Agilent Technologies has announced plans to invest $20 million to expand its Shanghai manufacturing center to meet growing demand in China for the company’s advanced liquid chromatography (LC), spectrometer and mass spectroscopy (MS) systems.

“This expansion will help us better support our customers in China by enhancing our world-leading, high-quality, digital and smart factory capabilities," said Bin Zhu, General Manager of Agilent Technologies Shanghai and Associate Vice President of the Gas Chromatography Division.

Agilent’s Shanghai site was established in 1995, and has since become a highly integrated global strategic manufacturing center with R&D, quality assurance, supply chain and logistics management capability. The facility deploys advanced  “smart factory” technologies that include leading edge data analysis, visual inspection systems, the cobot automation system, and AI and machine learning systems.

China has become the single largest market for Agilent outside of the U.S. and has been an important part of the company’s growth strategy. “Over the the next three years we will continue increasing our manufacturing capacity, supply base footprint and efficiency in China.” said Henrik Ancher-Jensen, Senior Vice President, Agilent, and President, Order Fulfillment and Supply Chain (OFS).