Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ Sales and Marketing team visits Thai manufacturing facility
Andrew Paykel helps children from the Rayong Child Protection Institute paint a mural
Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ Australian Sales and Marketing team has returned from a successful annual conference in Thailand.
The overseas venue was, in part, a reward for surpassing sales targets and an opportunity for the sales and marketing staff to visit Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ new manufacturing facility at Rayong.
The 65-strong team was welcomed by Andrew Paykel, General Manager, Thailand, who has overseen the factory build and commencement of production less than twelve months since the soil turning in September 2007. The first clothes dryers came off the production line in March this year.
Construction of the second Thai factory will commence in August. It will produce refrigeration products and DishDrawers, with the first appliances scheduled for production from June 2009.
Fisher & Paykel Appliances has relocated its Asian sales office to Thailand to assist in expanding and developing the Asian markets.
Fisher & Paykel Appliances recently won a contract to supply appliances for a 700-apartment project in nearby Pattaya, which indicates the strong interest in Fisher & Paykel appliances already in Thailand.
“Fisher & Paykel’s modular style appliances are well suited to these types of developments and we expect our products to be strong sellers in the project market,” said Andrew Paykel.
Andrew Paykel told the Australian team that operating in Thailand has given the company a number of advantages including strong vertical supply chain savings, government driven tax incentives, good infrastructure and an educated and motivated workforce.
“Our major competitors are now producing throughout Asia and this move is helping us meet an increasingly competitive market,” said Andrew Paykel.
Orphanage visit
While at the conference the 65-strong Fisher & Paykel Appliances’ Australian Sales and Marketing team spent a day working at a local orphanage, which the company is sponsoring.
The Fisher & Paykel Appliances team donated hundreds of books to the Rayong Child Protection Institute, and worked alongside the children to paint classroom blocks, build library shelving, erect whiteboards, install new washing machines and paint an 80-metre long mural.
Fisher & Paykel Appliances has announced two annual scholarships to be offered to children about to leave the orphanage to pay for higher education costs for three years.
At the end of their higher education, the scholarship winners would be offered a job opportunity with Fisher & Paykel Appliances Thailand.
17-Jul-2008