Shanghai, China, and Garching, Germany - Scanlab AG's subsidiary Blackbird Robotersysteme GmbH, which develops remote laser welding solutions, has established a sales and service center in Shanghai. The company's growth strategy and closer proximity to existing customers and installations were key motivators in creating a Chinese subsidiary. On March 1, 2015, Derek Wang began organizing the site as the VP of sales and technical support for Blackbird Robotics Asia.
In recent years, remote laser welding has become an integral production technology for automakers and their suppliers. Application areas include doors, tailgates, seats, and countless other components.
The company's innovative system solutions combine control technology, 3D scan optics, and seam tracking techniques for robot-assisted laser welding applications. Its decision to establish a Chinese presence will benefit local market development, as well as technical support and spare parts supply in China and neighboring Asian countries such as Japan and Korea.
"Many of our customers operate production facilities in China. To provide them with the expected local support and prompt solutions to technical challenges, we've been planning an Asian presence for some time. With Derek Wang on board, we now have the seasoned industry expert we need to start quickly in China," explains Dr. Wolfgang Vogl, CEO of Blackbird Robotersysteme GmbH.
Wang has over 15 years of experience with robotic systems for the auto industry and in plant engineering. Most recently, he was responsible for welding systems at Johnson Controls (JCI)—particularly for advanced manufacturing and continuous improvement in arc, spot, and laser welding. Prior to JCI, he served as development engineer and project manager at SIASUN, ABB, and COMAU. He received his engineering degree from Shenyang Aerospace University in 1999.