Barco ignites global vision with new tech hub in Wuxi

Guests pose for a photo at the opening ceremony of the Barco (Wuxi) Technology Co. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Barco, a Belgium provider of visualization solutions for the entertainment, corporate and healthcare markets, opened the Barco (Wuxi) Technology Co on May 21, demonstrating its commitment to expansion in the Chinese market.

With a combined investment of $48 million, the production and R&D center is equipped with advanced automated warehousing and material picking systems and automated internal logistics and production assembly lines.

Barco's Co-CEO Charles Beauduin speaks at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The center also features a 1,620-square-meter storage space measuring 24 meters high and accommodating about 7,000 pallet lots and 20,000 box lots.

With a designed annual production of over 20,000 projectors and key components, the center is expected to generate 1 billion yuan ($138.05 million) in sales revenue per year after reaching full capacity.

Barco's Co-CEO Charles Beauduin said in his speech at the opening ceremony that Barco Wuxi is one of Barco's largest overseas investments and that it will serve not only the Chinese market but also the global market.

"The Wuxi plant signifies Barco's enhanced presence in the Chinese market, better serving local customers and meeting the growing demands for high-quality, efficient projection solutions," he added.

Speaking of why he chose to build the center in Wuxi, Beauduin explained that, from experience with their existing factory in the city, they are very satisfied with the city's supporting facilities, abundant resources, and pleasant environment.

"We firmly believe that choosing Wuxi is a wise decision in Barco's development journey," he noted.

Barco (Wuxi) Technology Co. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In the future, Barco Wuxi plans to further strengthen the localization of technology R&D, solution design, production, and after-sales support of engineering projectors by utilizing both global resources and local advantages.

Due to its outstanding performance in technological innovation and project implementation, Barco has become a strong driver of the visualization industry.

"Barco currently holds over 60 percent of the market share in China's high-end projector market, maintaining a leading position," said Kenneth Wang, executive vice-president of Barco and general manager of Barco China.

The Belgium company plans to continue expanding its presence in China, increasing investment and taking advantage of China's high-quality resources to meet the rising demand for high-quality, high-efficiency projection solutions.