Founded in St. Louis, Missouri, USA in 1890, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1937, the Emerson Electric Company (www.GoToEmerson.com) is now one of the world's largest industrial companies.  It's FY2004 sales reached US $15.6 billion and from 1956 to 2002, the company set the record for distinguished performance with a 48-year consecutive increase in dividend per share. 

Global Overview

With over 60 divisions around the world, Emerson operates 245 factories, in 150 countries and employs approximately 107,800 people. Emerson's business segments include appliance and tools, electronics and telecommunications, heating, ventilating & air conditioning, industrial automation and process control. Its combination of research, market expansion, innovative products and dedication to quality over the years means that Emerson is now one of the world's biggest producers and sellers of machinery, electronic products and instruments.

China Presence

Emerson's China business began as early as the late 1970s and in 1992 the company established itself as the first exclusively funded enterprise in China. In October 1993, Emerson Electric (China) Holdings Co., Ltd., became the first American company ever to locate its investment headquarters in Shanghai. From that point onward, Emerson's investment in China increased substantially. So far, Emerson has invested in more than 30 Chinese enterprises.  Twenty-nine of these enterprises are manufacturing facilities located in 11 key cities; Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Fuzhou, Beijing, Tianjin, Qingdao, Chengdu, Jiangmen, Luoding and Shenyang. Emerson has also established five research and development centers in the four locations of Beijing, Suzhou, Qingdao and Shenzhen. In addition, Emerson has been expanding and strengthening its Asian purchasing organization in China.  Emerson is committed to China and its total investment in this country comes to approximately US$1 billion.

Emerson's annual China business volume is about US$1 billion. The company has more than 19,000 employees working in its China operations and is fully confident about the growth prospects for Emerson's technology and employees in this market. Since June 1996, Emerson has worked with some of China's top universities to establish fellowship programs for doctoral candidates majoring in electrics. So far the company has sponsored 30 such programs and supported MBA scholarship programs in a number of renowned Chinese universities.

Guangdong Investments

One of Emerson's key investment focuses in China is Guangdong Province where Emerson not only made its earliest and largest investment, but also has its biggest workforce. Since the establishment of the Emerson Electric (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. in Baoan in 1992, nine manufacturing facilities located in Baoan, Luoding and Shenzhen have been set up. Emerson has invested in two major divisions in Guangdong, the first is Astec Electronics Co., Ltd. and the second is Avansys Power, the latter being renamed the Emerson Network Power Co., Ltd. in June 2002.  During 2004-2005, the Emerson Industrial Park is set up in the Fuyong district of Shenzhen, where the manufacturing operations and strategic development of Astec and Emerson Network Power are being furthered to new heights at this new facility.

In addition to its investments and product manufacturing, Emerson is actively engaged in the evolution of technology communication. The company's technology research centers have the dual purpose of developing products based on new and advanced technologies and nurturing and training the distinguished intellectual talent that will create the next generation of technology.   The Shenzhen-based Emerson Network Power Co., Ltd. is an excellent example of Emerson's research commitment put into practice.  By May 2005, this division has applied for more than 300 patents and where 241 are approved.  The company's Astec Power is looking to foster further research talent in Guangdong by sponsoring related programs and research at the South China University of Technology.

Vision

Emerson has complete confidence in its China investments and their opportunity for growth.  Looking to the future, Emerson hopes it can continue to make a significant contribution to the development of China's industry, the manufacturing sector in particular, and to the economic development and technology modernization across the nation.

Editor: Donald