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Franklin International Launches Guangzhou Operation to Better Serve China’s Wood Assembly, Construction Markets
Franklin International, a global leader in the manufacture of glues, adhesives and sealants, is launching a new operation in China – Franklin (Guangzhou) Adhesives Company, Ltd. – to be in closer proximity to the increasing number of customers in the wood assembly and construction markets in China and countries in the Pacific Rim.
Franklin Guangzhou, a wholly owned foreign enterprise (WDFE), formally opens April 9 in a newly constructed plant in the prosperous Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development District, near Hong Kong and Macao in southeast China.
At the new plant, Franklin Guangzhou will produce many of its well-known emulsion-based adhesives developed for the wood assembly market, including furniture construction. Ultimately, the company will expand production to include its renowned line of Titebond® adhesives for the residential and commercial construction industry.
Specifically, Franklin Guangzhou initially will produce seven glues that meet every need within the furniture assembly plant, from bonding veneers and finger jointing (gluing together two pieces of wood end-to-end) to general assembly. The Guangzhou product line feature formulas for use with all types of press equipment used in the furniture assembly industry (cold press, hot press, radio frequency press equipment). The formulas include several well-known Titebond brand industrial products as well as newer products such as Reactite EP 925 and Multibond EZ-1.
Although Franklin International has been selling many of these products to customers in China for more than a decade, the ability to produce them locally enables the company to reduce shipping time and be more nimble in meeting customer needs. The launch of the China operation also reflects the company’s deep commitment to the Chinese and Pan-Asian markets, said Franklin International chief executive officer Evan Williams.
Certainly, Franklin International planned the new 8,900-square-meter Franklin Guangzhou facility to handle long-term growth in China. The facility houses a two-story office building as well as expansive production and warehousing areas. Five tanks, multiple loading docks – and the potential to double production capacity – enable Franklin Guangzhou to meet current and future demands of the region’s burgeoning furniture and construction markets.
The plant initially employs nine and operates under the guidance of general manager Jason Wang. Wang brings 14 years of experience in the chemical industry – including nine years in operation management – to Franklin Guangzhou.
“We at Franklin International are extremely excited over the opening of our Guangzhou operation and the opportunity to strengthen our ability to serve our customers in the China market,” said Williams. “Although Franklin is aggressively increasing its presence across the globe, Franklin Guangzhou actually is our only manufacturing facility outside our U.S. base. This is testament to the depth of our commitment to our Chinese customers and the Pacific Rim market in general.”
Franklin Guangzhou began production at the new plant in early April and plans to begin distributing product by May 1.
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About Franklin International: Based in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.A., Franklin International was established in 1935 and today is among the largest privately held manufacturers of adhesives and sealants for commercial and industrial applications. Franklin integrates its core competency, emulsion polymerization, into a broad product offering, including glues, adhesives, hot melts, binders, films, sizing compounds and more. These products are distributed across six continents for use in construction, furniture manufacturing, millwork, paper converting, pressure-sensitive paper products and fiberglass reinforcement.
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Abbe Raabe, Marketing Communications Manager
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