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The grand opening of the Castrol China Technology Centre took place in Shanghai’s Pudong Jinqiao Science Park yesterday, marking an important step in the development of Castrol’s global technology strategy.

The new facility will be dedicated to developing lubricant technology solutions for the automotive, aviation, industrial, offshore and marine market sectors in China.

The opening ceremony was attended by Zhu Jiajun, Deputy Governor of Shanghai Pudong New District, Mike Johnson, Chief Executive Lubricants, Chen Liming, President of BP China, Dr. Angela Strank, Lubricants Technology Vice President, and Paul Turner, Regional Director China & North Asia, as well as more than 100 distinguished guests.

The Castrol China Technology Centre comprises specialist laboratories dedicated to conducting lubricant development and modification, a friction testing centre to evaluate and screen new formulations for industrial and automotive applications, a driveline testing laboratory and a vehicle workshop for testing product performance.

The Technology Centre features a state of the art conference centre for 60 people that includes the latest in audio visual equipment and 3D cinema. The conference centre will be used to hold high level technology training and industry symposia.

The centre has been designed to operate to the highest international standards of performance and quality. It will employ 26 scientists and engineers from China and abroad who will focus on leading edge lubricant technology development and support, as well as providing world class training for customers and distributors.

Mike Johnson said: “The Castrol China Technology Centre is the first of its kind in China and demonstrates our long-term commitment to Chinese customers and consumers. Together with Castrol’s Research & Development centres in the UK and Germany, it will deliver a world class technology capability and will significantly facilitate Castrol’s global brand strategy. China is a very important market to us and we are confident that we will be able to provide the highest quality products and services.”

Zhu Jiajun, Deputy Governor of Shanghai Pudong New District, extended warm congratulations on behalf of the District Government on the opening of the Castrol China Technology Centre, and said: “We welcome Castrol in choosing Pudong Jinqiao as its base in China. It will play a leading role in the development of China’s lubricants industry. The completion of this technology centre also demonstrates the highly successful strategy of the Jinqiao Science Park, and the entire Pudong District, in bringing foreign companies and independent innovation to China. We welcome leading global brands like Castrol to Pudong New District, which contribute to the development of our area.”