New application centers: Cognis strengthens its global presence

In order to provide its customers with expert local support and recipes adapted to their specific needs, specialty chemicals supplier Cognis has decided to set up new application centers for food ingredients in different regions. The first application center was opened in June this year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Another one will be set up in Jacarei, Brazil, at the end of the first quarter of 2011, and there are also plans to open centers in China and the USA.

Around the world, people have different tastes and therefore they like their food in different ways. In North America, people prefer soft bread with a long shelf life, while most European countries like freshly baked crusty bread. Processing methods also tend to vary, for example steam baking is common in China and other Asian countries, where as Western-style breads are generally oven-baked.

To meet these different demands, Cognis has decided to set up new regional application centers for food ingredients. In June the company opened its first one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to serve customers in the South/East-Asia region. The next one to open will be in Jacarei, Brazil, and will go hand in hand with the new production line that is due to commence operation at the end of the first quarter of 2011. New application centers are also planned for the Chinese and US markets.

Holger Riemensperger, Global Business Director, comments: "At our state-of-the-art trial bakery plants, we are able to produce all types of baked goods and emulate almost any baking process. Our new regional application centers will help us to develop food solutions that are tailored to customer needs - be it a plain roll, a specific bread mix or cake."