One to Watch
Opening its European HQ in Haarlemmermeer a few months ago was a major step for Chinese surveillance systems company, Hikvision. “Like so many other Chinese companies, up until a couple of years ago we focused on manufacturing entire systems or supplying components for other brand names,” explains General Manager Jiangfeng Zhi. “We aim to continue along that road, but we also made a decision to expand our own brand.”
The European office is an important step in that direction. Having started out as a government research centre for security equipment, Hikvision has expanded to employ some 2,300 employees and is set to become a listed company in the course of this year. Its biggest coup so far has been as supplier of surveillance systems to the Beijing Olympic Games.
Local Knowledge
Having professionalised its organisation, the company is aiming for a bigger share of the global camera surveillance market. Europe, with its high demand for state-of-the-art systems, is key for this ambition. “We expect to see especially great incentives for growth across Europe,” says Zhi.
Having the right base to serve the many different European markets is therefore essential for the Chinese company. “You need a centrally located European HQ with employees that know the continent well and speak your customers’ languages,” says Zhi. “Establishing your business in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area offers added value on all these points.”
Successful Start
In addition to language skills and qualified employees, the area also offers an attractive living environment, he adds. The new Dutch Hikvision office is just 10 minutes from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. “It meets our expectations in every respect,” says Zhi.
As well as flight connections, shipping links with China via the Ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam are excellent. The presence of storage and distribution companies is also helpful. It means that, initially, Hikvision can easily outsource these activities. The company also has its own storage facility in Hoofddorp (part of the Amsterdam Area), for key components.
In the past few months, Hikvision Europe has collaborated with a technology partner to install video surveillance systems at a British hamburger chain and the recently completed terminal at London’s Heathrow Airport. Clearly, the company’s new European base has made a promising start.
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