ExxonMobil adds state-of-the-art tire testing capabilities to Shanghai Technology Center
SHANGHAI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–February 28, 2017–ExxonMobil today announced that it has expanded the tire testing capabilities of its Shanghai Technology Center. A new state-of-the-art Inflation Pressure Loss Rate (IPLR) test room that evaluates a tire’s air pressure loss rate over time has been added.
The new facility, which expands upon the company’s global network of tire technology support centers in Baytown, Texas, and Bangalore, India, will help customers meet rising quality standards in the tire industry.
“With one in every three cars in the world being manufactured in China, we are committed to helping shape the country’s tire industry through ongoing investment in technology and people,” said Kurt Aerts, specialty elastomers and butyl rubber vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical Company. “These new capabilities place us closer to our customers so that we can better serve their needs.”
The state-of-art test room exceeds American Society for Testing and Materials requirements for IPLR testing. It features a combination of 44 passenger car radial and truck and bus radial tire test stations and provides computerized hourly readings using high precision digital transducers and a data logger. It is available for both internal and external research and development projects.
“Regional support in polymers technology is through the delivery of innovative solutions and the development of premium product applications, ” said Aerts. “Butyl rubber is a critical material for tire inner liners and, having invented it, we continue to demonstrate tire industry leadership through enhanced technology support capabilities.”
Opened in 2011, the Shanghai Technology Center is a 27,000 square meter full-service customer support center. It houses advanced analytical and testing laboratory equipment and commercial scale product processing equipment, including blown and cast film extrusion, injection molding and compounding. In addition, the center also supports ExxonMobil’s lubricants business through a combination of technical services, applications expertise, collaborative programs, training and marketing support.
As part of ExxonMobil’s ongoing investment in China, work recently commenced on a multi-million dollar expansion of its Shanghai Technology Center. The expansion includes construction of a new, state-of-the-art research and development building to support customer collaboration and growth.
About ExxonMobil Chemical
ExxonMobil Chemical is one of the largest chemical companies in the world. The company holds leadership positions in some of the largest-volume and highest-growth commodity chemical products. ExxonMobil Chemical has manufacturing capacity in every major region of the world, serving large and growing markets. More than 90 percent of the company’s chemical capacity is integrated with ExxonMobil refineries or natural gas processing plants. To learn more, visit www.exxonmobilchemical.com.
