PU R&D expansions: Huntsman opens innovation centre in Belgium; Henkel opens second application centre in North Vietnam

US chemical firm Huntsman Corp. recently officially opened a new innovation centre in Tienen, Belgium, for its PU business. The new facility strengthens Huntsman’s research and development (R&D) capabilities and reinforces its commitment to customers in the region.

The new 11,000-sq-m facility comprises an analytical laboratory, two machine halls, and fully equipped and automated product testing facilities. Huntsman reports that the new facility boosts its ability to perform the entire product innovation journey from the formulation of initial ideas at lab scale through to the manufacture of novel systems and samples ready for customers to trial.

The innovation centre is home to more than 100 scientists from the company's Polyurethanes and Performance Products businesses and will support the application of Huntsman technologies in key markets, including adhesives, coatings and sealants, automotive, elastomers, energy, furniture and bedding, and insulation.

The Polyurethanes division of Huntsman is a global leader in MDI-based polyurethanes, serving more than 3,000 customers in more than 90 countries worldwide. Huntsman Performance Products manufactures amines, maleic anhydride and carbonates for a wide range of consumer and industrial end markets.

In other news Henkel, a global leader in adhesives, sealants and functional coatings, has launched a second application centre in Thanh Hoa, north Vietnam, to expand its support for leading sports and fashion brands in Asia-Pacific and China. The application centre will complement Henkel's existing center in Bien Hoa, Ho Chi Minh, to advance local capabilities and create further opportunities for collaboration and accelerate impactful innovation with customers.

Henkel expert operating the 2D PUR machine in Thanh Hoa’s Application Center.

"Our expansion from the south to the north of Vietnam with a second application center enhances our proximity with customers and reinforces our commitment as a strategic long-term partner to providing innovative solutions and robust support," said Corbett Wallace, Corporate Vice-President of Consumer Goods at Henkel.

The application centre will collaborate closely with Henkel's customers to develop new products and solutions to meet their needs and drive rapid progress in sustainability and innovation. Pursuing this, it will focus on enhancing expertise in bonding techniques, reducing manufacturing time, and tailoring customer solutions through technical training and trial opportunities. It will also leverage digital innovation to showcase advanced application solutions, improving efficiency and accessibility, and serve as a hub for process design and engineering.

State-of-the-art lab for footwear and fashion in Thanh Hoa’s Application Center.

Spanning over 500 sq m, the centre is equipped with a lab, application room, customer experience room, an office, and dedicated focus rooms for collaboration. It also offers leading automation facilities like auto spray applicators and PUR jet spray solutions to elevate production efficiency.

Dharmesh Shah, Regional Head of Consumer Goods in Asia-Pacific Emerging, said, "As the industry shifts its focus to manufacturing excellence, we look forward to the opportunities this center will bring and remain committed to driving speed to market, cost efficiency and sustainable growth together with our partners."

Through the centre, Henkel will also assist partners in sustainability by educating them on best practices, facilitating the adoption of alternatives such as water-based products, and implementing process simplification measures to reduce waste and energy consumption.

The application centre in Thanh Hoa is the latest addition to Henkel's global network of Sports and Fashion labs which includes locations in China, Taiwan, Korea, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. It will be digitally connected to Henkel's centers worldwide, facilitating collaboration and shared expertise across borders.

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