Safe automation for Chinese industry – Pilz opens production site in China

Pilz: The automation company Pilz has opened a production site in the Chinese city of Jintan. In its first production site outside of Europe, the family business from Baden-Württemberg will produce PNOZ safety relays to its company-wide quality standards. As a result, Pilz will be able to supply the growing Chinese market more quickly and consolidate its position there.

In total the Chinese plant covers more than 9,000 m2 of production, office and storage space. The plant has been built in accordance with the latest knowledge in production technology, environmental protection and energy efficiency. PNOZ safety relays for the Chinese market will be manufactured in Jintan in accordance with the same quality standards, processes and procedures and using the same plant and machinery employed in the European production sites. Safety relays serve to protect operators on plant and machinery by monitoring safety functions such as emergency stop or light beam devices. The PNOZ safety relay from Pilz was the world's first product of this type.

In addition to the site at the company's head office in Ostfildern (Germany), Pilz also manufactures in Betschdorf (France). Jintan is situated between the economic centres of Nanjing and Shanghai, in Jiangsu province. This province is one of the country's most active regions economically.

"The new plant sends a clear signal that the Chinese market is particularly significant, for us and the whole automation sector", says Thomas Pilz, Managing Partner of Pilz GmbH & Co. KG, underlining the company's commitment. The production landscape in China is changing. As a result of the 12th 5-year plan of the People's Republic, the trend in manufacturing industries and engineering is towards automation and safety, with the aim of increasing quality and efficiency. "We want to help China achieve these aims", says Thomas Pilz.

The Pilz family opened the company's first production site outside of Europe with an official ceremony. Together with official representatives of the city and Jiangsu Province, Chinese industrial associations and customers, a symbolic red ribbon was cut as a sign of joy, happiness and prosperity.