Grainger Opens Branch In China

W.W. Grainger Inc., Lake Forest, Ill., opened its first facility in China on Sept. 25. Located in the Shanghai suburb of Minhang, the branch will stock approximately 20,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs). The new branch is loaded with inventory in the following product categories: electrical, lighting, tools, test instruments, pneumatics, plumbing, material handling, safety, security, metal working and HVAC.

Grainger also recently published a Chinese language catalog featuring all products carried in the Minhang branch, and has launched a Web site, at www.grainger.com.cn. The company also has a customer-service center located in central Shanghai that offers sales consultation.

“As global and local businesses grow in this country, they need suppliers they can rely on to provide them with a broad range of quality products when and where needed,” said Richard L. Keyser, Grainger’s chairman and CEO. “Grainger has experience in helping its customers in North America get more efficient by consolidating their purchases of maintenance and repair supplies. We look forward to serving businesses in China, giving them no reason to turn to anyone but Grainger for all their facility-maintenance needs.”

Grainger had 2005 sales of $5.5 billion, 430 North American locations and 16,732 employees. Electrical products account for an estimated 20 percent of the company’s total sales.