In a move company officials say will position it to expand its footprint in the growing Chinese automotive market, Chemetall—a business unit of Baton Rouge-based specialty chemical maker Albemarle—announced this morning the completion of its acquisition of all shares of its Shanghai Chemetall joint venture.
Chemetalll is a supplier of specialty chemicals, with a focus on processes for the surface treatment of metals and plastics. Chemetall says it expects to “actively participate in the dynamic growth” of the Chinese automotive industry—already the world’s largest—with its products for automotive components, coil and cold forming industries.
Established as a joint venture with two Chinese partners in 1995, Shanghai Chemetall houses a recently modernized regional research and development center in China’s largest city, as well as a tech center, with administrative offices and roughly 220 employees.
“With our very strong focus on the automotive market and our long-term relationship with leading automotive manufacturers, we are ideally positioned to further develop the business, provide advanced innovative technologies to the market and create value for our customers in this region,” says Shanghai Chemetall Managing Director Jin Hui in a press release.
Meanwhile, Chemetall also announced today it is now one of 48 suppliers to have been awarded “accredited supplier” status from airplane manufacturer Airbus. Chemetall also says it has been awarded the 2014 North American Metalworking Fluids New Product Innovation Award.
—Steve Sanoski
