office in Düsseldorf, Germany." The new Shanghai Centre provides comprehensive testing, analytical and process evaluation support for global polymer and masterbatch producers, major OEM brands as well as local plastics converters and compounders. Personnel consisting of technical and industry specialists combining more than 30 years of specialized experience in plastic additives will more than double UniteChem's existing R&D and innovation capacity and is specifically designed to accelerate turnaround times for custom sampling for worldwide customers. In addition to injection molding, film blowing and casting machines, advanced equipment at the new R&D Centre is led by a high-performance twin-screw extruder offering a wide range of compounding tasks at screw speeds up to 1,000 rpm. A xenon and thermal oxygen aging chamber with large water-cooled fixtures and a carousel unit provides comprehensive accelerated aging testing. A multi-element analyzer for intermediate products offers excellent reproducibility while facilitating product modifications and process adjustments. A series of molecular weight samplers—for example, improving control of analyte retention, increasing mass spectral sensitivity, minimizing cross-contamination and helping to explore a range of different chromatographic options. Other instruments also include a torque rheometer, a plate vulcanizer and a UV/VIS spectrophotometer. European Sales Manager Heiko Strunz adds, "UniteChem has a proud history of pioneering the development of efficient and sustainable additive solutions, including especially hindered amine light stabilizers, for use in all major application areas of the plastics industry. Our expanded corporate R&D capacity now helps us respond more quickly while addressing important current trends and future market needs, and significantly brings our innovative services closer to both upstream and downstream customers."