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.
