Combining high-tech with tradition

In Suzhou, ZEISS is demonstrating that a technology company from Germany can combine Chinese culture, regional tradition and high technology aimed at national and international markets. The new site in Suzhou is an important part of ZEISS’ localization strategy.
 

When Ke Yong goes to work, he can stroll through a traditional Chinese garden. The inspiration for this comes from the city of Suzhou, at the mouth of the Yangtze River, where ZEISS opened a new site last summer. There are no fewer than nine gardens of this type there and UNESCO has placed them on its World Heritage List. They represent an artistic impression of the natural world that human beings live in harmony in and with: a current concept originating in the 6th century BC which lives on today as ‘sustainability’.

At the opening, Maximilian Foerst, President and CEO of ZEISS Greater China, substantiated the special commitment in Suzhou by saying, “China is one of the most innovative and fastest growing markets. Leveraging the strengths of the Yangtze River Delta region in terms of resources, talent and collaborative innovation, the new site epitomizes our commitment to digitalization and sustainability. We are ready to utilize our cutting-edge products and technologies to promote new first-class production staff and give considerable impetus to this high-quality development in China.”

Frank Xie, COO of ZEISS Greater China added, “The opening of this new site is a strategic move that aligns with our localization strategy, enabling us to further integrate into the local business ecosystem. We hope to inspire our employees to foster innovation, and drive business growth in China.”

The architectural design of the new building complies with the ZEISS brand colors blue and white with a minimalist style and incorporates elements of classical Chinese heritage. It combines modern cutting-edge technologies and traditional aesthetics. A photo exhibition in the lobby documents the construction progress of the new site and shows the innovations and awards of almost twenty years of ZEISS in Suzhou.

The new building in the dynamic environment of the Suzhou industrial park is part of ZEISS’ localization strategy. “The Chinese market is a major priority for medical technology. We are establishing a new research and development site where we can adapt our products even better to our customers’ requirements in order to increase demand and production. In this way, we are advancing the development of high quality in the Chinese healthcare industry,” added Taylor Zheng, Head of Operations Medical Technology (MED) in China.

His colleague Han Song, Head of Operations for the Research Microscopy Solutions business unit, also emphasizes the importance of being able to find well-trained specialists saying, “The region in the Yangtze Delta offers a large pool of high-tech talent that is crucial to our success in China and will help us to drive new innovations.”

Experts are particularly needed in the area of research and development (R&D), which will be boosted by with the opening of the new site. Bing Zhu, Head of Operations for the Industrial Metrology segment (IQS), therefore emphasizes the technical and local expertise at the new site for innovative strength saying, “The new site will enable us to bring R&D teams for coordinate measuring machines closer to the market and create real, locally rooted innovations.”

One example of successful innovations from China can be found in the microscope sector: the ZEISS digital microscope Axiovert 5 digital brings artificial intelligence into the cell lab. This microscope makes processes more efficient and results can be better reproduced. It was developed at the ZEISS R&D center in Shanghai, is produced in Suzhou and distributed worldwide.

ZEISS is not only driving digitalization in its own product portfolio. Modern production solutions also play an important role at the new site. For example, automatically guided vehicles (AGVs) are used here. They are intended to increase efficiency and flexibility – an important springboard for further development and new growth in China.