Grainger, the leading North American provider of facility maintenance products, on September 25 announced the opening of its first facility in China. The master branch, located in the Shanghai suburb of Minhang, will initially stock approximately 20,000 products businesses and institutions need to keep their facilities running. Guaranteed availability of products in multiple categories will make it easy and convenient for customers to get the right solution when they need it. 

Grainger has also recently published a Chinese language catalogue featuring all the products carried in the master branch and has launched a Web site, at 

http://www.grainger.com.cn, making it easy for customers in China to find and order everything they need from one source. By greatly reducing the effort needed to locate the right products to maintain their facilities, Grainger helps customers save time and money. 

"Grainger is honored to be a part of the rapidly expanding economy in China," said Grainger chairman and chief executive officer Richard L. Keyser. "As global and local businesses grow in this country, they need suppliers they can rely on to provide them with a broad range of quality products when and where needed. Grainger has industry leading experience in helping its customers in North America get more efficient by consolidating their purchases of maintenance and repair supplies. We look forward to serving businesses in China, giving them no reason to turn to anyone but Grainger for all their facility maintenance needs." 

Grainger's Presence in Shanghai has Multiple Aspects

The new master branch in Minhang reflects Grainger's strengths in North America. With 12,000 square meters of space housing approximately 20,000 products, the master branch provides customers with products in several categories including electrical, lighting, tools, test and instruments, pneumatics, plumbing, material handling, safety, security, metalworking and HVAC.

The Grainger Chinese language catalogue, a unique feature for the distribution industry in this country, contains detailed information about all the products available through the master branch. All the listed products are available immediately. Customers can also visit the www.grainger.com.cn to find the products they need 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Grainger also has a customer service center located in central Shanghai that offers sales consultation. 

China's Manufacturing Industry Provides Big Opportunities

As global manufacturing companies continue to move to China, the market for maintenance, repair and operating products is growing substantially and will continue to do so for a number of years. But getting these products remains difficult – businesses still have to shop from many vendors to get all the products they need to keep their facilities running. Grainger will serve businesses and institutions in China by proving them a convenient one-stop shop for a broad range of maintenance and repair products. 

At the Forefront of Customer Demand 

Grainger has been a leader in the MRO industry in North America for almost 80 years. A Fortune 500 company, Grainger provides its 1.5 million customers access to more than 500,000 products through its branch, phone and e-channels. 

"We have remained at the forefront of our industry by continually improving our supply chain, our product line, our local presence and our information systems infrastructure,” said Bonnie J. McIntyre, vice president and general manager of Grainger China LLC. “We are delighted to bring our expertise to the marketplace in China. We look forward to growing our presence to serve more customers in this country."

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