Rohm and Haas Co. and Weihai Jinhong Polymer Co. Ltd have begun formal operation of a joint venture company, Jinhong Rohm and Haas Chemical Co. (JinHaas), following the announcement of the agreement in December 2006. Headquartered in Weihai, Shandong Province, JinHaas will produce methacrylate butadiene styrene (MBS), acrylic impact modifiers (AIMs), and acrylic processing aids for distribution in China, as well as in other emerging markets.

The grand opening ceremony of JinHaas was held in Weihai, with more than 250 government officials, important customers and business representatives present. They included Wang Peiting, Deputy General Secretary of Weihai City CCP and Mayor of Weihai City People’s Government, Mark Douglas, VP of Rohm and Haas, Asia-Pacific Regional director and China CEO, and Patrice Barthelmes, vice president of Rohm and Haas and global business director for the company’s US$1.8 billion Packaging and Building Materials business.

Rohm and Haas holds 51 percent of the JinHaas company shares. The new company was created to deliver a complete range of high-performance plastics additives to the building and construction and the PVC packaging segments of the Chinese market. With this joint venture, Rohm and Haas reportedly will become the first multinational company with a significant footprint of plastics additive manufacturing in China.

For more information, visit www.rohmhaas.com.