he buzz of machinery echoes in the brightly lit Pentair plant. Clad in blue shirts and safety glasses, workers diligently piece together cartridge filters and other equipment.
The land and buildings that house the Suzhou factory are owned by Pentair, not leased. Its facility includes an office, conference facilities, three manufacturing buildings (the largest spanning approximately 80,000 square feet) and grassy areas. The fact that Pentair owns its land means it’s here to stay, says Charles Gao, director of sales for Pentair Water-Asia, based in Shanghai.
Pentair’s 200 employees in Suzhou create products for the mainland and the United States, Canada and Australia. The factory is guided by the corporate office in Shanghai.
Suzhou is an ideal place to build a factory, due to low costs, proximity to Shanghai and generous space. Though the buildings seem empty, the company anticipates that they will soon fill up with more machinery and employees, plus a dock and quality inspection area.
The facility also includes a testing station for sump pumps where materials are ordered, tested and then sent to the United States. There’s also a methodology room for operations and quality performance, and an assembly room for pumps from a handful of Pentair brands.
A new injection molding machine still in delivery wrapping sits in the third building. The factory plans to have the machine running 24/7 once it is set up. “You need to be basic in injection molding to stay competitive,” says Bill Whitehurst, vice president of business development for Pentair Water Pool and Spa in Sanford, N.C. “Ultimately, half will be used in China and half elsewhere.”
