GE’s Power Conversion Consolidates Its Position in China

GE’s Power Conversion business expanded today on its commitment to innovation and state-of-art technology made in China, for China.

The year 2013 marks the sixth anniversary of the In China, For China strategy. More than $250 million has been invested into projects with the purpose of developing leading technologies for Chinese customers and providing cost-effective products and solutions to help them achieve greater energy efficiency.

Under this initiative, more than 10 new products have been launched into the market this year with positive market feedback in China and beyond.

With a new factory opening earlier this year in Shanghai and the development of an innovation center of excellence for the metals industry set to open in Wuhan in 2014, GE’s Power Conversion business is committed to building on the high quality of local Chinese engineering capabilities to produce tomorrow’s innovative products in the domain of energy transformation.

These investments help to firmly position GE’s Power Conversion business as the partner of choice for Chinese industry as they work together to meet the energy challenges of tomorrow.

 “We are here in China, for China, for the long-term development of our company,” said GE’s Power Conversion business Chief Executive Officer Joe Mastrangelo. “By working closely as a local technology driver, we build the systems and solutions that will contribute to the region, increasing output while using significantly less energy. The potential for making energy efficiency gains in China and for Chinese companies is enormous, and our partnership is only just beginning.”

As a strategic partner to China, GE’s Power Conversion business is building on four key strengths:

Innovation

In January 2014, GE will open a center of excellence (COE) in Wuhan with a focus on metals automation, including hot rolling mill, cold rolling mill and processing lines.

The metals COE will help local and global metals companies gain competitive advantages by providing solutions that meet their toughest challenges. It integrates both GE’s state-of-the-art technology and customers’ process experience to develop solutions that produce more with less energy and driving to keep the industry competitive.

“It is quite encouraging to see more and more China innovations serving not only the needs of Chinese customers, but also needs of global customers,” said Xiangli Chen, president of the GE China Technology Center. “It is only through close integration of local market needs and technology can success been achieved in enterprises’ R&D efforts.”

Talent

Building tomorrow’s leaders starts through partnerships with key educational institutions. GE’s Power Conversion business will provide students with opportunities for internships and training, which could lead to future employment.

The cooperation program and the dedicated facilities will form the foundation of training for students, teachers as well as operators and can be extended to customers in the region and the certification of professional technicians.

“Supporting education and build-out of local capabilities is part of our philosophy of open innovation,” says Liu Bo, president of GE’s Power Conversion business in China. “The internships will offer training and work experience. The programs also will help train teaching staff of the university and will include site visits and lectures at our other global facilities in the U.K. and France.”

Energy Efficiency

Developed and built in China, and aimed principally at Chinese applications, GE’s Power Conversion business launched the air-cooled M6 Series Drive aiming in particular at the expanding oil and gas market in China as well as at power plants and other industrial applications.

Localization

With the opening in 2013 of a new 10,000-square-meter production plant in Shanghai that will employ nearly 300 people, GE’s Power Conversion business is adding to its already strong production footprint by increasing capacity for building ProWind converters and M6 Series drives.

“We initiate global quality and standards, localized solutions and world-class service. This, combined with upgrading Power Conversion’s R&D capacities, means that the company becomes an even stronger partner in the development of China’s infrastructure with increasingly efficient technologies,” said Liu Bo, president and CEO for GE’s Power Conversion business in China.

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Press Release, December 4, 2013