Bayer MaterialScience (Leverkusen / Germany; www.bayerbms.com) has officially broken ground on the third expansion phase of its Polymer Research & Development Center (PRDC) at Shanghai / China. The centre, planned to be operational by H2 2012, is part of the company’s EUR 1 bn capital spending scheme for China announced in December 2010 – see Plasteurope.com of 10.12.2010.

Following the expansion, the number of employees at the research facility will nearly double from the current 130 staff, BMS said. It will then have a full range of R&D expertise and include “solutions-focused offerings” for customers in specific industries such as mobility, renewable energy and construction.