Bayer MaterialScience, a leading manufacturer of high-tech polymer materials, has inaugurated its new coatings, adhesives and specialties laboratory at DuBiotech premises in Dubai.

This application and development lab will offer local customised technical support to the industry across the Middle East and Africa. DuBiotech is the major life science cluster in the Middle East.

“In keeping with our mission statement, ´Bayer: Science For A Better Life´, our company develops innovative and sustainable solutions as answers to global challenges,” said Bayer Middle East managing director Harald Liedtke. “One example is combating climate change and CO2 emissions which results in rising demand for high-tech raw materials for eco-friendly construction. With this laboratory, Bayer underscores its commitment to the region.”

Focussing on key application areas like construction, automotive, industrial, plastic, wood and furniture coatings it will also lead to the development of polyurethane coatings for diverse high performance applications including sealants for construction joints as well as airport tarmacs and solvent free coatings for pipe applications. It is also planned that the laboratory will provide tailor-made solutions to the manufacturers of adhesives and sealants for the transportation, construction, furniture, packaging and shoe industries, a statement said.

“We must adjust our resources accordingly to the market needs,” said Daniel Meyer, head of the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties Business Unit and member of the executive committee of Bayer MaterialScience. “We are therefore making targeted investments in the individual regions in order to maintain or further expand our leading market position.”

The lab will work in close cooperation with Bayer’s global competence network having its established laboratories and technical centres in India, China, Japan, Russia, Brazil, USA, Spain and Germany.

The state-of-the-art laboratory is equipped with advanced testing and application equipment, meeting global standards and guidelines.

Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, executive director of DuBiotech, said: “We are delighted to welcome Bayer as a new partner at the DuBiotech freezone. The organisation brings innovative and sustainable solutions to the region and that is exactly in line with our vision and mission. A report of business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan found that the coatings market in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council is expected to grow by six percent annually over the next five years. With this newly established laboratory, Bayer is well placed to make the most of this opportunity.” – TradeArabia News Service