Esco, a Singapore-based manufacturer of laboratory and cleanroom equipment, announced it has set up a new representative office in Johannesburg, South Africa
Esco Africa assumes responsibility for the sales, marketing and service for the entire range of Esco laboratory and cleanroom equipment in the sub-equatorial African region.
This product range includes: biological safety cabinets (the most widely tested product range in the world; laminar flow, PCR and other clean air cabinets; laboratory fume cupboards, ducted and recirculating (carbon-filtered) types; and cleanroom equipment and construction components (fan filter units, air showers and others).
This moves enables Esco to increase penetration in Africa, where Esco has identified emerging opportunities for its product lines.
This is due to a new wave of investment and an increased confidence in the African region.
A major growth sector for Esco Africa will be healthcare, which is rapidly expanding in the region.
Esco Africa is strategically based in Johannesburg, the financial centre of South Africa, and a commercial hub in the sub-equatorial African region.
Esco Africa will sell and service products through local distribution and service partners in all the major provinces in South Africa and countries in the region.
Speaking from Esco's Singapore headquarters, XiangQian Lin, vice president, international operations, remarked: "Esco is committed to markets in the developing world, and we see Esco Africa as an opportunity to penetrate this emerging market aggressively.
"Esco will be one of the few companies in the laboratory and cleanroom market to have a direct presence in Africa.
"We are also committed to working closer with existing distribution partners in the region, who will now report to Johannesburg, instead of Singapore".
Esco has recruited Riccardo Ambrosio to head the new Esco Africa office in Johannesburg.
Ambrosio comes to Esco with decades of business development and academic research experience.
