DragonVenture leads a North America Foundry Delegation to China, the Fourth One for the Metal Industry

San Jose, California, October 2005

Silicon Valley based cross-Pacific venture capital and consulting firm DragonVenture led a North America Foundry delegation to China’s major port cities of Shanghai and Ningbo in September of 2005, the fourth delegation it led for trade associations from metal industry.

The Foundry delegation consisted of members of California Cast Metals Association (CCMA) and Non-Ferrous Founders' Society (NFFS). Twenty delegates went on the trip, representing thirteen US companies and organizations and one Mexican company.

The week-long trip was packed with business meetings, trade show and plant tours arranged by DragonVenture. The group visited a total of fifteen foundries and attended the 5th Annual China International Non-Ferrous, Die Casting, Precision & Lost Foam Casting Exhibition. To start a dialog between the North America and China foundry industries, DragonVenture also hosted a business dinner for the delegates to meet with board members of China Foundry Association.

It was the first time for the majority of the group to set their foot on China, the Asian powerhouse that has been absorbing worldwide attention and making daily headlines. While soaking up the Chinese culture, the delegates were fascinated by the tremendous and ongoing construction, the rapid industrial development and the mix of capitalism and communism in China.

The Chinese foundries visited by the group range from modern and sophisticated facilities with well-organized production lines and advanced machinery to primitive operations where most work are done manually with few and if any, old-aged equipment in place. Surprised by the huge variation in levels of sophistication among the Chinese foundries, the delegates were grateful for the opportunity to see the real operations. These foundry visits unveiled valuable information which most sales brochures fail to tell. They helped the delegates to truly understand the competition from China, and if handled wisely, the opportunities it presents.

DragonVenture believes an industry-specific trade mission will better serve the needs of the respective industry’s desire to truly understand China. This delegation format has been carried out on several trade organizations and has been well received. Prior to this foundry trip, DragonVenture has led two delegations for North American Die Casting Association (NADCA), one for Tooling and Manufacturing Association (TMA) and another one for Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association. DragonVenture is proud to see its reputation well established among the trade associations and will continue to identify and serve their needs when it comes to conducting business with China.