Marking 10 years of pioneering research at Imerys Technology Center in Tianjin, China
Imerys’ ITC Tianjin marks a decade of pioneering research, global partnerships and product innovation, advancing solutions for diverse industries, from refractory to performance minerals.
The Imerys Technology Center (ITC) in Tianjin is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, ITC Tianjin has established itself as a beacon of innovation, fostering global partnerships while driving technological advancements in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Imerys site – located in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area of China – spans over 40,000 square meters and includes the technology center and the sustainability-driven factory.
Since its inception in 2014, it has grown from a focused research center to a multidisciplinary hub supporting Imerys' business expansion across refractory, building and infrastructure, advanced ceramics, polymers and paints & coatings markets.
Innovative solutions for diverse markets
ITC Tianjin's commitment to innovation is evident in its continuous development of new products and solutions.
For example, in the refractory segment, the teams created environmentally friendly solutions like the Secar® series and MagArmour. For building and infrastructure, the focus on low-carbon and green building materials has led to the development of the Xeler® and Weidun® series.
The work in advanced ceramics has introduced various alumina products, while in performance minerals, new products such as Steamic®, Jetfine® and HAR® talcs locally produced at our Wuhu plant for polymers have been developed to meet specific industry needs. We're proud that more than 20 new products and solutions have been developed in the past 10 years.
Partnering to innovate and provide solutions to clients through research
Collaboration has been at the heart of ITC Tianjin's success. Partnerships with prestigious universities and research institutions, both domestic and international, have led to groundbreaking research. The center's customer-centric approach is exemplified by its independently designed pilot equipment, such as the Ductile Iron Pipe pilot centrifuge and hydraulic press machine, which better connect customer applications with research.
With the recent addition of a state-of-the-art SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), ITC Tianjin becomes one of the most advanced facilities for mineral analytical research, with the added bonus of being connected to other similar equipment in other Imerys Technology Centers around the world.
ITC Tianjin's excellence has been recognized through its designation as a Tianjin Enterprise Technology Center and Tianjin Engineering Research Center. These accolades underscore its growing influence and expertise in the field.
Continued commitment to innovate for sustainability
As we celebrate this week with an anniversary event, the presence of TEDA (Tianjin Economic Development Area) officials and valued customers highlights the significance of ITC Tianjin and the impact of our work. Therefore, we look forward to a future where it continues to provide superior, more efficient and more sustainable technologies, products and services to the world.
With our strong foundation of global partnerships, cutting-edge facilities and commitment to sustainability, ITC Tianjin is poised to remain at the forefront of technological advancement, driving innovation for Imerys and its customers worldwide.
A project to test calcined clay as an ingredient in low-carbon concrete has proven its sustainable potential to reduce the cement sector's environmental impact from its current level of 8% of global CO₂ emissions.
Imerys Al Zayani Bahrain is celebrating the inauguration of a 4.7-megawatt solar power plant, marking a significant stride towards sustainability and cost reduction. The collaborative effort supports Imerys’ 2030 goal to align its activities with the 1.5°C trajectory, contributing over 15% reduction in GHG emissions for the white fused alumina production plant.
Conductive carbon blacks are essential for clean and efficient energy solutions such as lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells. As demand for these products rises in automotive and other energy transition sectors, Imerys is continuously improving its innovation, research and production efficiency to deliver beneficial product solutions to its customers. This commitment recently led to the inauguration of the cutting-edge Carbon Black Pilot Plant at Imerys Willebroek.
The unification of the three previous laboratories aims to increase efficiency and shorten project deadlines by speeding up the interaction between the different functions and applications of minerals in various industries.