Every year there is a "new harvest", and old friends who have entered the blog: every year there is a level of "freshness" | China | freshness

When it comes to "old friends" at the CIIE, it is inevitable to mention American smart building industry giant Johnson Controls.

It was one of the first contracted exhibitors for the first CIIE and has never been absent for five consecutive sessions. It will participate in the exhibition for the sixth time this year. What is the reason for making an annual commitment to pursuing a PhD? Johnson Controls Asia Pacific President Lang Zhiwen said that through the window of the CIIE, Johnson Controls can feel the changing trends in the Chinese market, actively adjust development strategies, continuously improve product digitization and low-carbon levels, and attract more potential customers.

Every year there is a sense of freshness and new gains. This is the reason why an old friend firmly chose to pursue a PhD.

The inexplicable bond of an old friend

In 2018, the first CIIE was held in Shanghai. This is the world's first national level exhibition with an import theme, fully reflecting China's firm support for trade liberalization, facilitation, and economic globalization.

At that time, Johnson Controls had relocated its Asia Pacific headquarters to Shanghai and built a new headquarters building, aiming to expand its presence in the Chinese market.

One side has a vast world, and the other side needs to find a stage. Because his own demands coincided with the original intention of the CIIE, Johnson Controls cast a vote of confidence for the first CIIE.

Compared to other exhibitors, Johnson Controls has a deeper connection with the CIIE - the equipment for HVAC systems and building automation systems at the National Convention and Exhibition Center, the perennial venue of the CIIE, is provided by Johnson Controls. During the annual CIIE, the company dispatches a team of senior technical experts to provide technical support for the normal operation of various facilities in the National Convention and Exhibition Center office building and exhibition hall.

Johnson Controls provides technical support to the National Convention and Exhibition Center during the annual exhibition period.

Even more coincidentally, the Johnson Controls Asia Pacific headquarters building and the National Convention and Exhibition Center both belong to the Dahongqiao area, with a distance of only 20 minutes by car. Lang Zhiwen said, "The CIIE is a world-class expo held at Johnson Controls' doorstep in Shanghai."

From 2018 to 2022, Johnson Controls participated in exhibitions and signed contracts annually. Part of the equipment orders on the first domestically produced cruise ship "Aida Modu" were signed at the CIIE. Recently, the "Aida Modu" has successfully docked and is scheduled to be delivered before the end of the year, attracting attention from all parties. The HVAC, communication, and fire protection systems on the cruise ship are all provided by Johnson Controls.

Over the past five years, Johnson Controls has met and connected with hundreds of potential customers through the China International Import Expo, which has become an important window for them to grasp the pulse of the Chinese market. Lang Zhiwen said that Johnson Controls has drawn a continuous stream of development momentum from the CIIE, so as to better root itself in China and serve China.

The secret to maintaining freshness

The five years of the CIIE were not only the five years of China's economic development and transformation, but also the five years of Johnson Controls' strategic transformation in China.

Every year, Johnson Controls brings the latest exhibits to the CIIE. In 2018, four new products were released, including intelligent temperature control and medical environment control solutions; In 2019, five new products were introduced, including smart security, building automation, and remote intelligent connectivity services; In 2020, OpenBlue digital system was first launched; In 2021, OpenBlue zero carbon building solution was released on-site; In 2022, the world's first Metasys 12.0 building automation system was launched. A clear thread shows that Johnson Controls' CIIE exhibits are becoming increasingly digital and low-carbon.

The booth of Johnson Controls at the first CIIE.

In fact, when we first participated in the CIIE, Johnson Controls still focused on traditional product services in areas such as HVAC, building control, industrial refrigeration, and security. With the emergence of intelligent and low-carbon new products at the CIIE, Johnson Controls has become more determined to make strategic adjustments. In response to the new demands of the industry, it has developed more solutions that focus on intelligence and sustainable development, promoting the rapid development of its own business.

When the CIIE becomes a showcase window for the forefront of the industry, participating companies also gain more inspiration and enlightenment. Lang Zhiwen has been serving as the President of Johnson Controls Asia Pacific since 2022 and came to the CIIE in the same year. In his view, the CIIE is an excellent platform for enterprises to "know themselves and the Chinese market". "Here, I deeply appreciate the charm of the CIIE's openness and diversity, and see the infinite possibilities of the intersection and collision of advanced scientific and technological concepts, manufacturing new products, and innovative technologies at home and abroad.".

The continuous deepening of localization

The Chinese market has become one of the most critical markets for Johnson Controls. To achieve success here, Johnson Controls needs to pay more attention to local needs, and the CIIE is an excellent platform for enterprises from all walks of life in the industrial ecosystem to gather together.

In the past few years of exhibiting, the localization process of enterprises has developed rapidly. Yang Guang, Vice President and General Manager of Johnson Controls in China, sighed that through the CIIE platform, the company's technology, products, and solutions continue to support the green transformation practices of Chinese cities. This not only brings unprecedented opportunities for the company's development in China, but also gives the company the confidence and motivation to continue to deeply cultivate the Chinese market.

In 2022, Johnson Controls brought its domestically produced "small exhibition hall" of intelligent manufacturing to the CIIE site, showcasing its local engineering research and production capabilities through the HPS screw high-temperature heat pump model and the YZ magnetic levitation centrifugal chiller with a single head cooling capacity of 1500 tons.

At present, the company has achieved over 96% localization in engineering research and development capabilities, and 100% localization in the production of HVAC refrigeration products. 70% of the products are sold domestically in China, and 30% are sold to Asian, European, and American countries and regions, truly achieving research and development in China, production in China, supply to Asia, and supply to the world.

"Even as old friends for five years, we still maintain a high enthusiasm and positive attitude towards the CIIE." Lang Zhiwen introduced that Johnson Controls will participate in the 6th CIIE with a brand new digital building solution, and the exhibition area will also expand from 200 square meters to over 300 square meters. "This is not only an expansion of booth area, but also a manifestation of our firm confidence in the CIIE."

There are still many "old friends" like Johnson Controls who are not absent every year. With the continuous improvement of China's level of opening up to the outside world, they will continue to appear on this year's CIIE stage and reap more development opportunities.