SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 1, 2006 - UTC Fire & Security announced today the official opening of its Asia headquarters in Shanghai's Citigroup Tower. UTC Fire & Security is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).
"The new Shanghai office is another example of UTC Fire & Security's commitment to serving the rapidly growing Chinese market," said Paul Winnowski, president of UTC Fire and Security Asia. "UTC Fire & Security's footprint in China is steadily increasing. Currently we have 13 sites in six cities, with our Dongguan factory alone producing 23 million smoke/CO detectors a year. Furthermore, we are the acknowledged global leader in foam production used in fire fighting around the world, which we produce in part at our factory in Shanghai."
He added, "UTC Fire & Security also produces fire extinguishers, locks and safes for the domestic and export markets through local partnerships within China. The company currently has 6,500 employees and contractors and more than 30,000 customers in China, and is firmly committed to further expansion," Winnowski said.
Today more than 500 million people in China live in urban areas, a number that grows by nearly 15 million per year, which is the equivalent of a new Shanghai city being created every year. This drives investment in housing, commercial and industrial facilities, and infrastructure, all of which need to be protected by practice or code from fire and security threats. These underlying demographic drivers are very favorable to growth in both the fire and security industries.
In Fire Safety, the company designs, manufactures, integrates, installs and services fire detection and fixed suppression systems, as well as manufactures, sells and services portable fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment. In Electronic Security, the company provides systems integration, installation and service of intruder alarms, access control systems, digital video surveillance and recording. The company also provides monitoring, response and security personnel services to complement both the fire safety and electronic security businesses.
UTC Fire & Security provides products and services under a number of brand names, primarily Chubb, Kidde and Lenel. Other brand names include Angus, Autronica, Chemetron, Detronics, National Foam, Onity, Fenwal, SICLI, Verex, Fireye, and Forney.
UTC Fire & Security has approximately 50,000 employees working in more than 25 countries with a total revenue of U.S. $4.3 billion in 2005. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, the company provides fire safety and security solutions to more than one million customers around the world.
United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., USA, is a diversified company providing high technology products to the building and aerospace industries. Products include Carrier heating and air conditioning, Hamilton Sundstrand aerospace systems and industrial products, Otis elevators and escalators, Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines, Sikorsky helicopters, UTC Fire & Security and UTC Power fuel cells.
