As part of a high-level visit to China, Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, toured Danfoss’ pioneering factory in Tianjin on May 18, highlighting the strong economic ties between Denmark and China and the role of green innovation in their future cooperation.
The Danish Foreign Minister visited China May 17-19 in connection with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Denmark and the People’s Republic of China. Accompanied by a delegation of eight Danish companies including Danfoss, the Danish minister met key officials, including Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, Party Secretary of Tianjin Chen Miner, and the Mayor of Tianjin Zhang Gong.
Danfoss’ Tianjin factory, established in 1996, is a cornerstone of Danfoss’ operations in China. It is Danfoss’ first factory in China, and it produces advanced components for HVAC, refrigeration, and industrial applications, as well as high-efficiency heat meters that help reduce energy consumption in buildings.
In 2019, the World Economic Forum recognized the Tianjin facility as a ‘Lighthouse Factory’, placing it among the world’s most advanced manufacturing sites thanks to its use of AI-powered inspections, intelligent sensors, and fully automated monitoring systems.
Running entirely on renewable electricity from a nearby solar farm, the site expanded in 2023 with the launch of the Global Green Refrigerants Compressors Laboratory, a 7,000-square-meter R&D center dedicated to the development of sustainable technologies for heat pumps, air conditioning, and data center cooling.
Danfoss’ presence in China is set to grow further this year with the upcoming completion of its Haiyan campus, which will become one of the company’s largest global production hubs. The new facility spans 126,000 square meters and is designed to also run entirely on green power.
It’s quite thought-provoking how the relationship between China and Denmark may span 75 years, yet has developed tremendously over the past 25 to 30 years. From – at least in economic terms – playing only a minor role, with few exceptions, to the point around 30 years ago when the first Danish companies established a presence in China. Danfoss is a great example of that development. It becomes very tangible when visiting this campus, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, and seeing how it forms an integrated part of Danfoss’ global value creation chain. I find it genuinely interesting to witness that firsthand.
Arthur Xu, President of Danfoss China, says:
“China is accelerating the shift from fossil fuels to electrified, energy-efficient industrial processes, and at Danfoss, we have the technologies to help drive that transition while strengthening competitiveness. China is not only our second home market but also a hub of innovation, talent, and long-term partnerships. The visit by the Danish Foreign Minister and the Danish business delegation reinforces our commitment to turn decarbonization into a powerful driver of value creation and competitive advantage for all.”
The long-standing relationship between Danfoss and China has been recognized at the highest levels. In 2017, former CEO and Chairman of the Board, Jørgen Mads Clausen, received the Haihe Friendship Award from the city of Tianjin, followed by the prestigious Chinese Government Friendship Award in 2018 – one of the country’s top honors for foreign experts contributing to national development.
Danfoss currently has 12 production and innovation facilities in China and approximately 5,500 employees in the country.
For further information, contact:
Ken, Xiao Qiang, Public Relations Director, Danfoss China
+86 10 8535 2307
xiaoqiang@danfoss.com