Albemarle Supports Reconstruction of SCFRI      

On July 17th, in a very specialized response to the devastating earthquake that struck China's Sichuan province in May 2008, the China Plastics Processing Industry Association (CPPIA) and leading global specialty chemical maker Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) have joined forces to help restore the work of the Sichuan Fire Research Institute (SCFRI) by temporarily housing the institute's research projects at Albemarle's Nanjing Technical Center (NTC).
    Located in Dujiangyan city, Sichuan province, SCFRI is a professional scientific institute that specializes in the study of construction fire protection and technology, under the direction of China's Ministry of Public Security. The institute leads the drafting, dissemination, and implementation of the national standard governing requirements for fire retarding products in public places, GB20286. Specifically, the institute is responsible for the study of fireproofing construction materials and products, and for the issuance of flame retardant labels for certified products.
   Several buildings at SCFRI collapsed or received serious damage as a result of the May earthquake, and some of the facility's testing equipment was ruined.
   To help the institute recover its function and duties more quickly and to ensure that significant ongoing fire research can continue, Albemarle's NTC, an official CPPIA-authorized Flame Retardant Products Test Center, has opened its doors to SCFRI scientists, offering relevant testing and research facilities and support.
   Located in the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park, Albemarle's NTC is equipped with world-class laboratory facilities. The center's R&D activities include quality analysis and quality control; chemical, physical and fire testing; synthesis and development of novel FR technologies; and application development.
   In April 2008, NTC was authorized as an official "Flame Retardant Products Test Center" by CPPIA.