PHILADELPHIA - Rohm and Haas Company celebrated the official opening of the China Research and Development Center (CRDC) on Sept. 20, 2006, in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. Nearly 300 guests including government officials, customers, board members and executive leaders, and more than 500 Rohm and Haas employees, attended the grand-opening ceremony.

Since 1979, Rohm and Haas has invested nearly USD $400 million in a dozen operations throughout China, but none of the singular size and scope of the CRDC. In addition to centralizing Rohm and Haas research and development, customer service, commercial and technical support functions in China, the CRDC also unites much of the company's Asia-Pacific regional management and shared services team to enhance efficiencies and reduce operating costs.

Rohm and Haas Names CHEMCENTRAL U.S. Distributor for Emulsion Products In other news, Rohm and Haas has moved to a single U.S. distributor for its North American Architectural and Functional Coatings business effective January 1, 2007. CHEMCENTRAL, headquartered in Bedford Park, Ill., will represent Rohm and Haas in the United States for the distribution of emulsion products while continuing to be the U.S. representative for Rohm and Haas's Paraloid™ product line. This move represents a renewed strategy for long-term growth in the distribution channel in cooperation with a strategic partner to achieve this goal.