HANGZHOU, China — Zhongce Rubber Group Co. Ltd. (ZC Rubber) has initiated work at a research and development center it built in partnership with the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering.
The new facility, located on Ningbo Institute property, will focus on the development of "novel environmental-friendly green materials," ZC Rubber said.
"We devote to develop the new R&D center to be the international advanced tire-materials research base to bring us new and special material to improve the tire performance to meet global customer's demands," said ZC Rubber President Shen Jinrong, who noted ZC Rubber and Ningbo Institute have been working together for 13 years.
ZC Rubber did not disclose details as to the size or staffing at the new center, nor the investment.
ZC Rubber said the new center ties in with its focus on technology to develop high-mileage and more environmentally friendly tires.
To this end ZC Rubber cooperates not only with Ningbo Institute, but also with other Chinese universities and institutes, such as Tsinghua University, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology and Qingdao University of Science and Technology.
"We will continue to cooperate with R&D institutes and universities to reinforce our core material technologies and develop highly competitive products to improve the market competitiveness around the global market." Mr. Shen said.