DSM Desotech is expanding its operations in China with the establishment of a manufacturing facility in Shanghai.  The facility, DSM Desotech Specialty Chemicals
(Shanghai) Ltd., is scheduled to begin operations in late 2004.

DSM Desotech Specialty Chemicals (Shanghai) Ltd. will be Desotech's fourth manufacturing facility to date, joining existing plants in: Hoek van Holland, the Netherlands; Stanley, North Carolina, USA; and Tsukuba, Japan.  The Tsukuba plant is part of Japan Fine Coatings Co., Ltd—a joint venture between DSM and JSR.

According to Weber Lin, DSM Desotech Sales Director-Asia, expansion efforts come in direct response to significant growth in the Asian optical fiber and cable market.  Industry reports indicate that current growth is expected to continue through 2006.

“The Chinese optical fiber industry continues to be quite strong as compared to the rest of the world,” says Lin.  “A manufacturing facility in Shanghai will enable us to quickly meet this increase in Asian demand while maintaining the high quality that the industry has come to expect from DSM Desotech optical fiber materials.”  

Desotech Marketing Manager David Chase states, "The Shanghai manufacturing facility is the next logical step in DSM's longtime commitment to the Chinese optical fiber and cable market."  In 1999, DSM Desotech established its first local sales office in Shanghai, followed by the opening of a technical service center and a distribution center in 2003.  The new plant will produce DSM Desotech's Cablelite® materials, used in the manufacture of optical fiber cable.