Cooper Tire opens R&D centre in China

Shanghai - Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has opened a 53 800-sq.-ft. technical centre near Shanghai to improve its service to Asian customers.

The Cooper Tire Asia Technical Centre, located in a light industry district in northwest Shanhagi, complements the company's North American and European research and development centres, Cooper said. It will be used for developing and improving products, implementing test programs, testing against competitor products and supporting marketing and sales activities.

Findlay, Ohio-based Cooper said the location of the centre helps bring resources closer to its Asian customers and enhances its ability to support other global markets.

The centre, in Zhudi Town/Minhang District, includes a tire forensics lab, tire and rim storage, support workshops, materials lab and a number of offices, conference rooms and work rooms. Cooper said it expects more than 50 engineers, chemists and technicians to work in the centre.

Cooper did not disclose its investment in the centre, which is located more than 400 miles from Cooper's tire plants in Rongcheng, Shandong Province.

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From Tire Business (A Crain publication)