Tyco Flow Control, a unit of Tyco International, has opened a new, state-of-the-art plant in one of China's fastest growing cities, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. Tyco Flow Control hosted an opening ceremony, which drew senior government officials, and leading industrial customers from across China, Japan, Europe and the United States.

The new plant is part of Tyco Flow Control's three-year, US$100 million China-wide investment program which also includes an R&D centre in Shanghai and the launch of a high-performance steam testing centre in Qingpu.

"China is a key part of our global growth strategy. The opening of the Chengdu plant demonstrates our long-term commitment to the Chinese market," said David Dunbar, president of Tyco Valves & Control, a unit of Tyco Flow Control. "Tyco Flow Control's products and solutions have played a fundamental role in China's infrastructure projects that are vital to the country's development. We are pleased to be a part of the country's plans for the future."

Covering some 40,000 square meters, the plant is now the largest ball valve production facility in Tyco Flow Control's global network in terms of manufacturing space. It will manufacture products for some of the company's well-known global brands, such as KTM, enabling customers around the world to improve business efficiency and minimise risk.

"The Chengdu facility significantly expands Tyco Flow Control's manufacturing footprint in the burgeoning China market and marks a milestone in our 'Made-in-China-for-China' initiative," said Steve Leung, vice president and general manager, Tyco Flow Control's global process business. "It also supports the Chinese Government's goal of developing the West of China by contributing to projects in the key chemical, petrochemical, power, mining and oil and gas industries."

Tyco Flow Control currently employs more than 1,000 talented staff in China. The company expects to continue expanding both production capacity and local talent base in the years to come. The company, a unit of Tyco International Ltd, is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of valves and controls, water and environmental systems, and heat management solutions to vital industries including energy, power, water, mining, chemical, food & beverage, and construction. Tyco Flow Control has more than 15,000 employees in more than 300 locations globally.