Multinational Corporations in Jinan | Festo: A Century-Old German Enterprise Forges a Global Super Factory in Jinan
Jinan, the first inland Chinese city to independently open its ports in modern times, has long had openness and inclusiveness woven into its urban character. With its exceptional ecological, cultural, and administrative environment, Jinan possesses a strong appeal that “delights those nearby and attracts those from afar.” CRI Online of China Media Group has launched the short-video series Multinational Companies in Jinan, offering vivid insights into why global enterprises choose, invest in, grow with, and achieve win-win cooperation in Jinan—portraying a vibrant, confident, and open city.
A century-old German enterprise, Festo Group is a globally recognized benchmark in the field of automation technology and industrial training. Since entering the Chinese market in 1993, Festo has always kept pace with the development of China's industrial automation. In 2007, with the further deepening of its strategic layout, Festo set its sights on Jinan, opening a new chapter of rooting and developing in this City of Springs.
Over the past 18 years, Jinan’s continuously optimized business environment and efficient government services have provided solid support for the steady development of enterprises, helping Festo gradually build a benchmark base for localized R&D and manufacturing. With government support, Festo has also introduced Germany’s dual-system vocational training system to Jinan. By collaborating with local vocational colleges, the enterprise has trained more than 300 highly skilled talents, continuously injecting new impetus into its technological innovation and industrial upgrading.
Today, the Festo Jinan Global Production Center, built to the high standards of Industry 4.0, has evolved into the smart factory with the most comprehensive range of technologies and the largest production area within the group. Standing at the new starting point of its century-long development, Festo is committed to building its Jinan factory into an important strategic hub rooted in Jinan, radiating across the Asia-Pacific region and connecting the world, so as to continuously exert the far-reaching influence of China-Germany industrial cooperation in the global intelligent manufacturing sector.
(Li Yifan)
