MATTHEWS, NC Exopack Advanced Coatings has chosen Guangzhou, in the heart of one of China’s most advanced and dynamic economic regions, as the location for its first distribution center outside the U.S. and U.K.
A March 21 grand opening is planned for the new 10,000–square–foot Exopack Advanced Coatings complex in the Guangzhou Science City – a three–year–old advanced technology center developed with substantial support from the Guangzhou government.
The new complex will function as the major logistics and distribution center as Exopack Advanced Coatings continues expanding its service and support to the Asian market and growing its customer base in South China and across Mainland China, said Jeff Jarvis, Global Business Manager for Exopack Advanced Coatings.
Initially, 7,000 square feet of the new facility will be devoted to storage and processing of the company’s line of Diazo Phototool and Artwork Protect Films (APF). The films are available in a dozen different sizes and, since last summer, have been delivered in environmentally friendly packaging with sealed foil bags that open easily and are fully reclosable.
The remaining 3,000 square feet will house an office, laboratory and training center. After four years with the company, Vincent Chen, Sales and Distribution Manager for China, will oversee operation of the new Guangzhou site. Hiring of additional staff is now underway.
The new presence, company officials believe, will further distinguish their products and services from the competition’s and enhance Exopack Advanced Coatings’ leading position in the market.
Close to major distributors, hundreds of PCB makers
Providing Diazo Phototool and Artwork Protect Films for circuit board manufacturers represents one of Exopack Advanced Coatings’ major markets. The new complex is within 30 miles of the company’s major distributors that supply the hundreds of PCB manufacturers in the immediate area and the many others operating throughout Mainland China.
“China is an expanding and dynamic market,” Jarvis said, “and companies here strongly desire to conduct business in a faster, more efficient manner. That’s a business strategy that appeals to and benefits all concerned.”
Jarvis said Exopack Advanced Coatings leased the building, laid out its design and furnished it to satisfy company requirements. Testing and research will be performed in the scaled down lab area. The new training center will be devoted to assisting and educating its regional distributors and host occasional end–users of the company’s products.
A commercial colossus, an IT R&D giant
The largest city in South China, Guangzhou, along the Pearl River, lies only 75 miles (120km) from Hong Kong and is convenient to Macau. The city is at the core of an immense manufacturing region and serves as a key transportation hub and trading port.
Guangzhou is one of five National Central Cities to be designated by the Chinese national government to lead, develop and perform tasks of political, economic and cultural significance.
Recent reports set Guangzhou’s per capita income at $16,884 (U.S. dollars) – the highest among the five central cities.
For more on Exopack Advanced Coatings products, visit www.exopackadvancedcoatings.com.
About Exopack Holding Corp.
Managing 19 production facilities strategically positioned across North America and the United Kingdom, as well as a global network of alliance partners, Exopack is an established leader in the development, manufacture, and sourcing of plastic and paper flexible solutions for various consumer and industrial end–use markets. Exopack Holding Corp. is an affiliate company of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. For more information, please visit www.exopack.com or call (877) 447–3539.
