CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GCP Applied Technologies (NYSE:GCP) today marked its 30th anniversary operating in China with celebrations in Beijing.

In 1986 GCP (then a division of W.R. Grace & Co.) became the first wholly foreign-owned company to be issued a business license in the People's Republic of China, and has traded under the name Grace China Ltd. In 2016 the legal entity name will change to GCP Applied Technologies (China) Company Limited.

GCP is a world leader in specialty construction chemicals and building materials, and packaging technologies, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The company was spun off from W.R. Grace in February 2016.

GCP construction products have been used in some of China’s most iconic buildings and infrastructure projects. For example, MRT in Beijing and Shanghai, Shanghai Maglev, Hangzhou Bay Bridge, Nanjing Youth Olympic Stadium, the Bank of China building in Beijing, Tianjin Financial Center and most recently, Shanghai Disneyland.

“China is a major market for GCP,” says Adam Grose, president of the GCP Specialty Construction Chemical business. “It is our privilege to celebrate 30 years doing business in China. Many of our customers here have been with GCP for decades. We look forward to serving our China customers and growing our businesses together.”

GCP’s construction chemical division recently introduced SYNCHRO® chromium reducing cement additives to China in order to align with new standards. The ADVA AF® System for Active Flow Concrete and the TYTRO® Shotcrete System have also been launched in China. 

Throughout GCP’s 30 years in China, the company has developed many products uniquely specified for the market. These have included PV™ 100 pre-applied waterproofing membrane, YTL®-C(RB) barrier membrane for green roofs, admixtures for high strength and high performance concrete, and customized cement additives to meet China’s production, energy consumption and environmental requirements.

“We’re proud that GCP products are part of China’s astounding growth. It speaks to the depth and breadth of our relationships in the industry here, and our sustained commitment to meeting the needs of this market,” said Zain Mahmood, President of GCP Specialty Building Materials.

Darex, GCP’s packaging technologies segment, has earned a strong reputation in China for the quality of its products and its expertise in global food safety compliance regulations. Darex sealants, coatings and closure products protect the quality and safety of many local and international household food and beverage brands.

“Darex was actually the first GCP company to operate in China, beginning in 1986, and our products have been highly regarded in the packaging market since that time. These are the same trusted brands as when we were a division of Grace, and as an independent company, GCP is even more focused on supporting our customer’s growth,” says Laurie Andriate, President, Darex Packaging Technologies.

Upcoming GCP product launches in China include APPERTA®, Darex’s second generation non-BPA coatings for food and beverage cans, which has already proved successful in other regions.

GCP is proud to have received significant industry recognition over the past 30 years. In 2015, the China National Building Waterproof Association awarded GCP an ‘AAA credit grade’, as well as a ‘Certificate of Enterprise Credit Grade’. That year Chinacement.com also named GCP ‘2015 China Cement Industry Top 100 Suppliers’ and ‘2015 Cement Industry Innovative Supplier’.

GCP currently has six manufacturing facilities, four sales offices and technical service centers ​in China. In April 2016, GCP expanded its operations in the Economic and Technological Development Zone in Beijing.