Shell opens first research centre in China

Today, Shell formally opened a new technology centre in Shanghai, China dedicated to research and development into lubricants and oils. The centre (Shell (Shanghai) Technology Limited) will focus on lubricant product development and application for China and the wider Asia region covering countries such as India, Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

 

Matthias Bichsel, Shell’s Projects & Technology Director, said, “The Shanghai facility will proudly bring Shell’s technology leadership even closer to customers and partners in the region. Shell has long been at the forefront of lubricant science and technology. We recognise that better oils and greases can lead to energy savings and improved machine performance.” The centre will become a part of Shell’s network of lubricants laboratories, working closely with the other two centres, in Hamburg, Germany and Houston, USA. These are part of a wider 10-centre strong global network of Shell R&D centres.

“The new centre reflects the direction of the Shell Lubricants business today and the central role that China plays in its long-term growth strategy,” said Mark Gainsborough, Executive Vice-President Shell Lubricants. “We are well-positioned to meet the anticipated growth in demand in the region. Locating in Shanghai will help us work more closely with our customers and shape mutually beneficial collaborations. ”

The research work in this 8,600 sq m, nine storey building will cover a wide range of product applications including passenger car motor oils (PCMOs), motorcycle oils (MCOs), heavy duty engine oils (HDEOs), transmission fluids, as well as industrial and speciality oils and greases. It will also cover oils for the shipping sector.

It will also provide hands-on technical services to customers. Staff at the centre will also liaise with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and academic institutions in the region. Its laboratory facilities will enable the running of field trials, performance demonstrations and bench-testing.

“Shell wants to be the most competitive and innovative energy company in the world so it is natural for us to set up a key lubricants technology establishment in this ‘innovation incubator’”, said Huibert Vigeveno, Executive Chairman of Shell Companies, China. “We will be able to explore competitively advantaged technology solutions for business growth and we can establish a forum for technical collaboration with original equipment manufacturers and research institutes in China. We aim to be able to attract the best talent in China. ”

The new centre is located at Shanghai Zhangjiang High-Tech Park – one of China’s most high profile technology and innovation parks. The Zhangjiang Park was established 20 years ago and has played a leading role in boosting innovation, nurturing talents and promoting R&D collaboration in Shanghai and more widely in China.

 

Enquiries:

Shell Global Media Relations +44 207 934 5550

Notes to Editors

• There are three Shell technology centre hubs: Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Bangalore, India and Houston,the United States. These hubs link to a network of ten other centres, including three centres with a lubrication research specialisation, around the world which are, in turn, linked to Shell’s global businesses as well as their customers and partners. Together, they nurture the skills, know-how and creativity that aim to make Shell the most competitive and innovative energy company in the world.
• Asia is the fastest growing regional lubricants market in the world: it represented 43% of global volume in 2012. China is the fastest-growing and second-largest lubricants market in the world. Research shows it will take over as the world’s No. 1 market in the near future (from the USA). Shell is a market leader among the multinationals in the region and has been the number1 international lubricants brand in China in terms of market share for seven consecutive years.
• The Shanghai Zhangjiang High Tech Park is located in Shanghai’s Pudong district. Its core area covers a total area of 25 sq km with technical innovation, hi-tech industry, scientific research & education and residential zones. It has been dubbed China’s Silicon Valley The Zhangjiang District is 21km from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, 30 km from Shanghai Harbour and even closer to rail links to many of China’s principal cities.

About Shell Lubricants

The term “Shell Lubricants” collectively refers to Shell Group companies engaged in the lubricants business. Shell sells a wide variety of lubricants to meet customer needs across a range of applications. These include consumer motoring, heavy-duty transport, mining, power generation and general engineering. Shell’s portfolio of lubricant brands includes Pennzoil, Quaker State, Shell Helix, Shell Rotella, Shell Tellus and Shell Rimula. We are active across the full lubricant supply chain. We manufacture base oils in eight plants, blend base oils with additives to make lubricants in over 50 plants, distribute, market and sell lubricants in over 100 countries.

We also provide technical and business support to customers. We offer lubricant-related services in addition to our product range. These include: Shell LubeMatch –the market leading product on-line recommendation tool, Shell LubeAdvisor - helps customers to select the right lubricant through highly trained Shell technical staff as well as online tools, and Shell LubeAnalyst - an early warning system that enables customers to monitor the condition of their equipment and lubricant, helping to save money on maintenance and avoid potential lost business through equipment failure.

Shell’s world-class technology works to deliver value to our customers. Innovation, product application and technical collaboration are at the heart of Shell lubricants. We have lubricants research centres in China, Germany, Japan (in a joint venture with Showa Shell), and the USA. We invest significantly in technology and work closely with our customers to develop innovative lubricants. We have a patent portfolio with 150 + patent series for lubricants, base oils and greases; more than 200 scientists and lubricants engineers dedicated to lubricants research and development.

Customer benefits include lower maintenance costs, longer equipment life and reduced energy consumption. One of the ways we push the boundaries of lubricant technology is by working closely with top motor racing teams such as Scuderia Ferrari. These technical partnerships enable us to expand our knowledge of lubrication science and transfer cutting-edge technology from the racetrack to our commercial products.

Cautionary Note

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