Center

Siemens kicks off facility in Shanghai

By Cao Li (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-05-19 09:16

SHANGHAI: Siemens Ltd, the world's leading electrical and electronics company, opened its first Chinese power transmission and distribution (PTD) center in Shanghai on Friday.

Andreas Matthe, Siemens' executive vice-president, said China is the power industry's most important market and that most international players in the PTD field are established here.

"By opening this center, we are hoping to stay closer to our customers and respond faster to their requests, which will be key to sustaining our success in future," Matthe said.

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With 13 operating companies in the country, Siemens PTD China achieved sales of 7.62 billion yuan in fiscal year of 2006. Three of its joint venture manufacturers are in Shanghai and several other production facilities are in nearby cities.

The 1 billion-yuan center is comprised of a customer center, the largest of its kind in the country, and three expanded production facilities: Siemens High Voltage Switchgear Ltd, Shanghai; Siemens Switchgear Co Ltd, Shanghai; and Trench MWB (Shanghai) Co.

Siemens PTD will be able to showcase its products, projects and solutions, and expand its production capacities, which will serve not only the Chinese market but the entire world, Matthe said.

"At present, the power shortage in China is solved. How to efficiently make use of theenergy, optimize urban power networks and facilitate sustainable development have become new focuses of the power industry. Siemens PTD provides the necessary products, solutions and services," Matthe said.

He said that two of the major segments in the company's future strategies are water power development in middle and eastern China and power expansion in urban areas.

Matthe said Siemens is hoping to be involved in the government's ultra-high voltage grid development, which is key to long-distance power transmission.

Siemens reported sales of 50.4 billion yuan in China in the 2006 fiscal year, and the PTD group was a major contributor, Matthe said.

(China Daily 05/19/2007 page10)