Area manufacturer expands to Shanghai

SARASOTA — Uniroyal, which manufactures and sells vinyl-coated fabrics for the auto industry, among several other sectors, is opening a new sales, engineering and marketing office in Shanghai's Financial District in Pudong.

The office will provide sales, marketing technical and logistical support, as well as offer a hub of innovation for the research and development of new vinyl colors, patterns, and designs targeted towards the Asia-Pacific automotive market, the Sarasota-based firm says in a statement. The company currently has markets in the U.S., Europe and across the Asia-Pacific region.

“China is a significant piece of Uniroyal Global's growth strategy and this expansion reflects our commitment to investing in one of the largest and most dynamic markets in the world,” Uniroyal CEO Howard Curd says in the statement. “Capitalizing on the successful integration of our acquisitions, Uniroyal is continuing to look forward to expanding our global footprint. Pudong is a natural fit for our office, as it is close to all of our major customers in the region. We expect the office to serve as an innovation center to enhance product offerings to the Asian market.

Uniroyal Global's coated fabrics and soft trim components are featured in many consumer and industrial applications including automotive seating and interior components, commercial and hospitality seating, medical equipment, healthcare facilities and athletic equipment.