Paints, coatings, and specialty materials manufacturer PPG Industries opened its new China Application Innovation Center (CAIC) in Zhangjiagang, China to support its R&D efforts and its industrial, packaging, and automotive refinish coatings businesses, a recent company release announced.

The newly unveiled facility in the Jiangsu Yangtze River International Chemical Industrial Park is next to PPG’s existing manufacturing plant in Zhangjiagang. Advanced automated equipment and technologies installed in CAIC provides PPG with the ability to test its paint and coating products in simulated environments and climates.

“The Zhangjiagang CAIC will play an essential role by fostering further collaboration between PPG businesses, increasing efficiency in product development and testing, and introducing more innovative applications and products to the Chinese market,” Vincent Robin, president of Asia-Pacific for PPG, said in a statement. “This investment is an important step for PPG, honoring our commitment to the development of sustainable products, new applications, and advanced technology in China and reinforcing our leadership in the industry.”

Its new site also enables it to enter trial production of newly developed applications more quickly at its Zhangjiagang plant.

“The CAIC will cover broad markets and customer needs that range from electronic materials to packaging coatings under one roof, making it easier for the PPG science and technology team to provide value-added solutions to our customers,” said David Bem, vice president, science and technology and chief technology officer for PPG, in the release.

PPG’s move to open the CAIC comes after the company announced a major acquisition and the introduction of a new business earlier this year. In January, the company entered a definitive agreement to purchase powder and liquid coatings maker Wörwag. Also that month, PPG debuted its new Traffic Solutions business.