SHANGHAI—ExxonMobil Chemical Co. completed a multi-million dollar expansion of its Shanghai Technology Center, including a new research and development facility.
The expansion, which brought the total size of the facility to 291,000 square feet, supports ExxonMobil's investment in a growing Chinese market and an increasing demand for chemicals, a spokeswoman said.
The expansion includes a large, multi-functional auditorium, training rooms and customer collaboration areas. According to the spokeswoman, the auditorium will have its own dedicated reception area to showcase company capabilities. The center houses analytical and testing laboratory equipment, commercial-scale product processing equipment for blown film extrusion, injection molding, profile extrusion and compounding, a seven-layer cast film line as well as tire testing capabilities.
The center, which opened in 2011, provides value-added technical service and application expertise to customers in China and across the region, the spokeswoman said. It also supports ExxonMobil's lubricant business through a combination of technical services, applications expertise, collaborative programs, training and marketing support.
By 2040, global energy demand is projected to increase by 25 percent, with much of that growth driven by China and the Asia-Pacific region, according to an ExxonMobil release. As living standards in that region improve, more consumers will buy refrigerators, televisions and automobiles, all using materials from byproducts of oil and gas. The expansion includes new test beds and processing halls to improve oils, polymers and other products. Those then can be used in applications such as automotive, consumer products and food packaging.
"We see tremendous growth and projected demand for our products in Asia, and the Shanghai Technology Center's expansion supports our work to meet this demand," the spokeswoman said. "The facility enables us to collaborate with customers on the next generation of affordable, safe and sustainable performance applications. This is essential for innovation in packaging, automobiles, building and construction, and consumer goods that enhance people's lives."
ExxonMobil held a ceremony to celebrate the expansion's completion, which was attended by company management, customers, local officials and employees.