SANY America marks milestone in equipment sales

SANY America, the US subsidiary of China’s heavy construction equipment manufacturer from Hunan province, celebrated the sale of its 2,000th excavator in the North and South America market in Peachtree City, Georgia.

The ceremony on Thursday was combined with a welcome reception for Du Jiahao, secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and his delegation.

Du, along with SANY Heavy Industry Co founder and Chairman Liang Wengen, Consul General of China in Houston Li Qiangmin, Georgia State Representative Josh Bonner and Peachtree City Mayor Vanessa Fleisch, pulled a red cover and revealed the SY500H model excavator.

A group of SANY dealers representing markets in Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, California, Kentucky and Florida attended the ceremony and met with the delegation.

Doug Friesen, CEO of SANY America, said the dealers not only represent the SANY brand of excavators and heavy construction equipment, but also represent China.

“The perception in the US is that when they get a new product, it’s always hard for them to accept new product. Then if it’s from a different country, it’s even harder for them to accept at the beginning. The dealers are the people who work every day to change that perception,” Friesen said.

SANY Chairman Liang said the company has a factory in Wisconsin that manufactures and sells pump trucks and has made $350 million in sales.

The SANY factory in Peachtree City started manufacturing excavators at the end of August ahead of its original October schedule.

Friesen said the factory assembles equipment and two more buildings are planned. One will be used for steel manufacturing and fabrication, and the other for painting and supply parts in North and South America market.

“So we can build everything right here. We hope we can prove to be a huge manufacturing facility that even Europe will buy product from here. We want to be a manufacturer for Europe, North and South America, and not ship as much from China,” Friesen said.

SANY America’s goal is to manufacture eight excavators a day, and a total 3,000 in 2019, and 5,000 in 2020.

“SANY was started with three people playing with some machinery. Today it has become a leading manufacturer in heavy construction equipment in the world. Under Chairman Liang Wengen’s guidance, SANY is geared up to incorporate internet and AI into their manufacturing to usher into the era of Industry 4.0,” Du said.

Du said SANY’s daily business operation data worldwide is being gathered by the State Council Information Office as part of the information for world economic analysis.

“SANY plays an important role in shaping China’s important decision-making,” he said.

Contact the writer at mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com