December 16, 2009

TOKYO, December 16, 2009 - The azbil Group, headed by Yamatake Corporation, has announced that, in order to further expand and diversify its business activities in China, it has consolidated the offices and facilities of 3 Shanghai-based overseas affiliates at one site as of January 2010.

The following 3 Yamatake overseas affiliates based in Shanghai have been physically integrated by transferring them to the Pudong New Area, Shanghai:

Azbil Control Solutions (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.	Manufacture and sales of building (BA business) and industrial (AA business) products/systems
Shanghai Yamatake Automation Co., Ltd.	Manufacture and sales of industrial (AA business) products/systems
Yamatake Automation Products Shanghai Co., Ltd.	Sales of industrial (AA business) products

At the end of 2009, Shanghai Yamatake Automation transferred its manufacturing operations from the Nanqiao factory to Zhuanqiao, which is not far from the new premises. The Zhuanqiao factory boasts twice the area of the Nanqiao factory, and is fully equipped with production lines for field instruments and a valve maintenance facility. Employing a new framework for providing solutions tailored to each customer's specific circumstances, staff can design system hardware/software, implement programming, and manufacture the hardware. In addition, there is a demonstration facility so customers can gain hands-on experience of the actual products and systems; instruction is also provided regarding product specifications and maintenance. With training and after-sales service further upgraded, a framework is now in place that makes it possible to provide customers with a meticulous life-cycle service.

In June 2009 all factory equipment related to the building business of Azbil Control Solutions (Shanghai) was transferred to Zhuanqiao, where production is now operated jointly with Shanghai Yamatake Automation, enhancing the synergy between the building business and the industrial business. As a result of these transfers and this integration of the three companies, highly technical sales proposals can be addressed to customers in the building and factory markets, providing a service that is clearly on a different level to what the competition can offer.

Note that as of January 1, 2010, the company name Shanghai Yamatake Automation Co., Ltd has changed to Shanghai Azbil Automation Co., Ltd.

In addition to the above three companies, the Shanghai Representative Office of Yamatake & Co., Ltd. has also been transferred to the same building. Yamatake & Co. conducts market research in China as well as providing operational support for affiliates. This transfer is expected to further enhance the synergies among Yamatake's overseas affiliates.

Motivated by the Group philosophy of human-centered automation, the azbil Group will be bolstering and expanding its overseas business in the years ahead, designated as the "period of growth" in the Medium-Term Plan that starts in FY2010. For the China market, the Group will be enhancing its ability to provide comprehensive solutions, supplying customers with highly reliable products and a superior service, and aiming to more than double sales in 4 years.