SICK inaugurates new production site in China - Sensor producer expands capacities for localized production and system construction in China

SICK inaugurates new production site in China - Sensor producer expands capacities for localized production and system construction in China.

 

Changzhou/Waldkirch, 17 December 2019 – oke : The German sensor manufacturer will in future also produce in Changzhou (in eastern China), where it will concentrate on localized product manufacture as well as system construction for individual customers. The site was formally inaugurated on 12 December 2019 in the presence of 80 guests, among them business partners, government representatives, and delegates from the SICK Group in Germany and China.

 

Asia, and particularly China, is one of SICK’s most rapidly developing markets. Demand is growing for technological solutions for industrial, logistics and process automation that are specially adapted to the needs of Chinese customers. A new site was sought and ultimately found in the Changzhou-Wujin National Hi-Tech Industrial Zone (WIZ) because of the limited possibilities of expanding production at SICK’s existing works in Beijing. The new works is located in the economically strong region around Shanghai and is very well connected with SICK’s distribution center in Jiaxing, also newly opened in 2019. The founding of the local subsidiary Jiangsu SICK Sensor Co., Ltd. in July 2019 created the basis for development of the site. 

 

“SICK’s expanded production capacity creates the prerequisites for reacting to rising market demand as well as for supplying customers with automation solutions with SICK’s familiar high quality – in China and worldwide”, commented Reinhard Bösl, SICK Executive Board member with responsibility for Systems & Industries, during the opening ceremony. He used his speech to thank the representatives of the local Changzhou-Wujin industrial zone and the companies involved for their very good collaboration. “Production in Changzhou is an important strategic element for localizing the manufacture of products and systems, as well as for being ideally positioned for the Chinese market with competitive proximity to the customers and rapid reaction times,” added Yongquan Chen, Managing Director of Jiangsu SICK Sensor Co., Ltd. 

 

‘Made in China for China’ in high SICK quality

 

Localized SICK automation solutions – mainly for the Chinese market – will be produced on the leased production area of 5,800 m² from 2020 onwards. Another 5,500 m² of development area is available for sustainable site development. 

 

During the initial phase of operation the portfolio will include track-and-trace systems for logistical applications, gas analysis solutions, gas flow meters for the safe distribution of natural gas, as well as emission measuring solutions for the desulfurization of ship emissions. In addition to the productive units, application knowledge will be concentrated in an engineering department for customer-specific adaptations. In the medium term, the production of SICK products and systems for China will take place in parallel in Beijing and at the new site in Changzhou. Ultimately, the new works is to be expanded into the leading production site for SICK in China. Production in Changzhou is part of SICK’s global production network – with works in Germany, Hungary, the USA, China and Malaysia – and will follow the high quality standards and processes found throughout the entire delivery chain.

 

SICK in China: 

 

The SICK Group has been represented in China with a national company since 1994, and has established itself as an important partner to Chinese companies for industrial automation and Industry 4.0 during the last 25 years. Sales of sensor solutions for factory and logistics automation are carried out from its headquarters in Guangzhou and from eight other sites. As the specialist for process automation, the SICK MAIHAK subsidiary in Beijing, founded in 2002, principally produces and markets solutions for the energy, petrochemicals, metals & steel, and oil & gas industries. SICK achieved sales of EUR 368.4 million in the Asia-Pacific Region during the 2018 fiscal year – a year-on-year increase of 12.9 percent. Business volumes also rose considerably again in China, driven by customers in all sectors. SICK employs about 660 personnel at its Chinese sites.

 

About SICK:

 

SICK is one of the world’s leading producers of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications. The company, founded by Dr. Erwin Sick in 1946 and based in Waldkirch-im-Breisgau near Freiburg, is a technology and market leader with a global presence – with more than 50 subsidiaries and associated companies, as well as numerous sales offices. SICK achieved group sales of about EUR 1.6 bn. during the 2018 fiscal year with almost 10,000 personnel worldwide. Further information on SICK is available at http://www.sick.com.