RotoMetrics expands in China

Welcoming converters, co-suppliers and OEMs to the formal opening, Paul McKay, general manager for Asia at RotoMetrics, said: ‘I am delighted to officially launch the latest investment by RotoMetrics in support of its worldwide customer base, and in particular those in China who have long been asking us to make a commitment to this fast-growing market.

‘Globally, RotoMetrics repairs more than 30,000 solid dies each year, mainly in North America and Europe, and we look forward to adding significantly to that number with this new facility that will allow us to grow our business here in China.’

While the company’s domestic market in the US sees solid dies used in a variety of market sectors, including tag and label, medical, automotive, electronics and industrial, in Asia the preference is for flexible dies. RotoMetrics sees the new facility in Suzhou as an ideal opportunity to grow its solid die business outside narrow web print, typically in the electronic and automotive engineering sectors, amongst others. In light of manufacturing globalization, RotoMetrics is also to offer local support, and to do it to the highest standard possible, it said. To this end, the full sales team and technical facilities and competence levels at the new Suzhou base are a mirror image of those found elsewhere in the RotoMetrics global network.

Doug Parton, RotoMetrics’ business development manager for solid dies in Asia, stated: “This is our first location in Asia for die repairs, and I’m pleased to say the first to be opened by any Western die maker in China. Our aim is to offer the highest quality repair service that will provide longer die life, better cutting performance, and lower total cost of ownership.’

McKay added that overall quality standards are very high in China, with more checks carried out on finished products than is generally the case in the West. This means technical repair skills need to be at an equally high level. To ensure staff at the new Suzhou plant conform to RotoMetrics’ own high standards, a period of intensive staff training is being undertaken by some of the company’s senior global technicians.

‘What we are offering to our Chinese and other Asian customers is a level of repair and service on RotoMetrics and other solid dies that has not previously been available here, and we are confident that the market will respond to our investment in the Suzhou facility,’ concluded McKay.