WINTERHUR, Switzerland, Nov. 26, 2010 -- Sulzer Pumps has officially opened a new state-of-the-art factory for engineered pumps for the Oil and Gas and Power Generation markets in Suzhou, China. With this new plant, Sulzer has made a major step to further strengthen its global manufacturing network and its already strong presence in the fast growing Chinese market.
The new pump factory in Suzhou, China, about 100 kilometers west of Shanghai, was opened on November 24. The official ceremony with Kim Jackson, Division President of Sulzer Pumps, and Zhou Weigiang, Vice-Mayor of Suzhou, was attended by more than 300 customers and government officials. The opening comes less than two years after the company signed the investment agreement with the Suzhou National New and High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in January 2009 and after less than one year of construction.
With the opening of a new, modern pump factory in Suzhou, Sulzer Pumps is bringing its most advanced engineered pump technology to China. The new factory integrates best practices building on lean principles from other major Sulzer Pumps factories, ensuring competitive operational excellence, meeting Sulzer's global standards for high quality and delivery.
The Suzhou factory will manufacture engineered pumps mainly used in the Oil and Gas industry for water injection and pipeline applications as well as for boiler feed and other duties in power stations. The total area of 23'000 square meters includes a factory shop floor with three production bays, designed to allow for future expansion with minimal cost. A key element is a test bed with eight test-bed stations and a total power supply of 15 MW. The test bed draws on the expertise from the most advanced test bed within Sulzer Pumps which is located in Leeds.
The training of the current 110 employees, led by Sulzer experts from around the world, started about a year ago to build up a highly skilled workforce. Engineering and procurement teams have already been working on several major orders for some months and manufacturing has started recently. An ISO certification process is currently ongoing and ISO certification is expected early next year.
The Suzhou factory is Sulzer Pumps' second major production facility in China. In 1999, the company started manufacturing in China in its state-of-the-art factory in Dalian, building a leading supplier position in the Hydrocarbon Processing and Pulp and Paper industries. In addition to the manufacturing facilities in Dalian and Suzhou, Sulzer Pumps has local sales offices in Shanghai and Beijing.
About Sulzer Pumps
Sulzer Pumps develops and supplies centrifugal pumps worldwide. Intensive research and development in fluid dynamics, process-oriented products, and special materials as well as reliable service solutions help the company maintain its leading position in its focus market segments. Our customers come from the oil and gas, hydrocarbon processing, power generation, pulp and paper and water sectors, as well as from specialized areas in the general industry. The company has a network of 13 manufacturing facilities worldwide and sales offices and service centers in 150 locations globally. A global leader in its selected markets, Sulzer Pumps had an order intake of CHF 1'684.5 million in 2009 and employed around 6 166 persons worldwide. For more information, visit: www.sulzerpumps.com
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