On September 21, ebm‑papst celebrated its 30th anniversary in China with an anniversary event in Shanghai. Several members of the management team as well as employees from across China were joined by government representatives, customers and business partners to look back on the development of the subsidiary in China and discuss the opportunities of an increasingly digitalized economy.

Over the past three decades, ebm‑papst has undergone three fundamental stages of development in China: from pure sales to local production, from production to building comprehensive capabilities in research, development and supply chain management, and from a product supplier to a systems and technology partner. Continuous investment and local innovation have shaped the development of the subsidiary in China and strengthened its local capabilities. This strengthens proximity to local customers while at the same time supporting the global exchange of knowledge and experience within the Group.

“When we entered the Chinese market 30 years ago, our role was primarily to bring products and technologies to the market. Today, the exchange works both ways: expertise built in China in manufacturing, engineering and innovation contributes to our global network. This shift from serving the Chinese market to innovating together is one of the most important outcomes of our development here. China is not only a key market, but also helps shape our capabilities,” said Dr. Klaus Geißdörfer, CEO of the ebm‑papst Group.

This development reflects ebm‑papst’s long-standing “Local for Local” strategy. Solutions are developed and manufactured where customers need them. This shortens development and delivery times, strengthens competitiveness and makes the company more resilient to geopolitical uncertainties.

Today, ebm‑papst China operates a closely integrated network spanning research and development, manufacturing, logistics and customer support. Its plants in Shanghai, Xi’an and Foshan work closely together to provide customers with fast and flexible support. The localization rate now exceeds 90 percent.

Efficiency and resource conservation play an important role at ebm‑papst, not only in its solutions for customers, but also at its own plants. The Xi’an production plant has been recognized as a “National Green Factory.” The photovoltaic systems installed there cover around half of the plant’s electricity demand, making an important contribution to reducing resource consumption and improving operational efficiency.

“Customers no longer judge performance based on the technical specifications of a fan alone. Instead, the focus is on energy consumption, reliability and operating costs across the entire system. The rapid growth of AI is raising the requirements for data center cooling while also creating new opportunities for innovation. By getting involved at an early stage of customer projects, we can turn local expertise in engineering, manufacturing and service into measurable operational improvements for our customers. Ultimately, our contribution is reflected in system performance and energy costs, not just in product specifications,” said Thomas Nürnberger, Chief Sales Officer of the ebm‑papst Group and CEO Air Technology APAC & MEA.

The development in China demonstrates how ebm‑papst’s “Local for Local” strategy is put into practice. With strong local capabilities, close customer relationships and close integration within the Group, the Chinese subsidiary now makes an important contribution to ebm‑papst’s global success.