Specialty chemicals supplier Clariant Ltd will pick up its pace of investing in China amid projections of surging demand for plastic materials during the nation’s latest round of urbanization. The Swiss firm will build a Ceridust production facility in Zhenjiang, in East China’s Jiangsu province, to serve the agriculture, packaging and automotive industries, said Christian Kohlpaintner, a member of the company’s executive committee. ÒThe plant design will allow future expansion, depending on market development. We expect to build the plant on our existing site in Zhenjiang, making use of its good logistics and proximity to markets,Ó he told a news conference in Shanghai.

Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, emphasizes its commitment to supporting the changing needs and future growth of ChinaÕs plastics industry at its Chinaplas 2014 press conference in Shanghai today. The company identifies latest supply – and service – related investments and solutions that respond to the megatrends affecting the region, and local needs for more innovative and sustainable products for end-markets such as packaging and Electrical & Electronics (E&E). ClariantÕs established Operations in more than 18 major cities across Greater China, include production facilities, sales offices and technical service centers. In 2013, ClariantÕs sales in the Greater China region increased by 7.3% compared to 2012, and reached CHF 646 million. With its strong presence in China, Clariant understands the needs of the local market and is committed to enhancing its capability to respond to the megatrends of ChinaÕs development and the evolving demand of local customers.

At the ÒGolden Horse Award CeremonyÓ held at the recent annual meeting of the Chinese Hotel Industry, Schindler China won the title of ÒPreferred Elevator Brand of ChinaÕs Five-star HotelsÓ. Over the past three decades in China, Schindler has gained a reputation for providing superior products and services to famous landmark projects around the country, including many international top-of-the-line hotels like Marriott, Hilton, Shangri-La, St. Regis, and Hyatt. The selection of the China Hotel Golden Horse Award is divided into four parts: 20% comes from a popular vote via the Internet, 30% from professional assessments, 20% from ÒGolden Horse customersÓ experience and 30% from jury votes. Among the four parts, the ÒGolden Horse customersÓ experience has gained particular attention. These ÒcustomersÓ are selected by the award sponsor, and act as Òsecret shoppersÓ who go out and test the specific service or product as a real customers would, and then rate their experiences.

ABB announced together with the Xiamen municipal government of Fujian, a southeastern coastal province in China, that it will invest USD 300 million over the next five years in the city to set up a new development and production hub for power products and low voltage products. When complete, ABBÕs existing plants in Xiamen will be relocated to the hubÕs upgraded facilities in the new Torch Hi-Tech Industrial Park where production capacity can be expanded. ÒThis investment is a strong sign of confidence in China and Xiamen,Ó said ABB Group CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. ÒWe continue to serve our Chinese customers with new technologies and products that were developed and made in China to improve energy efficiency and productivity.ÕÕ

Interroll Group, which is active in materials handling, logistics and automation, has opened a new Asian headquarters in Shanghai. This is a milestone in the increased expansion in the dynamic Chinese market, the company said on 28 March. In September 2011, Interroll already opened its regional center of excellence for Asia / Pacific in Suzhou, China. This competence center and the new Asian headquarters shall jointly accelerate the company expansion in China and improve the care of Chinese customers. In fiscal year 2013, Interroll recorded in China a growth in order of around 33%, 28% for the whole Asia.

Komax and its Chinese partner Yingkou Jinchen signed an agreement under which Yingkou Jinchen will acquire Komax’s 51% holding in their joint-venture company Komax Jinchen. Komax announced its intention of selling its solar business in August 2013. The sale of Komax’s holding in Komax Jinchen marks the completion of the first step. The transaction is still subject to approval by the appropriate Chinese authorities. Komax and Yingkou Jinchen set up Komax Jinchen in 2011 with the aim of providing the Chinese market with locally produced laminators. The Komax Group is a global technology company that focuses on markets in the automation sector. As a leading manufacturer of innovative and high-quality solutions for the wire processing industry, for the production of modules for the photovoltaics market and for systems for the manufacture of self-medication solutions, Komax helps its customers implement economical and safe manufacturing processes, especially in the automotive supply, solar panel and pharmaceutical sectors.

In the 2013 ÒInnovators of the YearÓ published by Global Science, ABB GroupÕs Corporate Research Center in China (CRC) was named among the “2013 Top 10 Most Influential Research and Development Centers”. This is the first such list to systematically assess enterprises which have set up R&D centers in China, evaluating their investment, local R&D achievements, personnel training, R&D management, contributions to the industry, integrated cross-border collaboration and overall strength of leadership, as well as influence on society. Innovation is a part of ABB’s DNA. As a global leader in power and automation technologies, ABBÕs annual R&D expenditure amounts to over one billion U.S. dollars, employing more than 8,000 scientists and collaborating with more than 70 well-known universities around the world. As one of the seven global research centers of ABB Group, ABB CRC was established in early 2005, with two major research laboratories in Beijing and Shanghai focusing on power and automation research in renewable energy on-grid technology, outdoor insulation, small parts assembly and other areas.

ABB Group’s business reached a new high in China last year, as the global power and engineering technologies supplier underwent its biggest expansion amid China’s industrial upgrading boom. Both orders and revenue of ABB China, the Chinese unit of the Swiss-Swedish group, reached USD 5.6 billion in 2013. Its revenue growth rose 7.7% from the previous year. ABB invested USD 136 million in the country last year. Its cumulative China investment has reached USD 1.8 billion. Gu Chunyuan, senior vice-president of ABB Group, said China’s national development strategy now emphasizes quality economic growth as well as “green”, low-carbon and sustainable development. ABB is willing to participate in China’s ultra-high voltage power transmission and new energy vehicle projects, as well as providing more industrial robots to optimize the nation’s manufacturing structure. China’s surging wealth accumulation and fast ongoing urbanization pace have caused labor-intensive industries to struggle as they face a myriad of difficulties, such as recruitment problems and high employee turnover rates, especially in the country’s communication and consumer electronics product manufacturing sectors.

Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. is in talks to sell as much as a 20% stake to ChinaÕs State Development & Investment Corp., according to two people familiar with the matter. The people, who asked not to be identified discussing private negotiations, didnÕt say how much Mercuria would raise through the sale. Chief Executive Officer Marco Dunand said last month a deal worth as much as USD 1 billion could be completed by the end of March, without naming the buyer. Mercuria, which was founded in 2004 and is now the fourth-largest independent commodity trader, has been seeking a strategic partner to buy a stake of 10% to 20% for more than a year. Introducing SDIC as an investor would bring Mercuria connections in China, the worldÕs largest commodity consumer. Beijing-based SDIC had assets of RMB 311.5 billion (USD 51.4 billion) at the end of 2012, according to its website. The state-owned enterprise, which holds investments in power, coal, food and agriculture, posted operating revenue of RMB 89.1 billion for that year.

Swiss specialty chemicals and plastics giant Clariant International Ltd. saw its profit from continuing operations grow almost 60%in 2013, even as the firmÕs overall sales were essentially flat. Continuing operations profit for 2013 checked in at CHF 323 million (USD 363.7 million) on sales of almost CHF 6.1 billion (USD 6.8 billion). Muttenz-based Clariant sold off several businesses during 2013, including emulsions and leather services. Including those businesses in 2013 results lowers the firmÕs overall profit to CHF 5 million (USD 5.6 million). Plastics and Coatings sales for 2013 were flat with 2012, but the unitÕs pretax profit fell almost 13% to CHF 256 million (USD 287.9 million). In the release, Clariant officials said that fourth-quarter 2013 masterbatch sales increased in all regions except North America. Latin America, Greater China and India contributed to fourth-quarter masterbatch growth, while the business environment in Europe improved slightly.