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Chemetall, the global surface-treatment technology business of BASF Coatings, has launched its first laboratory in Vietnam in Tay Ninh Province (formerly part of Long An). The facility provides product testing services and technical support for customers in the surface-treatment sector, serving industries including automotive and motorcycle manufacturing, general manufacturing, and plastics recycling.
The new laboratory is described as Chemetall’s strategic investment project aimed at strengthening technical capabilities and better meeting the growing needs of customers in Southeast Asia. Chemetall said it is committed to providing advanced surface-treatment technologies and professional technical services to support customers’ success in a fast-changing regional market.
Ms. Evelyn Shen, Vice President of Chemetall Asia-Pacific, said speed is a key competitive advantage in Southeast Asia. She added that upgrading local technical capacity adds value for customers and helps the company meet increasingly complex requirements and the evolving needs of fast-growing markets such as Vietnam, with faster pace and higher flexibility.
The laboratory is fully equipped to analyze samples of solutions, test panels, and specific surface parts. It can also run small-scale trials of existing surface-treatment processes. Chemetall said the facility is intended to streamline testing and performance assessment, helping ensure that surface-treatment technologies are applied to materials that meet stringent technical requirements and perform effectively under real-world use conditions.
Mr. Mike He, Regional Director, Applications Technology, Chemetall Asia-Pacific, said the company is deploying advanced technical capabilities and expertise closer to customers and partners. He added that this strengthens collaboration, shortens the time from testing to results, and provides local technical support to address customers’ technical challenges.
Chemetall said the launch of the new application laboratory in Vietnam continues its expansion in the region, bringing the total number of application laboratories in Asia-Pacific to eight facilities, including locations in Australia, China, India, Singapore, and Thailand.
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