A delegation of high-ranking representatives from Sabic (Riyadh / Saudi Arabia; www.sabic.com), accompanied by Saudi state officials, is continuing its tour of China. After laying the foundation for a new polycarbonate plant in Tianjin – see Plasteurope.com of 11.04.2012 – the group made its way more than 1,100 km further south to Kangqiao, near Shanghai, to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the group’s new technology centre.

First announced in May last year – see Plasteurope.com of 23.05.2011 – the new 60,000 m² technology centre comes at a price tag of USD 100m and is due to be completed in 2013. It will house 400 employees, including commercial and corporate staff as well as a body of 200 scientists focusing on advanced engineering plastics for the automotive, E&E, IT, alternative energy, building and construction as well as infrastructure markets. The centre also includes the “China Automotive Innovation Hub”, which Sabic says will drive next-generation materials solutions.