On December 18th, the 10th Anniversary Celebration and New Factory Commissioning Ceremony of KACO (Wuxi) Sealing Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "KACO (Wuxi)") was grandly convened in Huishan Economic Development Zone, Wuxi City. In attendance were over 200 participants, including corporate leaders such as Xia Dinghu, Chairman of the Group, accompanied by his spouse; Ma Xiaopeng, General Manager of Jiake China, with his spouse; Xia Yingsong, General Manager of Zhongding Co., Ltd.; Richard Ongherth, General Manager of Germany-based KACO GmbH responsible for production and investment; and Markus Schwerdtfeger, General Manager in charge of technology and business operations. Also present were government officials, including Li Qiufeng, Secretary of the Huishan District Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Cao Wenbin, Standing Committee Member of the District Committee and Director of the Development Zone Administrative Committee, as well as representatives from Zhongding Group, European KACO, selected clients, and suppliers.
The celebration ceremony was held at the new plant of KACO (Wuxi). Ma Xiaopeng delivered an opening address. Richard Ongherth delivered a speech, in which he reviewed the founding and development history of KACO (Wuxi). He also extended special gratitude to Chairman Xia for his substantial support in land acquisition and plant construction for KACO (Wuxi).
Chairman Xia was invited to deliver a keynote speech. He stated that since its establishment, Zhongding has been dedicated to a single focus: the dedicated research and development (R&D) and production of rubber seals and special rubber products. To accommodate the sustainable development needs of KACO (Wuxi), new factory buildings and R&D facilities were constructed to mark the 10th anniversary of KACO (Wuxi) founding. He expressed the hope that KACO (Wuxi) would take this as a new starting point, further strengthen the introduction, digestion, absorption, and re-innovation of technologies, enhance Zhongding’s technical capabilities and core competitiveness in the field of high-precision sealing, and make greater contributions to advancing the development of China’s high-end sealing industry.
During the event, Xia Yingsong and Richard Ongherth also presided over the "eye-dotting" ritual of the lion dance, a tradition steeped in Chinese cultural heritage.
To gain a foothold in the Chinese market, Germany-based KACO GmbH establishedKACO (Wuxi) Sealing Technology Co., Ltd. through investment in 2008. Since its inception, the company has steadfastly upheld the corporate philosophy of "technological leadership," and has consistently introduced Germany’s cutting-edge technologies to China. It developed China’s first core plunger seal for automatic transmissions, China’s first integrated plastic-flange rear oil seal for engine crankshafts, and supplied core cover seals for China’s first electro-hydraulic hybrid dual-clutch transmission (DCT). Leveraging its leading technological advantages, sophisticated product quality, and premium services, KACO GmbH has emerged as one of the world’s top three professional suppliers of automotive sealing system products. Its clientele spans numerous countries and regions globally, and it has earned the trust and preference of prominent global automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen, as well as renowned component manufacturers including BorgWarner, Magna, and Valeo.
As a subsidiary of KACO GmbH, KACO (Wuxi) has embraced new development opportunities since joining Zhongding Group. In October 2017, KACO (Wuxi) resolved to inject an additional USD 33 million into the development zone to acquire 125 mu (approximately 83,333 square meters) of land, construct a 50,000-square-meter production plant, and a 6,700-square-meter R&D center—aimed at expanding the production capacity of products such as engine and transmission oil seals.