Siemens is starting work on a new factory - the Siemens Electronics Works Chengdu (SEWC) - in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on March 15, as the company's largest modern digital factory in China.

The first phase of the project is scheduled for completion in early 2013.

The factory covers a 40,000-square-meter area in the West Park of the Chengdu High Tech Development Zone, and is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs.

The mayor of Chengdu, Ge Honglin, joined Dr Marc Wucherer, the president of Industry China, in a foundation-laying ceremony at the factory site, where Wucherer said, "Chengdu has great importance for Siemens and its footprint in western China. Siemens will continue to support Chengdu's economic and social development and SEWC is value added in the local economy and in Sichuan's industrial improvement."

Ge said he appreciated Siemens' commitment and supported for the "Go West" program, that this is a winning situation for both, and that, "Siemens' investment is expected to be an important electronic upgrade for Chengdu and Sichuan province. And, Chengdu will provide favorable conditions and efficient services to support Siemens' development."

Siemens and Chengdu announced their intention to build the large digital factory on Oct 17, 2011, to meet global market demand. Eckard Eberle, the CEO of Industrial Automation Systems, Industry Automation Division of Siemens said he appreciated Chengdu's effort and that the SEWC is a "priority project".

"It [the Chengdu factory] is a twin of the EWA (Electronics Works Amberg), in Germany, which produces world class automatic products that create trustworthy and sustainable value for customers around the globe," Eberle went on to explain.

The new digital factory is considered a benchmark in China for its automation, environmental friendliness, advanced equipment, zero-pollution, good ventilation, and professional, orderly workshops. The factory is expected to get LEED Certification after construction work is completed.

The SEWC is both the brainchild of Siemens in its digital factory ideas and the result of Siemens' manufacturing standards and efficiency. The company is now looking for well-educated, experienced people in the area, and young, talented, recent graduates with an automation background are being welcomed. The company expects to train them to make them the backbone of the operation.

Siemens opened its optical fiber works in Chengdu, in 1996, and since that time has increased technologic investment in the area. In Jan 2003, it provided a Simatic system for a Chengdu Steel plant 60T Rotation Furnace project. And, under the 12th Five-Year Plan, it has used its advanced products, solutions, and systems to the region's advantage in improving efficiency and productivity.

Siemens has provided automated systems for a number of projects in Chengdu, such as Metro Line 2 and a new FAW-VW factory, which began first phase production in July 2011. Siemens was able to help the most important automobile base in western China with its state-of-the-art Simatic products.

Jing Gang, a member of the Chengdu CPC Standing Committee, joined other officials in taking part in the ceremony. Also there were Wang Haibin, a senior vice-president of Siemens Ltd China and General Manager of the Industry Automation, Industry Sector, and Nong Keqiang, a senior vice-president of Siemens Ltd, China and general manager of the southern region.