German optical company launches center in Guangdong

ZEISS, a German multinational company operating in the optical and optoelectronic industries, launched on Friday a new quality excellence center in Dongguan, a manufacturing hub in Guangdong province.

The new facility, with the largest investment among such centers in China, accommodates multiple functions including demonstration, measurement, training, certification, technological consultation and computer programming service.

"In 2024, the government has vigorously promoted the acceleration of high-quality development and unleashed new quality productive forces to accelerate the transition of the Chinese economy from quantity to quality based on innovation," said Maximilian Foerst, president and CEO of ZEISS China, at the launching ceremony.

"ZEISS continues to increase its investment in China and we are committed to pioneering innovative technologies, serving as an essential catalyst for enhancing industry quality and productivity."

China is the single largest and fastest growing market globally for ZEISS, and the industry momentum is growing, he said.

"The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is extremely active in the areas of electronics, new energy, and new energy vehicles. Die and mold is also a big topic in the area," Foerst said in an interview.

ZEISS is increasing its cooperation with Chinese domestic companies because many of them are becoming leaders in those fields. "We are now developing technologies in China with Chinese innovative companies and exporting these technologies."

The top-end equipment supplied by ZEISS to the center ten years ago has served many enterprises in Dongguan transforming from traditional mold manufacturers to new energy and high-precision medical mold makers, said Zhou Bin, assistant to the director of the National Mold Product Quality Inspection Testing Center.

The country's action plan for the development of the intelligent testing equipment industry and the implementation guideline on the project for quality excellence in manufacturing was released last year, further highlighting the importance of inspection and testing, he said.