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Advances Fusion, June, 2016
1
Midea Family!
Midea Group has established ties that will span continents and last decades
Vol. 6, #5, June 2016, No. 59
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
2
ADVANCES
Contents
Midea Advances Newsletter is published monthly
by Midea International Business. We welcome all
comments, suggestions and contributions of
articles, as well as requests for subscription to our
newsletter. You can reach us by phone at (0086)
15014690097
Or by email at: [email protected]
Address:
ADVANCES, Midea International Business
Midea HQ
No. 6 Midea Road
Beijiao, Shunde, Foshan, Guangdong
P.R.C. 528311
Web: www.midea.com/global
Quote of the
Month: “If there is any secret
to success, it lies in the
ability to see the other
person’s point of
view.” - Henry Ford
NEWSLINE
Midea and Kuka Sign
Investment Agreement Page
3
PEOPLE
www.midea.com
Italy: From Ferrari to Fellini PAGE 20-22
Strategic Alliance Between
Midea and Clivet PAGE 4
AllSeen Alliance PAGE 9
Celeb Chefs and Cool
Activities at Product Launch PAGE 12
Jordan’s Largest Tourism
Project PAGE 6
Assisting Turkey’s Tourism
Industry PAGE 10
Germany, the Land of Bach,
Bratwurst, and BMW PAGE 17-
19
Air Con Stars at Australia
Exhibition PAGE 10
Best Booth at Malaysia
ASEAN Show PAGE 11
Training Trainers to Train PAGE
6
FUSION
Top Officials Visit Innovation
Center Page 13
Air Con Installed in St
Petersburg Winter Palace PAGE 5
Fine Food for a Fair Dame PAGE 7
Five Midea Products Win
Brazil Design Awards PAGE 8
King of Clicks! PAGE 9
Marketing Is a Contact Sport PAGE 14-16
Blood, Sweat and No Tears Page 13
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
3
Midea and Kuka Sign Investment
Agreement By Midea
KUKA to remain an independent company
Strong commitment to KUKA sites and its
workforce
G uangdong, China, 28 June 2016 – Midea
(Midea Group Co Ltd, SZSE 000333), one of the
world’s leading industrial groups in consumer appli-
ances and Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning
(HVAC) systems, announced today that it has entered
into a binding Investment Agreement with KUKA
AG (KUKA), a leading global supplier of intelligent
automation solutions. The Investment Agreement
outlines Midea’s commitments to KUKA following
the launch of the voluntary public tender offer for all KUKA
shares, which was announced on 18 May 2016 and formally
launched on 16 June 2016. Both parties agreed the Investment
Agreement will have a fixed term of seven and a half years.
Paul Fang, Chairman and CEO of Midea, commented:
―With this Investment Agreement KUKA and Midea have
agreed to the details of our strategic partnership and our wide
ranging commitments to KUKA, its employees, shareholders
and customers. Our investment in KUKA is clearly predicated
on creating long-term value for both companies. We also wel-
come a broadly diversified shareholder base, as we believe
that the continued commitment of all shareholders will bene-
fit the KUKA Group as a whole. We noted and welcome the
positive assessment of our offer by the management board and
supervisory board of KUKA and look forward to working with
all stakeholders to help KUKA further expand its leading posi-
tion in the sectors of robotics, automation and logistics, particu-
larly in the Chinese market, to deliver accelerated growth.‖
By signing the Investment Agreement, Midea has con-
firmed that it fully respects KUKA’s brand and its intellectual
property and undertakes to enter into a detailed ring-fencing
arrangement in order to guarantee the confidential treatment of
business secrets and customer data to preserve KUKA’s rela-
tionships with its first-class customer and supplier base.
Midea also shows its full commitment with regard to
KUKA’s sites and workforce and has expressly undertaken not
to cause any changes to the current global work-
force, site closures, nor any relocations.
Furthermore, Midea has re-emphazised that it aims
to maintain KUKA’s independence. Midea does not
aim to enter into a domination agreement or delist
the company.
Andy Gu, Vice President of Midea Group, added:
―KUKA’s employees and their creativity are a key
strength of the company and critical for its success.
We want to build on this strength and provide
greater opportunities through growth and invest-
ment.‖
NEWSLINE
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
4
Strategic alliance between Midea and
Clivet By Midea
M idea Group Co., Ltd (SZSE: 000333,
―Midea‖) has entered into a Definitive Agreement on 21
June 2016 for the acquisition of 80% of Clivet S.p.A.,
Clivet Espana S.A. and related real estate assets. The cur-
rent shareholders of Clivet S.p.A., the Bellò family, will
retain a 20% stake.
Through this strategic alliance, Midea will reinforce
its presence on the European markets, and by leveraging
each other’s complementary capabilities and resources,
the two well-respected enterprises will jointly explore
growth opportunities.
The completion of the transaction is subject to cus-
tomary anti-trust clearances in relevant jurisdictions, and
is expected before the end of the year.
Eric Tian, President of Midea Commercial Air Condi-
tioning Division, commented: "This strategic alliance is a
win-win co-operation. The complementary strengths of Midea
and Clivet S.p.A. will create significant synergies in product
offerings, market presence, supply chain and manufacturing.‖
"Clivet
will become a
true European
center of excel-
lence in devel-
oping innova-
tive solutions
for total com-
fort and energy
efficiency. The alliance with Midea will unlock industrial syn-
ergies and increase the production capacity of Clivet’s Italian
plants, granting a solid growth for both the Italian company
and its collaborators‖ said Bruno Bellò, Chairman of Clivet
S.p.A..
About Midea
Midea was established in 1968 and has grown into a
leading global manufacturer of consumer appliances and heat-
ing, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, with a
uniquely broad product range that includes air-conditioners,
refrigerators, laundry appliances, kitchen appliances and various
small home appliances. Midea had total revenues of US$21
billion in 2015 and
approximately
100,000 employees
worldwide.
To find out more
about Midea, please
visit http://
www.midea.com/
global
About Clivet
Clivet is a European leading company based in Italy that
since 1989 is designing, producing and distributing systems for
cooling, heating, air ventilation and air purification for residen-
tial, commercial and industrial markets.
To find out more about Clivet, please visit http://
www.clivet.com/
NEWSLINE
Clivet General Manager Bruno Bello (l), Eric Tian (c), and Clivet CEO Stefano Bello (r)
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
5
Air Con Installed in St Petersburg Winter
Palace By Midea CAC
T he Winter Palace in St. Petersburg is part of one of
the world's most famous museums, the palace attracts an an-
nual 3.5 million visitors. It has countless works of art, includ-
ing paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci and Pablo Picasso.
The palace’s history may be even more interesting than
its current role. After the city was established by Peter the
Great in 1703, the Winter Palace became the official residence
of Russia’s monarchs. It held that status from 1732-1917,
taking in the golden age of Catherine the Great (1762 to 1796)
and ending with the fall of the Romanovs in 1917.
Architecturally, the palace is a symbol of Russia’s rejec-
tion of the Byzantine style and image as a European power. It
has been the subject of numerous redesigns, rebuilds and
much upheaval, including the fire of 1837.
Attracting visitors to this historic building involves over-
coming some modern obstacles, like keeping the air flowing in a
way that does not harm the many priceless masterpieces. In the
palace, Midea Commercial Air Conditioning has worked with
local brand Lessar to install its Digital Scroll variable refrigerant
flow (VRF) with total capacity of 735kW. One of its major sell-
ing points is that the installation can maximize the protection of
the Winter Palace’s appearance.
NEWSLINE
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
6
Jordan’s Largest Tourism Project
By Peck Zhao
S araya Aqaba is a premier hospitality and leisure desti-
nation built around a 1.5 kilometer lagoon. Located in Jordan’s
only coastal city, it will contain luxury apartments, world-class
hotels, big brand shops, restaurants, a water park, a beach, am-
phitheater, and a reconstruction of an ancient Arabian city. The
first phase is set to be completed next year.
It is located on the shores of the Red Sea, where tempera-
tures are high all year round and anticorrosion is a huge chal-
lenge. This is where the tropical V4+S series VRF from Midea
Commercial Air Conditioning (CAC) comes in useful.
The first phase of twelve villas will install Midea’s VRF
(variable refrigerant flow) systems. CAC supplied 46 outdoor
units in 8HP, 10HP and 12HP type and indoor units of medium
static pressure ducts, high static pressure duct, wall mounted,
ceiling & flooring and others.
NEWSLINE
By Advances
Training Trainers to Train
O ne-hundred
business management train-
ers were treated to a training
session at Midea College last
week. All were members of
the generation born in the
1980s (also known as Gener-
ation Y) so represent a big
part of Midea’s future.
The BMT (business,
management and teaching)
course was compiled by pro-
fessionals and activities were
designed to develop team
cohesion. Lessons includ-
ed how to create win-win
situations and see things
from other people’s point
-of-view.
The afternoon session
included a fun run to fit
with the theme of youth-
fulness and dynamism.
Respected corporate train-
er Zhong Lixiang later
came to give a lecture on
how these 100 people
were the leaders of tomorrow.
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
7
Fine Food for a Fair Dame
By MIP
M idea Kitchen Appliances Division held a VIP
cooking class on June 13 and Hong Kong-based model Lynn
Hung came to add a dash of stardust. The event, held in asso-
ciation with Alibaba’s T-mall brand ahead of their June 18
sales extravaganza, was watched live by 2.3 million netizens.
Midea’s top chef Joan Burgues Estrada, Taiwanese bak-
ing specialist Lin Yuwei, and Chinese cuisine master Yang
Jinyong lent their expertise to the event. T-mall’s broadcast
gave viewers the chance to win Midea coupons worth up to
US$230, winners also received signed photos of Lynn.
NEWSLINE
Lynn has been named "Best Fashion Model" and "China Top 10 Model"
Upon arrival Lynn was greeted by Catalan charmer Joan
Lynn listens to a product introduction.
Lynn tastes Joan’s blueberry cake baked with yoghurt, a difficult cooking method but good for preserving beauty.
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
8
Five Midea Products Win Brazil Design
Awards By Nadia Mathias
F ive Midea appliances won international design
awards in Brazil on May 23. The Liva electric oven, Sensia
microwave oven, Liva fan, Sensia air quality and temperature
controller and Sensia air conditioner were recognized in a
ceremony at the European Institute of Design in São Paulo.
The winning Midea products will be exhibited in the
Museum Oscar Niemeyer in Curitiba until July 17th. The
awards being in association with Euromonitor, they were also
displayed in São Paulo’s European Institute of Design until
June 3rd.
The concepts were created by designers Daniel Kröker
and Valkiria Pedri Fialkowski, who were also responsible for
the design of Midea Sensia water purifier, one of the winners
of the 29th edition of the Design Museum of Casa Brasileira.
"We present concept projects, aligned with the innovative and
futurist vision that Midea is adopting in Brazil," said Valkiria.
Midea Sensia microwave oven
In addition to its brushed steel design, the Midea Sensia
microwave oven "Vida
Saudável" (Health Life) has
weight sensors and calorie
count. With its use of
AppSaúde, (appHealth) it
can provide the consumer
with access to healthy diets
(low-carb, low sodium and
low-calorie) as well as reci-
pe suggestions
Midea Liva electric oven
The Midea Liva
electric oven has a so-
phisticated compact
design. It also boasts
low power consump-
tion and 90% of the
waste generated in its
manufacturing is recycled.
Midea Liva fan
The Midea Live
Fan has chromo thera-
py, aromatherapy and
anti-insect functions.
It is made mostly with
recyclable items and lit
with LED lamps, rec-
ognized for their dura-
bility and low power consumption
Sensia air quality controller
The Midea Sensia air quality
and temperature controller
can be integrated into the
most attractive modern
home decor. It marries the
core Midea principles of
elegant appearance and en-
vironmental friendliness.
Midea Sensia air conditioner
Manufac-
tured with envi-
ronmentally
friendly materi-
als, the Midea
Sensia air con-
ditioner has an
intuitive and
smart panel
with features
such as the
identification of
people in the environment, cooling direction to a specific loca-
tion, and humidity control.
NEWSLINE
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
9
King of Clicks!
By MIP
J une 18, which fell on Father’s Day weekend, is China’s
second biggest day for e-commerce. With its popular products,
multiple promotions and prompt deliveries (some orders arrived
within 12 minutes of being placed!), Midea was the nation’s
number one home appliances brand.
Revenue for the whole day was US$112 million, a year-on-
year increase
of 112 per-
cent. Midea
is a leading
contender in
dozens of
product cate-
gories, and
most saw a
year-on-year
increase in
sales, with
Commercial
Air Conditioning leading the way with an increase of 379 per-
cent.
In 2013, McKinsey reported that almost overnight, China
has become the world’s second-largest e-tail market, with esti-
mates as high as US$210 billion for revenues in 2012 and a
compound annual growth rate of 120 percent since 2003.
NEWSLINE
By Zhang Jun
AllSeen Alliance
M -Smart, Midea’s Internet of Things ―smart home‖
platform, signed an agreement to enter the AllSeen Alliance on
June 21. The alliance is the broadest cross-industry consortium
dedicated to driving the wide-
spread adoption of products,
systems and services that sup-
port the Internet of Everything
with an open, universal devel-
opment framework that is sup-
ported by a vibrant ecosystem
and thriving technical community.
Over 200 companies have already entered the open source
alliance, including Qualcomm, Cisco, Microsoft, LG, and HTC.
The key features that AllSeen promotes are remote access and
management; security and data privacy; interoperability; and
open standards, all things shared by M-Smart.
The world has known how to hook devices to the Internet
since the Carnegie-Mellon Univer-
sity Coke Machine in the mid-
1970s, yet hasn’t moved that far
since then. In November last year,
Gartner, Inc. forecast that 6.4 bil-
lion online devices would be in use
worldwide in 2016, up 30 percent
from 2015. Companies are competing to make their Internet of
Things programs as convenient and secure as possible for the
consumer. M-Smart is at the crest of this wave.
Midea’s troops battling for the title of King of Clicks!
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
10
Air Con Stars at Australia Exhibition
By Peck Zhao
M idea Commercial Air Conditioning (CAC) had a
stand at Australia’s only international trade exhibition for the air
conditioning, refrigeration and building services industries May
17-19. Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Cen-
ter, ARBS 2016 brought together over 250 local, national and
international manufacturers and suppliers with thousands of
industry leaders, engineers, contractors and trade technicians.
CAC’s star
products
were varia-
ble refrig-
erant flow
(VRF)
systems
from the
V5X se-
ries.
Thanks to
their ad-
vanced
direct
current
(DC)
inverter
technol-
ogy, pre-
cision
refriger-
ant con-
trol, en-
ergy-saving heat transfer, and powerful low-temperature heating
technology, the products are both environmentally friendly and
good enough to score some of the biggest projects available to
them.
Demand for air conditioners grew in Australia last year.
Though sales of residential units are expected to spike soon,
demand for larger capacity systems from the commercial sector
may keep growing.
NEWSLINE
By Peck Zhao
Assisting Turkey's Tourism Industry
T his year, Turkey aims to attract one million Chinese
tourists in a bid to cash in on the goldmine of the world’s largest
middle class. Turkish hotels have been tailoring their menus and
décor to fit Chinese taste and tour guides have been following in
the footsteps of
their Southeast
Asian counter-
parts and learn-
ing Mandarin.
As part of this
RMB rush, the
DC Inverters
from Chinese
giant
Midea
Com-
mercial
Air
Condi-
tioning
(CAC) have been in demand. Some of the country’s most suc-
cessful hotel chains have been installing the variable refrigerant
flow (VRF) systems, whose features include a Night Silent
Mode and a compressor system that reduces temperature fluctu-
ation.
Projects Midea has scored in the country include The Inn
Resort Hotel, Sherwood Breezes Resort and Alan Xafira Deluxe
Resort and Spa.
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
11
Best Booth at Malaysia ASEAN Show
M idea Commercial Air Conditioning (CAC) had a
booth at the sixth edition of the ASEAN mechanical and electri-
cal engineering show in Kuala Lumpur on May 23-25. The show
brings together the latest market and investment opportunities
associated with the sector.
The region’s leading products in the fields of security, fire
safety, renewable energy systems, electrical appliances, elevators
and escalators were on display. The event is a must for leading
industry figures from the Association of Southeast Asian Na-
tions (ASEAN).
CAC had a comprehensive and well organized appearance,
with the V5X and high efficiency water-cooled screw chillers
proving particularly popular. For this, it was honoured with the
Best Booth Award.
NEWSLINE
By Peck Zhao
Another triumph for CAC
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
12
Celeb Chefs and Cool Activities at Product
Launch
C elebrities, media and members of the public gathered
in Manila on June 9 for Midea’s launch of a washing machine as
green and user-friendly as any in the land. Forty-one media or-
ganizations were present at Abenson Global City as Phillip F.
Trapaga, General Manager of Concepcion Midea Inc. Philip-
pines, introduced the iAdd front-loading washing machine.
Senior Sales Manager of distributor Abenson, Mike Remo,
also gave a speech before celebrity chef and Midea brand ambas-
sador Rob Pengson along with his wife Sunshine Puey-Pengson
(also a chef) gave an interview about how home appliances help
them raise two beautiful kids while sustaining careers.
After that a raffle was held, the first prize being an iAdd
washing machine with nine smaller Midea products being given
away as runner-up prizes.
iAdd
The iAdd Auto-Dosing Technology can save up to 44
percent of detergent and fabric
softener. It has an intelligent
weighing system, with a precision
rate of +/- 300g. It weighs the
laundry and releases the required
amount of detergent and fabric
softener. The machine automati-
cally sets an additional rinse cycle
if there is still soap residue in the
water. The iAdd also ensures that
users enjoy peace and quiet with
its silent inverter motor.
NEWSLINE
By Katherine Bacosa
Phillip F. Trapaga
Rob Pengson and Sunshine Puey-Pengson
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
13
Top Officials Visit Innovation Center
By Midea
A delegation of gov-
ernment officials and econo-
mists visited Midea Group’s
Innovation Center on June 28.
Yuan Baocheng, Deputy Gover-
nor of Guangdong - China’s
most populous province - led
the hundred-strong delegation
that was given a guided tour by
Paul Fang, Midea Group Presi-
dent and CEO.
Mr. Fang and Zack Hu,
President of the Innovation
Center, gave an introduction to
Midea’s current operational
strategy and future plans. There
was much good news to share.
Since 2011, Midea’s revenue has increased 3 percent, while prof-
it has increased 100 percent. This is largely down to an increase
in efficiency, with the number of employees coming down to
103,000 from a peak of
196,000.
Zack Hu was pleased to
announce that last year as
much as 3.8 percent of sales
revenue was invested in
research and development.
Deputy Governor Yuan
was impressed by the inno-
vations and product range,
including the voice auto-
mated microwaves and the
robot vacuum cleaners.
With multiple major pro-
jects in the works, private
companies like Midea will
continue to help keep the
economy thriving.
NEWSLINE
By Liu Ruiqun
Blood, Sweat and No Tears
T oday’s young are graduating into a hugely competitive
global economy. The future belongs to those who are resilient,
persistent and able to work as part of a team.
What better place to test these qualities than in the great
outdoors?
This year’s
graduate re-
cruits of
Midea Small
Appliances
Division
competed in
an outdoor
orienteer-
ing chal-
lenge on
June 24.
Chal-
lenges
included
walking 15
kilometers up a steep hill in intense heat while being tested in
skills such as first aid. As well as pushing themselves, individuals
had to cooperate and spur each other on. The evening session
involved starting a campfire and holding a sing-song, creating
the kind of camaraderie that will be the backbone of the divi-
sion’s future.
Midea CEO & President Paul Fang (l) with Guangdong Deputy Governor Yuan Baocheng
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
14
Marketing Is a Contact Sport
Nani Yang
Brand Manager
Midea’s Chinese name ―美的” translates into Eng-
lish as ―beautiful‖. To appeal
to the consumer, it needs peo-
ple who understand the value
of aesthetic beauty.
As a graduate of The
School of Art and Design at
Guangdong University of
Technology, Brand Manager
Nani Yang cares greatly about
image and has a profound un-
derstanding of its importance
in an increasingly sophisticated
market.
With his sporty physique
and zest for life, Nani is a pop-
ular figure in the group’s
Branding and Communications
Department. This month he
took time to talk to Advances
about the numerous roles he
has held in the company, his
various sporting activities, and
a recent appearance on televi-
sion.
Advances: When did you
join Midea?
Nani: I arrived in 2010 just after I graduated from universi-
ty. My first job here was in a sales office selling large home ap-
pliances (fridges, washing machines) in (southwest China’s)
Guangxi Province. I spent three months there before coming
back to Guangdong. I was regional sales manager in a number
of small towns including Zengcheng, Conghua and Shaoguan.
My native-level Cantonese was definitely a help.
I used to work directly with distributors who would sell to
businesses and direct to the consumer. This was a slight shift
away from my university major of Design. I am more artistic by
background.
Advances: Is this similar to the
work you do now?
Nani: It is completely different. I
am now responsible for building a
brand and overseeing marketing
campaigns aimed at the consum-
er. At that time I was responsible
for identifying and tailoring prod-
ucts for the consumer, highlight-
ing their strong points and ensur-
ing the best service in the market.
Now I look more at the big pic-
ture, consumer trends and our
place in the market. Image is in-
creasingly important.
Consumer sophistication is get-
ting higher. People are more dis-
cerning and think more in terms
of brands. We need to give people
a reason to be loyal to our brand,
to recognize and remember us.
Advances: What challenges are
we likely to face going forward?
Nani: I think we need to clarify our
values and we need to be more
flexible, changing ourselves as the market itself changes. Our
branding, our approach, our management, all must continue to
evolve. Everything requires large amounts of discipline as we
PEOPLE
By Kevin McGeary
Nani Yang
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
15
Marketing Is a Contact Sport (Cont.)
face a variety of pressures and frustrations.
I have been with Midea my entire working life. In Midea I
have done everything from sales, to marketing, to planning, to
cameraman, to designer and to editor of the newsletter.
Personally I needed to be adaptable and self-disciplined to
learn each skill and face the difficulties involved in each job.
How do I set myself apart from other people while still being
competent? These are the challenges I have faced and that is
how I
over-
come
them.
Advanc-
es: What
about
possible
future
roles?
Nani: In
sales, you
only fo-
cus on
one small
territory.
In brand-
ing you
have to
have
much
broader
horizons.
That is
why I am
so fond
of my
current job
and not
really look-
ing beyond
it.
How do I
make our brand
more influential?
How do we become
more famous?
To most
members of the
public, Midea is a
middling brand. I
want us to be a
cooler brand that
people can take real
pride in displaying
in their homes.
Advances:
Was branding the
purpose of your
recent television
appearance?
Nani: Midea was
invited to be a guest
on the show on a
CCTV-7 show named 《食尚大转盘》 (which roughly trans-
lates as ―Foodies’ Banquet‖). I was invited to appear on the
show to discuss our cooking products and give a demonstration
of how to use them to cook a distinct recipe. I haven’t seen the
show yet. I think talking about it too much would be a tad im-
modest.
Advances: In terms of branding, will we be taking a
greater variety of approaches, such as sports marketing?
Nani: We’re currently an official partner of FINA and the
main sponsor of China’s swimming and diving teams. That
means our brand name is plastered all over any FINA event
around the world.
We have done this for ten years. It helps to be sponsor of
the country’s super successful teams in an Olympic year. This
PEOPLE
By Kevin McGeary
Nani during the 2015 Guangzhou Marathon
Nani awarded for completing the Guangzhou Marathon
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
16
Marketing Is a Contact Sport (Cont.)
gives us a lot of awareness and support in China. An-
other subtle advantage is that the color of our official
brand logo happens to be the same shade of blue as a
swimming pool.
We have also sponsored major table tennis
events. But much sports sponsorship is of questiona-
ble use to a brand like us. Sponsoring ball players and
their teams is not quite right for us at the present time.
Individual product divisions may still engage in sports
sponsorship as they see fit.
Advances: Is it part of your job to keep on
top of what the competition is doing?
Nani: Very much so. Seeing the decisions that
Midea makes when it comes to things like sports
branding, I can appreciate how we are smarter than the
competition. Brand awareness is all well and good but
you have to consider carefully who you are promoting
yourself to and whether your products are realistically
available or interesting to those people.
China is still at an early stage of creating world famous
brands. Building up awareness and loyalty needs to be done
market by market and with awareness as to what products fit
the local consumer.
Advances: Aside from work, what do you do in your
free time?
Nani: I like playing sport and watching sport. I play foot-
ball for a Midea team, I have run several marathons and I
also play basketball.
I have been following the European Championship, stay-
ing up to watch the 3 a.m. games whenever there is a good
game. Fortunately, I am not yet married so there is nobody
to stop me from doing this.
Also, considering my background, I like art. I like photog-
raphy, I like making videos, and I like drawing. Being from
a country with such a long history, I am also interested in
antiques. I admire the craftsmanship of a lot of these items,
because I am from a design background and am in the
business of trying to make products more attractive than
their competitors.
PEOPLE
By Kevin McGeary
Nani as part of the Midea team that won the 2016 European Chamber Football Tournament
Nani appearing on television in February 2016
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
17
Germany, the Land of Bach, Bratwurst and
BMW By Kevin McGeary
FUSION
Wilhelm
I of
Prussia
as Ger-
man
Emperor
after the
French
capitula-
tion in
the Fran-
co-
Prussian
War. The
empire
was forged through agreement by the leaders of the states in
the North German Confederation, led by Prussia, with the
hereditary rulers of Bavaria, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, and
Württemberg. The empire was governed under the constitu-
tion designed by Prussian prime minister Otto von Bismarck.
Cuisine
Given the size and diversity of the country, German
cuisine is rich and varied. This includes pastry filled with ap-
ples flavored
with sugar,
cinnamon,
raisins and
bread-
crumbs;
Kartof-
felpuffer, pan
-fried pancakes made from grated or ground potatoes mixed
with flour, egg, onion and seasoning; and Schnitzel, a thin,
boneless cutlet of meat, which is coated in breadcrumbs and
often served with a slice of lemon.
Most famous of all is Wurst. There are more than 1500
different types of wurst (sausage) made in Germany and street
stalls selling them are ubiquitous. The most popular include
bratwurst (fried sausage) made of ground pork and spices,
G ermany is the largest national economy in Europe
and the fourth-largest by nominal gross domestic product in
the world. The home of 37 Fortune Global 500 companies,
Germany has recently been paying much attention to Midea
due to the recent Kuka deal (see page 3). Here are some things
you may not know about this incredible nation.
The German Language
One of the major languages of the world, German is the
first language of about 95 million people worldwide and the
most widely spoken native language in the European Union.
German derives most of its vocabulary from the Germanic
branch of the Indo-
European language fami-
ly.
Within there is a
broad spectrum of dia-
lects, with standard Ger-
man known as ―High
German‖. The earliest
evidence of High German
is from inscriptions in the sixth century AD. At that time, the
territory now known as Germany was divided into a number of
states but standardization came about as writers wished to be
understood by a large audience.
A key moment in the history of the language came in
1534 when the Luther Bible was published. The translation is
considered to be an important step towards the evolution of
the Early New High German. The 18th and 19th centuries
were marked by mass education in Standard German in
schools.
A Young Nation
The concept of Germany as a distinct region in central
Europe can be traced to Julius Caesar, who referred to the un-
conquered area east of the Rhine as Germania, thus distinguish-
ing it from Gaul (France), which he had conquered. However,
the founding of Germany as a nation state in the modern sense
officially occurred on January 18, 1871.
Princes of the German states gathered there to proclaim
Die Proklamation des Deutschen Kaiserreiches by Anton von Werner (1877)
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
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Germany, the Land of Bach, Bratwurst and
BMW (Cont.) By Kevin McGeary
FUSION
and West are combined, Germany is the third most successful
nation in Olympic history. It excels in everything from water
sports, to tennis, to handball to winter sports.
However, the national sport is football, in which Germa-
ny is the current world champion. With four World Cups and
three European Championships, it is the second most success-
ful nation in the history of the game. English footballer Gary
Lineker said "Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball
for 90 minutes and at the end,
the Germans win."
Love and duty
Germany has seven Litera-
ture Nobel Laureates, the most
recent being Herta Muller in
2009. Its best known literary gi-
ant is Johann Wolfgang von
Goethe.
Goethe excelled at every
literary form, including epic and
lyric poetry; prose and verse dra-
mas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criti-
cism; treatises on botany, anatomy, and color; and four novels.
His many great quotes include ―love can do much, but duty
more.‖
“Physics is a form of philosophy”
Due to education
policies that were
enacted in the eight-
eenth and nineteenth
centuries, Germany
has long had one of
the world’s best edu-
cated populaces.
Therefore, its achievements in science and technology have
been no less impressive than in the arts.
Germany gave birth to Albert Einstein, developer of The
General Theory of Relativity and discoverer of the law of the
Wiener (Viennese), which is smoked and then boiled, and
Blutwurst and Schwarzwurst, which are both blood sausages.
Largest number of musical geniuses
Germany can claim to be
the home of more musical
geniuses than any other
country, boasting Bach,
Handel, Beethoven, Robert
and Clara Schumann,
Brahms, Strauss and Men-
delssohn. The period in
which they and other Ger-
manic composers worked
(from the early eighteenth
to early twentieth century) is
known as the golden age of
Western music. It is likely to
continue to hold its golden
age status for centuries to come.
On the more proletarian end of the scale, there is oom-
pah. The oom-pah sound is usually made by the tuba alternat-
ing between the root of the chord and the 5th — this sound is
said to be the oom. The pah is played on the off-beats by high-
er-pitched instruments such as the clarinet, accordion or trom-
bone.
More recently there is Kraftwerk, one of the most influ-
ential bands of the past forty years. Founded in Dusseldorf in
1970, the band is known for pushing the limits of musical tech-
nology such as self-made instruments and custom-built devices.
In January 2014, the Grammy Academy honored Kraftwerk
with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
“At the
end,
the
Ger-
mans
win.”
If both
East
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
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Germany, the Land of Bach, Bratwurst and
BMW (Cont.) By Kevin McGeary
FUSION
Brands
With its fearsome work ethic, Germany is one of the
most successful economic stories of the past half century. As
well as automotive giants Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi,
Volkswagen and Porsche, there are dozens of household
names in every type of industry.
These include Fanta, Siemens, Adidas, Puma and Hugo
Boss. In spite of this, Germany’s inhabitants work fewer hours
than in almost any other industrialized nation, its workforce is
not particularly productive and its children spend less time at
school than in Germany’s European neighbors. This is due to
good policy decisions and a highly industrious workforce.
Work/life balance.
In German culture, careful planning, in one's business
and personal life, provides a sense of security. Rules and regu-
lations allow people to know what is expected and plan their
days accordingly.
Once the
proper way to
perform a task is
discovered, there
is no need to think
of doing it any
other way. Ger-
mans believe that
maintaining clear
lines
of
de-
marcation between people, places, and things is
the surest way to lead a structured and ordered
life.
Work and personal lives are rigidly divided. There
is a proper time for every activity. When the busi-
ness day ends, you are expected to leave the of-
fice.
photoelectric effect. There was also Max Born, who was instru-
mental in the development of quantum mechanics. Another,
Max Planck, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918 for his
work on quantum theory.
Beer
Beer is a major part of German culture. In 2012, Germa-
ny ranked third in terms of per-capita beer consumption, be-
hind the Czech Republic and Austria.
Leading German brands include Erdinger, Paulaner and
Beck’s. The country has at least eight major beer festivals, the
most famous being Oktoberfest, a 16–18 day festival held an-
nually in Munich. Only beer which is brewed within the city
limits of Munich with a minimum of 13.5% Stammwürze
(approximately 6% alcohol by volume) is allowed.
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
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Italy: From Ferrari to Fellini
By Kevin McGeary
FUSION
gelo; mathematician
Galileo Galilei; and
composer Claudio
Monteverdi. Renais-
sance historian, politi-
cian, diplomat, philos-
opher, humanist, and
writer Niccolo Machi-
avelli was (like Charles
Darwin and Thomas
Hobbes) a good man whose name is associated with a bad
thing (nobody
wants to live in
a society that is
Darwinian,
Hobbesian or
Machiavellian).
His belief that
one cannot suc-
ceed in politics
by being honest
has proven pop-
ular (and proba-
bly right).
Sport
Italy is a contender in most major sports. Its national
football team has won four World Cups and its league, Serie
A, has long been one of the most glamorous in the world.
AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus are among the most
M idea this month signed a cooperation agreement
with Italy-based chiller manufacturer Clivet (see page 4). The
two companies will work together to make an impact in Europe
over the coming years.
Midea’s other success stories in the European country
include the commercial air conditioning installation in Milan
Malpensa airport. Here are ten things you may not know about
the land of painters, popes and pasta.
“What have the Romans ever done for us?”
The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful states
in history, lasting from 27BCE to 1453 CE. In 150 AD it had a
population of 70 million people, 21 percent of the world’s pop-
ulation at the time.
Rome’s contri-
butions to the
human game
are countless.
The Roman
alphabet is the
world’s most
widespread
writing system.
Other contri-
butions include
winemaking and the three course meal; aqueducts and viaducts;
and architectural styles that persist today (arches & columns,
domes, sculptures, frescoes, mosaics...).
The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement in which Euro-
pean civilization had a surge of interest in its Classical scholar-
ship and values. The
movement started in
Italy and most of the
key individuals were
Italian.
These included art-
ists Leonardo Da
Vinci and Michelan-
Niccolo Machiavelli
Marco Tardelli
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Italy: From Ferrari to Fellini (Cont.)
By Kevin McGeary
FUSION
presentation. It is also is defined by behavior and knowing
how to properly and graciously interact with others in any so-
cial or public situation. Exhibiting good manners, tact and
gentility are also essential.
Cinema
Italy has
one of the
world’s richest
cinematic tradi-
tions. It invent-
ed the neo-
realist style in
the 1940s, with
masterpieces
including
―Rome, Open
City‖ and ―Bicycle
Thieves.‖ Italian cinema had a shot in the arm in the late 1980s
when ―Cinema Paradiso‖ won the Oscar for Best Foreign
Language Film, despite being a commercial flop in its own
country.
The film’s success caused Italian cinema to veer away
from the gritty masterpieces that made it great. The subse-
quent years saw good examples (―Il Postino‖) and bad (―Life is
Beautiful.‖)
Italian director and screenwriter Federico Fellini is one
of the greatest artists of all time. His masterpieces include ―La
Strada‖, ―La Dolce Vita‖, and ―8½‖.
Food and wine
successful teams in Europe. Juventus midfielder Marco Tar-
dellis’s celebration after scoring in the 1982 World Cup final is
among the most iconic in all of sport.
Italy also excels in motor sport and is particularly in love
with the Ferrari Formula 1 team. Ferrari is one of Italy’s great-
est brands, along with other luxury car makers Lamborghini
and Maserati.
Opera
Opera was born in Italy
around 1600 and Italian opera
has continued to play a domi-
nant role in the history of the
form until the present day.
Works by native Italian com-
posers of the 19th and early
20th centuries, such as Rossini,
Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi and
Puccini, are amongst the most famous operas ever written and
are still performed around the world.
As well as its long list of great composers, Italy has given
the world many of its greatest opera singers. Enrico Caruso
(1873-1921) is arguably the world’s first celebrity in the modern
sense. The invention of recording technology made it possible
for word of his abilities to spread across Europe and the Amer-
icas.
Bella Figura
La bella figura, literally ―the beautiful figure‖, is an essen-
tial philosophy that rules the lives of Italians, yet is a difficult
concept for outsiders to comprehend. It covers how one looks,
how one comports
oneself, how one
makes the best possi-
ble impression in all
things. That such a
concept is hardwired
into the Italian psy-
che is indicative of a
country that has been creating beauty for centuries.
Bella figura goes well beyond image, visual beauty and
Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg in “La Dolce Vita”.
Enrico Caruso
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Italy: From Ferrari to Fellini (Cont.)
By Kevin McGeary
FUSION
Dante Alighieri
(1265 – 1321) was an
Italian poet. His ―Divine
Comedy‖, originally
called Comedìa and later
christened Divina, is
widely considered the
greatest literary work
composed in the Italian
language and a master-
piece of world literature.
On April 30, 1921,
in honor of the 600th
anniversary of Dante's
death, Pope Benedict XV
called Dante the "pride and glory of humanity". TS Eliot de-
scribed him as one of the two greatest writers who ever lived,
saying ―Dante and Shakespeare divide the world between
them. There is no third.‖
Tourist attractions
With its rich
and long history as
well as its stunning
southern European
scenery, Italy is a
popular tourist
destination. Places
worth visiting in-
clude the canals of
Venice, the
ruins of
Pompeii, the
Leaning
Tower of
Pisa, Lake
Como and
the Amalfi
Coast.
There are many regional variations of cooking throughout
Italy, but in general grain foods such as pasta, bread, rice, and
polenta are mixed in a variety of interesting ways with vegeta-
bles, beans, fish, poultry, nuts, cheeses and meat.
Well-known Italian dishes include Minestrone soup; pizza
(a word that appears in a Latin text from the southern Italy
town of Gaeta in 997 AD); and pasta, which Roman writer
Horace described in a text in the first century AD.
Italy is the world’s largest wine producer by volume. Its
contribution is about 45–50 million hectoliters per year, repre-
senting about one third of global production. Well-known
brands include Canti, Prosecco and Broglio.
Explorers
Two of history’s greatest explorers were Italian. Marco
Polo (1254-
1324) went east
and Christopher
Columbus (1451
-1506) went
west, though he
intended to
reach the east.
Polo was a Ve-
netian merchant
traveller who
introduced Eu-
ropeans to Central
Asia and China. His father and uncle travelled through Asia,
and met Kublai Khan. In 1269, they returned to Venice (then
the world’s richest and most powerful city) to meet Marco for
the first time. The three of them embarked on a journey to
Asia, returning after 24 years to find Venice at war with Genoa;
Marco was imprisoned and dictated his stories to a cellmate.
These stories would become Livres des merveilles du monde (―The
Travels of Marco Polo‖).
Christopher Columbus completed four voyages across the
Atlantic Ocean. Those voyages, and his efforts to establish
permanent settlements on the island of Hispaniola, initiated the
European colonization of the New World.
Dante
Dante
Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus
Advances Fusion, June, 2016
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SNAPSHOT
Flowers for a Fair DameFlowers for a Fair DameFlowers for a Fair Dame