European gas heater manufacturers eye Chinese market
( 2003-09-26 09:33) (Xinhua)
European manufacturers of individual gas heating systems are pinning high
hopes on the booming Chinese market as the country sees rapid economic growth
and greater awareness of environmental protection.
China's ongoing project to build a 4,000-kilometer cross- country gas
pipeline has further encouraged European companies who have occupied 50 percent
of the Chinese market in less than five years, defeating their Republic of Korea
rivals who entered China in the mid-1990s.
A total of 120,000 individual gas heating systems are sold in China annually,
with sales of more than 600 million yuan (73 million US dollars). Most are
imported, but in recent years, Sino- foreign joint ventures have begun to
manufacture the heaters in China, while some local companies are producing the
products with foreign technology.
In 1950, the first wall-hung boiler appeared in Europe, and in 1960,
Europeans manufactured the first individual gas heating system. Individual gas
heating systems are regarded as one of the best substitutes for traditional,
centralized heating systems that are still widely used in China.
It was cheap to run and energy-efficient, easy to use and install, less
polluting than coal-powered heating facilities, and helped increasing awareness
of energy saving, said an expert from the center.
Representatives from 12 European companies and Chinese experts and
officials attended the European Individual Gas Heating System Symposium
Thursday, which was sponsored by the Sino-French Professional Training Center on
Energy.
The European companies are Ariston, C&M, Hermman, Aereco, Bosch, De
Dietrich, Immergas, Beritta, Buderus, Frisquet, Rettig, and
Wilo.
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