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ESAB Expands into Northern China
Shandong Weihai, China [March 19, 2008] — Being the professional manufacturer of welding and cutting products, today we successfully expanded into northern China with the opening of a US$30 million factory located Weihai, Shandong province—our third factory in China. This factory has an initial capacity for 10,000 tons of specialty flux cored welding wires, which will serve domestic and international demand. Production will mostly support rapid industrial growth in the North China Bohai Bay area. The new 19,000m2 factory has the option for expansion to manufacture other welding products. When fully operational, it will employ more than 150 people.
Attended by the standing committee of the municipal government, including vice Mayor Mr. Dong jinyou, Secretary of District industrial committee and director of management committee Mr. Zhang Jianjun, along with district leaders Mr. Liu Wei, Mr. Wang Binggang and Mr. Lue Wei, as well as ESAB global CEO Jon Templeman and ESAB managing director (Asia Pacific) John Medforth, the Production Launch Ceremony of ESAB Welding & Cutting Products (Weihai) Co., Ltd. was held on March 19th, 2008.
ESAB Global CEO Jon Templeman outlined the rapid expansion in China saying, “We are investing in China for the long-term. This new factory will allow us to match the market needs as the manufacturing base in China continues to develop. We are delighted to be in Weihia, a city renowned for its beautiful environment and excellent infrastructure.”The new Weihai facility, like ESAB’s other two factories in China, is equipped with state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. It joins the company’s global network of factories operating best practice lean manufacturing. The facility will be certified compliant with ISO 14000 and OHSAS 1800 health, safety and environmental standards.
In China EASB manufactures cutting machines at a factory in Shanghai. Welding products are produced at factories in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu province and Weihai, with another facility to be completed in Jiangsu. In addition to the manufacturing facilities, we have Asia regional office and a trading company and warehouse located in Shanghai.
China is the single largest welding market in the world, with growth expected to continue to be strong. As one of the few global brands in the welding industry, ESAB is aiming to build strong brand recognition and technical support in China. Templeman emphasized, “We regard China as a very important market for ESAB, and have been very pleased with the progress we have made in the last three years.”
