15-11-2012

Sulzer opens new pumps production plant in China

In opening a wastewater pumps production plant, Sulzer is strengthening its position as one of the leading manufacturers in China. Sulzer invested approximately CHF 10 million in the Kunshan location. Up to 70 employees will assemble approximately 10,000 pumps, mixers, and compressors annually, mainly for the Chinese market and also for other Asian countries. Customers are from the water supply and wastewater treatment industries. 
 
“The production facility in Kunshan will increase our competitiveness in China and shorten our delivery times,” says Kim Jackson, president of Sulzer Pumps. Proximity to the customer and a quick-response service are two of Sulzer’s key focuses, and they apply to China as well. The plant is part of the Sulzer network that has now grown to 16 production and service locations in the country.

With its pumps, mixers, and compressors, Sulzer is serving the rapidly growing wastewater market in China. Two-thirds of its 600 cities suffer from water supply problems. Massive large-scale endeavors such as the three-route South-North Water Transfer Project and the seawater desalination plants on the coast will continue to serve water demand. Experts estimate that investments of CHF 65 billion will be needed by 2015 to address wastewater treatment issues alone.

The Kunshan production plant will initially manufacture pumps, mixers, and compressors for the Chinese market. Later on, its products will be shipped to other Asian countries.

Sulzer has been operating in China for almost 100 years. The company delivered the first water pumps in 1922. The new factory in Kunshan is already Sulzer’s sixth plant in the country. The Sulzer Pumps division has two other manufacturing facilities in Dalian and Suzhou for the manufacture of pumps used in the different market segments such as hydrocarbon processing industry, oil and gas, power generation, and pulp and paper industries.