Asian Games 'zero extinguish' torches made in S China city

The torches titled "The Tide" for the 16th Guangzhou Asian Games. [Photo/gz2010.cn]

As many in China eagerly observe the ongoing torch relay for the 16th Asian Games, residents of the Pearl River Delta city Zhongshan are watching even more keenly.

Torches for the upcoming games were made in the city by Zhongshan Vatti Gas Appliance Stock Co Ltd, one of the renowned kitchen appliance manufacturers in the city's Xiaolan township.

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"The torches titled The Tide is designed to work even better than those for the 2008 Olympic Games," said Huang Qijun, president of Vatti.

"They are expected to have a zero extinguish record during the relay and to be more environmentally friendly."

The torches for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games had an extinguish rate of just 0.4 percent. Those made for this year's Asian Games will be more resistant to downpours, strong wind and even typhoons.

He said the experience in making torches for big sporting events and technological breakthroughs by his firm in the past two years are behind his confidence.

The firm has supplied torches for 10 big sports events at home and abroad, including the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, the East Asian Games in Hong Kong in 2009, the first-ever Asian Youth Olympic Games in Singapore this year, as well as all three of the last National Games, which were held in 2001, 2005 and 2009.

"I have developed affection for the torch business since 2001 when we supplied the torches for the 9th National Games in Guangzhou," he said. "Torch making has become a shining name card of Vatti."

"We will play an even more active role in making torches for world-class sports events," Huang said. "We would also like to show to the world our leadership and technological and design advantages in the kitchen appliance industry."

Specializing in the production and R&D of kitchen and appliances ranging from cookers and water heaters to sterilizers and kitchen cabinets, Vatti has for many years had the leading position in the Chinese kitchenware market.

Many successful businesses like Vatti have helped build Xiaolan into an important manufacturing base in Zhongshan, according to Huang Biaoquan, Party chief of the township.

Xiaolan had 8,158 manufacturing enterprises by the end of 2009, 51 of which each had sales revenue surpassing 100 million yuan in 2009.

The township had 122 famous brand names and trademarks at both State and provincial levels by the end of 2009.

Xiaolan produced 16 billion yuan in gross domestic product and 2.85 billion yuan in taxes in 2009, higher than many other medium-sized cities with a much larger population in China.

The township is also an important base for manufacturing ironware, electronics, acoustic systems and underwear.