Staff Report
Published Oct. 25, 2012

Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co. recently opened a regional headquarters in Shanghai.

Milliken has operated in Asia since the late 1980s. Its new Asia headquarters combines sales, marketing, design, research and business support services.

The headquarters features a floor covering design studio, chemical laboratories, a pilot manufacturing facility, office space and an innovation gallery.

“With abundant design, technological talent and a centralized location, Shanghai is a natural fit for our new headquarters,” Asia Managing Director Ed Zhao said in a news release. “Our new headquarters will be a place where associates can continue to tackle new challenges, leveraging unique insights, deep science and meaningful design to create innovations that change the way we all experience the world around us.”

The company’s Asia operations began with a floor covering sales office in Singapore. Since that time, Milliken has established additional sales offices, laboratories, technical centers and manufacturing facilities in locations across the region.

“Over the last 30 years, we’ve established deep customer relationships throughout Asia and have seen both the growth in the region and the need for innovations that make a difference to the local market,” Milliken CEO Joe Salley said in a news release. “The establishment of a regional headquarters here signifies the strategic importance we place on our presence here and our commitment to innovation in Asia.”

Milliken plans to continue bringing new products and technologies to the Asian markets it serves, Zhao said.

Designed by M Moser Associates, the LEED-Gold certified headquarters interior features client meeting areas, an innovation gallery, a design studio, lab spaces and open collaborative offices.

Milliken specializes in specialty chemical, floor covering and performance materials. Milliken Chemical, a division of Milliken & Co., is a supplier of coatings, specialty chemicals and advanced additive and colorant technologies. Its North American operations are in Spartanburg.