On March 22nd last Lectra opened their new facilities in the Asia-Pacific region. The ceremony was attended by Daniel Harari, President, and over 200 guests including clients in the fashion, automotive, furniture industry sectors, representatives of professional associations and federations and a number of academic representatives of entities with whom the company signed co-operation agreements. Press agents covered the event.
This opening is consistent with the development strategy set in place by Lectra, focusing on a regional center – International Advanced Technology Center (IATC) and its Call Center. The goal of this new structure is to improve their relationships with clients by offering better service to the almost 3,000 clients Lectra has in this area.
Stronger presence in China
Lectra has been present in China for 20 years now. In 1986, the company opened its first branch office in Hong Kong, which was followed by one in Taiwan in 1988, and another one in Shanghai, financial capital of China, in 1994. Lectra currently has 23 branch offices in China: Beijing, Fujian, Guangzhou, Naniing, Nantong and Wuhan.
A team of 135 technicians and commercial agents offers support to the 1,700 clients Lectra has in China. The team is essential in the company’s strategy because, according to Jean-Luc Aubert, Director of Lectra Asia-Pacific Division: “Due to its expertise and contributions Lectra has become the natural partner for companies in the Asia-Pacific region by helping them co-ordinate international projects”.
On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific Call Center opened in 2001, received over a hundred thousand calls in 2005. The number of visitors to the International Advanced Technology Center IATC for technical inquiries and training in CAD/CAM systems is also significant.
Chinese fashion companies prefer Lectra
With the elimination of quotas on January 1st, 2005, China experienced radical changes. Following an initial stage in which companies “waited to see what happened”, China started to work in its expansion and domestic markets boomed while companies became increasingly interested in developing their own brands for exportation purposes. Harvey Tseng, General Director of Lectra China, states: “Chinese companies are investing in the development of new brands and products with greater added value”.
Experts foresee that by 2010 over one-half of the world’s apparel production will come from China. Investments in technology are essential, and in this sense Lectra’s solutions perfectly adapt to the needs of the fashion industry sector as they comprise the whole process, from the design to production. Daniel Harari, President of Lectra, said: “We feel strengthened by our innovating capacity and our strong alliance with clients. Lectra solutions offer competitive advantages as companies face major changes in the marketplace”.
The technical renown of Lectra in the clothes-making industry in China is seen as the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) chose this company to conduct the official standardization campaign in the nation’s population. The campaign was launched in February 2006 and will eventually publish all Chinese standardized sizes.
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