Continental Girbau Inc.‘s parent company – Girbau, based in Vic, Spain – has signed a joint-venture agreement with Shenguang of China. The two laundry equipment manufacturing companies signed the agreement on May 18 in Shanghai.
As a result of the joint venture, Girbau will control the new company and plans to inaugurate a new production center in July with more than 160,000 square feet devoted to manufacturing laundry machinery, according to a Girbau press release. The plant initially will continue with the production of Shenguang’s current models. However, Girbau plans to invest in the research and development needed to gradually develop new, competitive and high-quality products geared especially to the Chinese market and other emerging global markets.
The initial goal is to grow vigorously within the Chinese market, according to Girbau CEO Merce Girbau.
“It was clear to us that we needed a partner in the country if we wanted to make a strong entry into this huge Asian market,” she said. “Once we attain a good market share in China, we do not discount the possibility of marketing the products manufactured in Shanghai in other emerging markets. We’ve been analyzing the partnering options in China for some time. Now, with Shenguang, we have found a good manufacturing center, a good sales network and a powerful distribution network. We will provide the technology, the culture of quality and improved efficiency in the processes – and they will provide their extensive knowledge and an introduction to the central laundry markets in China and infrastructure. It’s a win-win situation.”
With the operation, which was structured with the support of InterChina Capital, a China-based corporate finance firm, the 150 Shenguang workers will be added to the Girbau team, which now totals approximately 1,000 people worldwide. The Shenguang production center will complement Girbau’s other manufacturing facilities, totaling nearly 615,000 square feet devoted to manufacturing.
With four production centers, Girbau Group has subsidiaries in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Cuba, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, the Dominican Republic, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States, plus a network of dealers and technical services in more than 100 countries around the world.
