Instant UpRight opens access tower factory in China

Irish scaffold tower specialist Instant UpRight will officially open its new Chinese manufacturing facility in Foshan, Guangzhou, next week with an event for dealers and customers from Asia, Middle East and Australia.

Instant acquired Scaffworx China, a tower manufacturing facility in Guangzhou, last year and took control of the factory in April this year has now created a new company, UpRight Asia, to manufacture and supply welded and non-welded mobile towers, low-level access products and aluminium system scaffolds for Asia, Australasia, and the Middle East. Foshan will become Instant UpRight’s development centre for low-level access product.

The company’s main Dublin plant will continue to manufacture aluminium tower systems for Europe and North America and will continue to design and manufacture its custom-made products for power generation, aviation and industrial markets.

Although the initial target for the Chinese product will be Asia, Middle East and Australia, John Nevin, Instant UpRight’s managing director, told IRN; “we will look to leverage our China capability to help us win new business in Europe and the Americas, most likely with alternate products to what we supply out of Dublin.”

Mr Nevin said; “UpRight Asia will allow the company to leverage the benefits of a lower cost manufacturing base together with 65 years of supplying premium quality products on a global scale.

“The company has built up a solid reputation supplying the Asian markets and the new plant will develop our business opportunities in this region even further. We anticipate significant growth possibilities.”

UpRight Asia general manager Scott Van Der Valk leads the new operation, with long-time UpRight salesman Allen Chew Swee Han joining as business development manager, responsible for Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Macau, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Brunei.

Zhang Feng Hai, who has worked with Instant for many years, is responsible for developing sales in China.

UpRight Asia will manufacture a broad range of products, including welded towers and more competitive low access products. The company’s non-welded Rib-Grip Span Tower products will be available from the new Chinese facility later in 2012.

Scaffworx China was a subsidiary of Scaffworx Australia. Instant UpRight only acquired the Chinese operation, while Scaffworx Australia was subsequently sold to another Australian company. Mr Nevin said Instant would continue to sell its products in Australia through current partner Instant Access Australia.

The official opening ceremony on 17 October will be followed by a dealer and customer conference to be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Ghangzhou.