On March 15, Kennametal Inc. broke ground on its new manufacturing plant in the Tianjin Economic & Technical Development Area. Expected to attract up to $40 million in investment, the 161,464-sq.-ft. (15,000-sq.-m.) facility could grow to 376,750 sq. ft. (35,000 sq. m.) and eventually employ double its initial payroll of 200.
William H. Anders, Kennametal director, Metalworking Manufacturing Asia Pacific, tells Site Selection that the company owns 861,000 sq. ft. (80,000 sq. m.) in TEDA, in addition to operations launched in Shanghai in 1997 and Xu Zhou in 1995. He says Kennametal used a site consulting company to review over 1,500 sites, which came down to six sites. Anders says the incentive packages for all six were comparable, and lauds the customer orientation of TEDA officials. He also compliments the area's planning.
Mr. Pi Qiansheng, left, Chairman of Tianjin Bunhai Xinau (committee member of Tianjin government) and Kennametal Executive Chairman Markos Tambakeras at ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating groundbreaking in March 2005.
"The TEDA government has been very progressive and proactive in their planning for the infrastructure requirements of their customers," he says. "Communication and coordination of the infrastructure and utility bureau's operations with their customers was a key criterion for selection and continues with the day-to-day operations of the Tianjin facility."
For the 36 staff positions that will lead the operation, 1,500 was again the number – of resumes reviewed.
