Global innovation leader Milliken & Company announced that the company has opened a regional headquarters in Shanghai. Leveraging its long presence in the region, Milliken’s new Asia headquarters combines sales, marketing, design, research, and business support services in a state-of-the-art space that will act as the hub of Milliken innovation throughout Asia.
The headquarters features a floor covering design studio, chemical laboratories, a pilot manufacturing facility, office space, and an Innovation Gallery.
Milliken has operated in Asia since the late 1980’s, beginning with a floor covering sales office located in Singapore. Since that time, Milliken has established additional sales offices, laboratories, technical centers and manufacturing facilities in locations across the region, including Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Singapore, Bangalore and Pune (India).
At the grand opening ceremony, Dr. Joe Salley, CEO of Milliken, said, “Since 1865, Milliken has been innovating to do good for the world, to create new experiences for our customers, and to build for the future. Over the last 30 years, we’ve established deep customer relationships throughout Asia and have seen both the growth in the region and the need for innovations that make a difference to the local market.”
“The establishment of a regional headquarters here signifies the strategic importance we place on our presence here and our commitment to innovation in Asia.”
Mr. Ed Zhao, Managing Director, Asia, adds, “With abundant design, technological talent, and a centralized location, Shanghai is a natural fit for our new headquarters. Our new headquarters will be a place where associates can continue to tackle new challenges, leveraging unique insights, deep science, and meaningful design to create innovations that change the way we all experience the world around us.”
Milliken innovations have been solving problems in Asia for many years. Millad NX 8000 clarifier is transforming the Japanese meals to go market by making polypropylene be a packaging option – not only is Polypropylene a more sustainable plastic, but with Millad PP can achieve revolutionary clarity and utilizes significantly less resources to produce. Vivitint is a new class of colorants for veganleather. Vivitint colorants are easy to use, homogenous liquids that offer the exceptional transparency and vibrant colors of dyes, with the low color migration properties of pigments. MaxCell helps replace the rigid innerduct channels used to channel a few cables through the conduit with a flexible fabric innerduct that fits up to 300% more cables. B2 Hardback is a cost-competitive, high-performance, layflat, recyclable, carpet backing product that allows Milliken to meet the performance and cost needs of the local market while delivering the quality and sustainability customers expect of Milliken floor covering.
Mr. Ed Zhao, Managing Director, Asia, is optimistic about the company’s future in the region. “Looking forward, Milliken will continue to leverage our innovation heritage and bring more new products and technologies to the markets we serve. We will grow with our partners, and continue to bring our customers a safer, more environmentally-friendly and more beautiful tomorrow.”
Designed by the global firm of MMoser Associates, the LEED-Gold certified interior features client meeting areas, an innovation gallery, design studio, lab spaces, and open collaborative offices. The new location has a neutral background, with classic modern furnishings, rich textiles, and clean, crisp material accents.
Spartanburg-based Milliken is an innovation company that has been exploring, discovering, and creating ways to enhance people’s lives since 1865. Our community of innovators has developed one of the largest collections of patents held by a private company.
Source:
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=117232
