Michigan Governor Meets with SMTCL Chairman

Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan, along with Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) chief executive officers Mike Finney, Maureen Krauss and Matt Gibb, recently met with Xiyou Guan, the chairman of the board of Shenyang Machine Tools Co.,Ltd. (Shenyang, China), company president He Wang and general manager of import/export Andrew Heath.

Plans for a new SMTCL factory in the United States drew the attention of Governor Snyder, who is looking for opportunities of economic growth for his home state. Guan, Wang, and Heath welcomed the governor and his staff to Shenyang to discuss SMTCL plans for manufacturing in North America.

Guan expressed his interest in finding a suitable location for the factory that can provide world-class products and services to local American customers. “The facility should be in a state that has a good manufacturing base with highly skilled employees and vendors,” the chief of operations officer, Jerry McCarty, had explained at an earlier press conference in September 2014 when announcing the investigation of a new factory.

The governor explained his commitment to having skilled labor and talent, suggesting a labor apprenticeship in which Michigan companies and community colleges can work together. A mutual benefit of skills and employment would allow young employees to work and study. Possibilities of an advanced technology and training center would also create great opportunities for Michigan’s economy.

Guan explained that the California team was leading the project and they are searching for the right “local partner” but still notes the importance of Michigan’s great attributes in the manufacturing industry. When Snyder enquired on what kinds of attributes and complementary strengths this local partner would have, Guan explained that the ‘people’ element would be most important. He is looking to find a team not only with the skills in the machine industry, but with a vision to provide industry leading technology, quality, and customer service.

The governor commented that he felt that the meeting was productive and that he shares a common vision with SMTCL of manufacturing for the future. SMTCL is still looking at other locations before a decision is made.

SMTCL is a subsidiary of SYMG, the largest machine tool manufacturer in the world, producing 80,000 machine tools each year with revenues of $2.9 billion from over 300 products, including CNC Boring Mills, Vertical Turning Centers, Vertical Machining Centers, Horizontal Turning Centers, Horizontal Machining Centers, Gantry Type Machining Centers, Pipe Threading Machines and Tapping Centers. The company also makes Conventional Lathes, Boring Mills, and Radial Drills.

SMTCL has design centers and multiple factories in Germany and China. SMTCL-Americas headquarters are located in the City of Industry, CA. Through a network of 15 distributors in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, SMTCL-Americas provides local service and support to customers in a variety of industries, including Aerospace, Defense, Medical, Automotive, Electronics, and Job Shops.

www.smtcl-americas.com