The Business Unit Mobility Carbon just established a new Tech Development Center in Shanghai. It will help to find new technological trends on the Chinese market especially in e-mobility and to increase the growth of Schunk in China.
Besides America, Asia is the region where Schunk wants to grow. Above all, this means China, one of the most powerful and fastest developing economies in the world. That is why the Business Unit Mobility Carbon increases its presence in China with the new Tech Development Center in Shanghai.
“Obviously, China is one of the most important markets for us”, says Dr. Klaus Löcker, Head of Division Mobility. “We see great opportunities for growth here. With our new Tech Development Center, we ensure a better support for our customers’ projects in China.”
The new center will act as technical branch of the research and development teams at the BU Mobility Carbon lead company located in Bad Goisern in Austria as well as of Mechanical Carbon Automotive located in Heuchelheim in Germany.
Shanghai is the best location
“Shanghai is the most important industrial city and the center of the automotive industry in China”, says Hong Yang, Sales Director Mobility in China. Many OEMs and suppliers have their headquarters and/or R&D departments here – Chinese companies as well as companies based in other countries.
“We want to get closer to our customers and understand their technical needs at an early stage”, he points out. Thus, Schunk will be able to provide the best solution for the customer. “This will bring us into a position to detect technological trends soon, to find and realize more opportunities with our customers and to increase the hit rate and sales volume in the Chinese market.”
Focus on electric vehicles
Main products to be promoted will be carbon brushes for cars as well as products that go into the fast developing market for electric vehicles, such as shaft grounding, Latent Heat Carbon, parts made from aluminum graphite and also carbon fiber products such as sleeves used in a new generation of motors and high speed turbines.
The Tech Development Center will be led by Matthias Lu. He joined Schunk Group recently and brings in a vast experience in the field of R&D for automotive suppliers. “At the beginning, we will focus on understanding the technical needs of our customers”, says Lu. Based in the already existing offices of Schunk in Shanghai, he and his future team will be able to stay in close contact with the R&D departments of the targeted customers nearby.
“Our center will be the hinge between our customers on the one hand and the production site of Schunk in Suzhou as well as our R&D teams in Bad Goisern and Heuchelheim on the other hand”, he adds. “Being here in Shanghai, we want to dig for new opportunities for Schunk and to find a feasible way for enhanced products or new products that perfectly fit the needs of our customers.”