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Expansion Management

Eaton Opens Technical Center in Shanghai

April 4, 2014

“We are well positioned to participate in China’s massive urbanization and will continue to expand our engineering and manufacturing presence in this important market,” said the company's CEO Alexander Cutler.

Adrienne Selko

Eaton’s (IW 1000/290) CEO Alexander M. Cutler was in Shanghai on April 4 to open the company’s Vehicle Group Asia Pacific Technical Center.

“The opening of the new technical center enables Eaton to better serve the high-growth Asia Pacific markets by bringing the innovative and energy-saving solutions closer to our customers,” Cutler said. “Today also underscores our long-term commitment to China, which has been a major growth market for Eaton and continues to be of great strategic importance.”

With a $3.3 million investment, the new technical center occupies 1,200 square meters with seven major labs. This center will work with the local testing and development resources of Eaton’s Vehicle Group.

“We are well positioned to participate in China’s massive urbanization and will continue to expand our engineering and manufacturing presence in this important market,” Cutler said. “Protecting and improving the environment through innovation are among Eaton’s highest priorities. We are confident that we can help our customers here address the great energy challenges as China promotes a new model of sustainable urbanization.”

Eaton now has six R&D and engineering centers in China, including a global corporate research and technology center in Shanghai.

It began its operations in China in 1993 by launching its first manufacturing facility in Jining of Shandong Province. Since then it has significantly expanded its presence to include 28 manufacturing facilities and more than 18,000 employees.

Eaton has set a sales target of $2 billion in China for 2015.

The company also released its China Sustainability Report for 2013. It is Eaton’s sixth annual sustainability report in China since 2008, detailing major progress achieved in areas such as environment, health and safety performance, employee engagement and community enrichment.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.