Suzhou, China, 3 June 2019 – Oerlikon Balzers, leading provider of surface solutions, has celebrated the 15th anniversary of its first Chinese customer centre in Suzhou. The company started production in China back in 2004 with 20 employees and has grown rapidly over the years, today boasting 13 customer centres and several hundred employees. The management invited the team members from the very beginning for a special anniversary dinner to celebrate their unique contribution over the last 15 years.
The six pioneers were each presented with a Swiss cowbell with a personal dedication. From left to right: Ryan Huang (Credit Control Manager), Henry Guo (Director of Sales and Operations Oerlikon Balzers China), Ann Fu (National Customer Service & Logistics Manager), Dr. David Franz (Oerlikon Balzers Regional Executive Northeast Asia), Shen Rong (Application Specialist), Ray Jin (Head of Customer Solutions Centre), Wu Jianfeng (Logistics Supervisor), Leon Che (Regional Sales Supervisor).
When Oerlikon Balzers began producing coatings for cutting tools in Suzhou, the production site initially covered a small area of only 1,000 square metres. From the very beginning, however, the Oerlikon Balzers brand stood for leading expertise and know-how, the highest-quality coatings and excellent customer service, and as a result the company’s presence in the coating market grew and it gained a strong reputation among Chinese customers. Today, the site in Suzhou is a vast production facility where the wide product range covers applications for cutting tools, forming tools, automotive parts and precision components. As the main customer centre and the headquarters of Oerlikon Balzers China, Suzhou is the largest of the company’s 13 customer centres in the country.
Dr. David Franz, Regional Executive Northeast Asia, and Henry Guo, Director of Sales and Operations Oerlikon Balzers China, invited six pioneers who contributed substantially to the establishment of the Suzhou customer centre 15 years ago to a special anniversary dinner.
David Franz said in his speech: “Our relatively early market entry in 2004, followed by a rapid footprint expansion with outstanding products, consistent high-quality service and an employee focus, has paid off over the years and allowed Oerlikon Balzers to build a strong reputation and position itself as a market and technology leader in China. As one of the largest markets, China now plays an essential role in Oerlikon Balzers’ global presence and will continue to be one of the pillars of the its growth strategy. On a personal level, it is an honour to take part in this event with people who have shown such long-lasting passion for our organisation. To this very day you see the sparkle in their eyes when they talk about Oerlikon Balzers: this is what we call the Passion for Surface Solutions!”
Henry Guo also expressed his particular gratitude to the pioneers for their enduring commitment. He shared his thoughts during the event: “When we look back, we started with coatings just for cutting tools in eastern China in 2004. Now we are very proud to say that we can provide all kinds of services to a wide range of industries – automotive, electronics, energy, general engineering, cutting tools, moulding, etc. – across China. As the market leader, we have a substantial market share in China, and we are continuing to grow. All of these achievements are founded on the outstanding efforts of the Oerlikon Balzers China team, so my sincere thanks go to everyone for the hard work, and in particular to the pioneers for their long-term loyalty!”
