SINGAPORE – Nihon Superior Co. Ltd. has upgraded its Singapore location – Nihon Superior Trading (S) Pte Ltd. – to a regional headquarters, with plans to establish an English-speaking R&D center there.

The R&D Center will be in operation before the end of 2008 with an initial investment of SG$1.275 million (US$934,000), the company reports.

The initial focus will be on establishing analytical capability with XRF and ICP equipment. Additional tools required for the development and testing of soldering materials and the diagnosis of microscopy and mechanical testing will follow.

NSTS was established in 1988 as a joint venture with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. In 2007, NSTS accounted for 16% of Nihon’s total turnover.