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Zhenhua eyes more deals after US bridge project
Source: Agencies |
July 12, 2011, Tuesday
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CHINA'S biggest heavy machinery maker wrapped up work on the new, tougher east span of the San Francisco Bay Bridge yesterday, hoping success with the US$6.3 billion project will help it clinch more overseas contracts.
California's Department of Transportation chose Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co to fabricate the steel girders and tower meant to improve the earthquake resistance of the bridge linking San Francisco and Oakland after the 1989 Loma Prieta quake collapsed part of the bridge.
Zhenhua, which until recently focused mainly on manufacturing cranes, is hoping the project will seal its reputation as a top-notch builder able to meet the most stringent safety and quality specifications.
Its parent company, China Communications Construction Co, has built some of China's biggest bridges but made little progress in breaking into big-league projects in the United States and Europe. So far, most big overseas building projects undertaken by Chinese companies have been in developing regions, where political and economic risk are highest. The Bay Bridge project reflects their eagerness to take on landmark projects in the West.
"The US is the world's most advanced country, and the San Francisco Bay Bridge will be a bridge of the highest quality," Zhou Jichang, chairman of Zhenhua and its parent company, China Communications Construction Co, said.
"We believe this bridge is very important. When people see it, they will ask, 'Who built it?'" he said. "This will really raise our brand image."
Five years after work started, the last four pieces - which will anchor the bridge's lifeline suspension cables and took 3 million hours of labor to build - are awaiting shipment to San Francisco.
"The new bridge will reflect the character of those who built it," said Tony Anziano, manager of the toll bridge program at the California transport department. "The work is done. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Still, two more years of work lie ahead before the new self-anchored suspension bridge's expected September 2, 2013, opening.
"First and foremost, the new span is a safety project," said Steve Heminger, executive director of San Francisco's Metropolitan Transportation Commission. "Success will only be achieved when we remove travelers from the seismic risk of traveling on the existing bridge," he said.
The decision to save some US$400 million by outsourcing the fabrication of the main sections of the bridge to Zhenhua reflected global realities, especially of the aging American steel industry, he said. The Chinese company has gargantuan facilities, some 35,000 workers and the ability to make and deliver the huge crane needed to lift the new sections of the bridge into place.
In a shipside ceremony yesterday, the American contractors building the new span of the bridge, American Bridge Co and joint venture partner Fluor Enterprises Inc repeatedly praised the 2,000 Chinese who worked on the project for their diligence and professionalism.
"For the stakeholders, failure was never an option," said Michael Flowers, CEO of American Bridge.
California's Department of Transportation chose Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co to fabricate the steel girders and tower meant to improve the earthquake resistance of the bridge linking San Francisco and Oakland after the 1989 Loma Prieta quake collapsed part of the bridge.
Zhenhua, which until recently focused mainly on manufacturing cranes, is hoping the project will seal its reputation as a top-notch builder able to meet the most stringent safety and quality specifications.
Its parent company, China Communications Construction Co, has built some of China's biggest bridges but made little progress in breaking into big-league projects in the United States and Europe. So far, most big overseas building projects undertaken by Chinese companies have been in developing regions, where political and economic risk are highest. The Bay Bridge project reflects their eagerness to take on landmark projects in the West.
"The US is the world's most advanced country, and the San Francisco Bay Bridge will be a bridge of the highest quality," Zhou Jichang, chairman of Zhenhua and its parent company, China Communications Construction Co, said.
"We believe this bridge is very important. When people see it, they will ask, 'Who built it?'" he said. "This will really raise our brand image."
Five years after work started, the last four pieces - which will anchor the bridge's lifeline suspension cables and took 3 million hours of labor to build - are awaiting shipment to San Francisco.
"The new bridge will reflect the character of those who built it," said Tony Anziano, manager of the toll bridge program at the California transport department. "The work is done. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Still, two more years of work lie ahead before the new self-anchored suspension bridge's expected September 2, 2013, opening.
"First and foremost, the new span is a safety project," said Steve Heminger, executive director of San Francisco's Metropolitan Transportation Commission. "Success will only be achieved when we remove travelers from the seismic risk of traveling on the existing bridge," he said.
The decision to save some US$400 million by outsourcing the fabrication of the main sections of the bridge to Zhenhua reflected global realities, especially of the aging American steel industry, he said. The Chinese company has gargantuan facilities, some 35,000 workers and the ability to make and deliver the huge crane needed to lift the new sections of the bridge into place.
In a shipside ceremony yesterday, the American contractors building the new span of the bridge, American Bridge Co and joint venture partner Fluor Enterprises Inc repeatedly praised the 2,000 Chinese who worked on the project for their diligence and professionalism.
"For the stakeholders, failure was never an option," said Michael Flowers, CEO of American Bridge.
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