US producer of engineered polymers Kraton Polymers LLC has opened a new technical centre in the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone in Shanghai, China. The centre will provide distribution capabilities, product testing, quality assurance and customer service to clients in the Asia Pacific region.

Kraton will maintain its existing technical centre in Tsukuba, Japan, to provide to support the local Japanese market and the rest of the region.

Kraton produces styrenic block copolymers, a family of highly engineered thermoplastic elastomers which add flexibility, resilience, strength, durability and processability to products including adhesives, coatings, and footwear products.