The new center, located in Trumbull, Connecticut, was officially opened this week and incorporates a 80,000 square-foot laboratory and office addition, that expands the Unilever's existing Trumbull campus and capabilities for research and development of global skincare and US laundry products.
Unilever said that the new R&D center reflected the creative environment of its research. It has been designed with open-floor spaces and bright and light laboratories where onlookers can view through observation windows, as well as a unique innovation lounge area and an on-site pilot plant designed to quickly put ideas to the test.
"The purpose of our new center is to contribute to the success of Unilever's brands in the US and around the world, by researching and developing product innovations that are beneficial to our consumers," said Tony Mills, Unilever vice president R&D, Skin Category.
"This center brings to one location Unilever's skin research operations, formerly based in Edgewater, New Jersey, together with the Trumbull-based development team. Having these teams integrated will help simplify our business and help us better serve our customers." Mills continued, "In addition, our laundry product development team, also formerly based in Edgewater, is here in Trumbull with the benefit of additional local resources such as the Unilever pilot plant."
The research conducted at the Unilever the center focuses on global research and development of skin products such as Dove, Pond's, Vaseline, AXE, Lux and Caress, and is also home to the US laundry development team for all Snuggle, and Wisk products.
The Trumbull Corporate Park was already home to approximately 800 Unilever employees for business functions such as finance, information technology, supply chain, human resources and product development.
With the new research and development facilities, Unilever now claims to have become one of the largest employers in Trumbull with more than 1000 employees following the transfer of some 200 jobs from the Edgewater location.
In total, Unilever employs approximately 2000 people in Connecticut, including the Home and Personal Care North American headquarters in Greenwich, and a manufacturing plant in Clinton.
Speaking at the opening ceremony Trumbull local development officials said that the move contributed to economic growth in the region, with Unilever also contributing to various projects in the community.