By WANG Yuelun, ZHUANG Jian
Overseas companies continue investing during the China International Import Expo (CIIE). Danfoss, Xylem and Zeiss Group have recently increased their investment in China.
Danfoss
On the first day of the expo, Danfoss, a Danish energy company announced that it would be at the next CIIE. This year is the third time that Danfoss has participated.
"The second phase of the Zhejiang Haiyan factory has started this year, and we hope to double the capacity of efficient heat exchangers as soon as possible." Danfoss China president XU Yang told Jiemian news.
In addition to the factory in Zhejiang, Danfoss has new projects in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province and Wuqing in Tianjin. Last year, the company announced a 720-million-yuan (US$100 million) investment to build a factory in Nanjing, which will focus on semiconductor power modules.
In Wuqing, Tianjin, an R&D center is scheduled to be completed in January next year, with a total investment of 140 million yuan. Production lines from Europe are moving to Tianjin, adding 800 million yuan of new output.
Xu believes that the company’s investment is related to emphasis on green development as China begins to implement its carbon strategy. At present, China is facing a double transformation of low carbon and digitalization.
Zeiss
Reinforcing its investment in China is also a core strategy for Zeiss Group, another exhibitor at CIIE.
In October, Zeiss announced a new R&D center and factory in Suzhou, the company's first land purchase in China. Infrastructure investment alone will exceed 170 million yuan.
XIE Lei, COO of Zeiss China, told Jiemian News that the company has grown at a compound annual rate of nearly 20 percent over the past decade. In 2021, China became Zeiss Group’s largest single market.
The upgrading of China's manufacturing industry is one of the driving forces for Zeiss Group’s development in China. The quality of parts produced in China is gradually increasing.
After the acquisition in Suzhou, Zeiss plans to develop the next generation of X-ray equipment and medical products there.
"Our strategy over the past two years has been to expand China's research and development capabilities," Xie added, “Zeiss Group already spends more than 140 million yuan a year on research and development in China”.
Zeiss Group has participated in CIIE for five years, and this year's booth is its largest ever. The company has also confirmed its participation in the sixth CIIE next year.
Xylem
HE Wei, director of R&D and engineering for Xylem China, told Jiemian News an innovation center is under construction. "The new center will be a very important engine for Xylem's growth in China over the next five years,” he said.
Xylem is a US water technology company, at the CIIE for the fourth time. Xylem's China operation has grown by double digits over the past decade. Xylem’s goal is to reach 7 billion yuan in revenue as soon as possible, more than 20 percent of Xylem's global footprint.
