Valmont Industries, a leading manufacturer of diversified
infrastructure products, hopes to capitalize on beautification in
Beijing, capital of China.
The Nebraska-based company, which tops the world in designing and
manufacturing poles, towers and structures for lighting, wireless
communications and utility markets, is gearing up to capitalize on
attractive opportunities arising from China's fervent preparations
for the Olympic Games in
2008.
China will spend US$20 billion for the sports show, and US$20
million will be used in urban beautification and environmental
improvement in the capital.
"Beijing will be on display in 2008 and city beautification is very
important to the success of the Games. Valmont will build its
strength in this regard," said Mark Richards, president of
Valmont's poles division, who visited Beijing last week.
Valmont ventured into the China market in 1995 with an initial
investment of 100 million yuan (US$12 million), in partnership with
the Shanghai Special-shaped Steel Tubing Company, a publicly traded
firm on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
The Shanghai plant produces 100,000 poles annually, occupying 15
percent of the high-end market.
Valmont's list of prestigious projects in China include lighting on
Beijing's Chang'an Avenue and Wangfujing Street, key areas of
attraction in the capital city.
"We are very confident on our investment here since our Shanghai
facility has become one of Valmont's most profitable businesses,"
said Richards.
Valmont's Shanghai sales reached 200 million yuan (US$24 million)
in 2000, and the company's total sales in China amounted to 10
percent of its global sales of US$846 million.
Providing a complete line of products for wireless communication,
the company is also building up its presence in the Olympic
business arena with its traffic control system.
"I
think Beijing will be very interested in bringing the technology of
an intelligent traffic control system into the marketplace to
execute smart roadway direction," said Richards.
The system is becoming more and more essential in terms of
security, particularly after terrorist attacks in New York greatly
challenged that city's traffic system, he said.
"To present a successful sports show, Beijing should be on the
cutting edge on that."
Originally a provider of farming equipment, Valmont has extended
its outreach through a global network of 31 facilities in 11
countries.
In
addition to its infrastructure products, Valmont also leads the
world in mechanized irrigation and water management equipment for
agriculture, claiming it enhances food production while conserving
and protecting natural water resources.
(China
Daily March 19, 2002)