Solutia Opens New Customer Service Lab In Suzhou, China

The new facility will support the company's laminate testing service program for customers located in the Asia Pacific region serving the Architectural, Automotive and Photovoltaic markets. The facility marks the third testing lab for the company, joining centers in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts and Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
 
"While Solutia has always taken part in rigorous internal and external testing of our Saflexinterlayers to ensure the quality of our products, the opening of a new customer service laboratory located at our plant in Suzhou, China brings this support to the Asia Pacific region," said Mark Slock, global technical service director for Solutia's Saflex division. "The new laboratory will allow Saflex applications staff to locally test laminated glass products made with Saflex polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers in-house to ensure that they meet critical Architectural, Automotive and Photovoltaic industry norms."
 
The new investment includes such essential testing equipment as a bake oven, thermal bath, pummel testing equipment and an impact tower. The customer service lab will also house a sample center, which will provide Saflex sheet samples on request to customers across the region.
 
"The investment in the development of this new facility has demonstrated to our customers an ongoing commitment to serving their needs," said Rick Calk, vice president of commercial operations for Saflex. "Previously, Saflex had used our lab located in Belgium to conduct laminate testing for Asia Pacific customers, which had become time intensive and resulted in long lead times for the market. By bringing laminate testing capabilities to our Suzhou plant, this allows Saflex to be more proactive and responsive to our regional customers' needs and requests for additional testing."
 
Solutia's Saflex business is the most trusted name in polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer technology for laminated glazing - delivering outstanding performance and durability, backed by reliable and knowledgeable service. As a result, it is found in nearly 40 percent of laminated architectural and automotive glass worldwide. Saflex interlayers are also used to encapsulate thin film photovoltaic solar cells, providing outstanding processability and durability.
 
For more information about Saflex, please visit www.saflex.com .