Key center in Bristol, Pennsylvania, USA (CRTB)

At Rhodia's research and technical center located in Bristol, USA, some 100 scientists apply Rhodia technologies and expertise to the development of a range of new products in the agricultural, consumer and industrial sectors.

The researchers often collaborate with professional colleagues in our other laboratories around the world, and with major universities. The center’s strong cultural diversity nurtures its capacity for innovation and creativity. Researchers from over 18 different countries share their ideas in an open environment that supports cross-fertilization.

Overall, the CRTB research team develops and launches around 20 new products and files an average of 30 new patent applications, each year. In addition to developing new product offerings for Rhodia, researchers also work directly with our customers' research and development teams to create new offerings for existing products and to resolve technical, performance or production challenges.

The Bristol facility houses a network of application laboratories dedicated to Rhodia's main markets. These include home and personal care, agricultural chemicals, industrial and green solvents, oil field and gas technologies, emulsion polymerization and paint additives for coatings and alumina washcoat technologies for automotive emission control systems.

This network of application market-oriented laboratories is backed up by three additional laboratories:

• The North America Technology Team focusing on surfactant, monomer & condensation polymer synthesis, guar and natural polymers synthesis and process & piloting.
  
  
• The Analytical and Technology Lab focusing on method development, validation & techniques to support all stages of the innovation process, as well as market focused customer technical support.
  
  
• The Complex Assemblies of Soft Matter Lab (COMPASS a joint laboratory with CNRS and UPenn – UMI 3254) focusing on new areas of innovation and speed up & support of current innovation efforts.