Aster Graphics starts EDC in Venlo

Venlo, July 1, 2011

Chinese company Aster Graphics starts European branch in Venlo

A month after setting up a branch in the United States, the Chinese company Aster Graphics is to start a European branch. The company aims to provide a faster and improved service for its European customers. Aster produces toner cartridges and other print related products in the Chinese province of Jiangxi and exports them to North America and Europe. Aster Technology Holland BV is located in Venlo, the Dutch logistic hotspot. It comprises a European distribution centre with a marketing & sales office and after sales service centre. The total investment will be 2 to 5 million euro.

The new facilities in Venlo will consist of around 1000 m2 warehouse, with a capacity of more than 100,000 toner cartridges, and 220 m2 office and meeting space. At first, Aster will locate in-house at service provider Ziegler on the Marco Poloweg at the logistics business park Tradeport West in Venlo. The new facility will start up with 5 members of staff and will grow to 15 employees in 2-3 years. Aster signed a long term contract with Ziegler Group in order to serve its European market quickly and reliably. The activities will start up in September.

“With the support of our state of the art production facility in China, our sophisticated logistics approach and professional staff, Aster expects to be able to provide an excellent service level to its European customers, at a superior level of quality, using sustainable print products and providing professional customer service and satisfaction” according to Mr. Morrow Miao, marketing director at Aster.

The contact between the Venlo region and Aster came about via the NFIA (Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency) office in Guangzhou, China, following a presentation held there by LIOF’s Deputy Director for Asia, Mart Dijk, together with his NFIA colleague Raymond Rui, about the location opportunities in Limburg.

The Hamburg region had been considered as an alternative location. However, the Venlo region was chosen because of its advantageous strategic location between the mainports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp and the Ruhr area and the excellent transport links with central Europe. But the company also states the speedy and effective co-operation with NFIA, LIOF and the Municipality of Venlo as other reasons for their decision to locate in Limburg.

More information:
NV Industriebank LIOF
Frans Ridderbeekx
T 043-3280280; E: fridderbeekx@liof.nl