Bradley-based valve company makes big connections in China

Sep 9 2008 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A VALVE manufacturer with operations in Huddersfield has landed sales worth millions of dollars in China.

Weir Power & Industrial, which has its headquarters at Bradley and a site at Ainleys Industrial Estate, Elland, has secured major contracts for its own products and those of other Weir Group operations.

The company set up a Chinese sales office in 1998 and manufacturing operation in 2006.

Following a string of contracts for its own range of valves, it is now developing opportunities for the Weir speciality pumps business.

The pumps business is now part of the power and industrial division after a shake-up of operations by the Glasgow-based group.

Recent contracts include supplying safety valves from Weir Power & Industrial France for two nuclear power plant projects.

Hopkinson and Batley-branded valves have also been specified for petrochemical and nuclear power plants.

Andrew Will, sales and marketing director for the emerging markets team, said Weir’s production system had also been successfully adopted by its Chinese manufacturing unit.

He said: “Being able to offer complete sales, manufacturing and after-sales market support services – all from within the territory– is providing customers with the added value they demand.

“Having a local presence in the Chinese market is clearly valuable and is helping Weir Power & Industrial establish a competitive edge in China.”

Earlier this year, Weir’s Suzhou factory was included in Siemens’ approved supplier database for its power generation division following a customer audit by the industrial giant..

Said Mr Will: “The accreditation further strengthens the reputation of Suzhou as a world class manufacturer of products for the power generation market and the continued growth of the operation.