In our latest newsletter, we are highlighting the outstanding performance of Jonathan Bolbach and Mark LaBell, winners of SSOE’s Founder’s Award. Their accomplishment — developing the AutoNavis software application — met two of the award’s key criteria: delivering exceptional value to clients by saving them time, trouble, and money and implementing an innovation that leads to improved processes and quality. Read more
In the AEC industry, when a client asks for a project to be completed “faster, better, and cheaper,” chances are they will be told that two out of three is about as good as it gets. Thanks to technology, integrated delivery methods, and an exceptional team effort, SSOE raised the bar and delivered on all counts on a recent project for a global leader in the food industry.
Huntsville, Alabama has a lot to celebrate. It was recently selected as the site for the new Polaris plant, which will generate up to 2,000 jobs and create a ripple effect that will boost the area’s economy. Huntsville’s Mayor, Tommy Battle, jokingly suggested it was a plate of exceptional barbecue ribs that clinched the high-stakes deal. SSOE’s Alexandra Segers stands by the full story. Polaris selected her from a field of qualified candidates to conduct the site selection process — beginning to end. Alexandra considers this one of the fastest site selection processes of this magnitude she’s ever conducted. To put that in context, she has more than 15 years of experience helping major corporations find the best sites worldwide. Read more
Whenever a company needs new manufacturing facilities to capture market share, getting up and running quickly is critical. It needs to pick a firm with solid experience, one that won’t flinch at challenges that might arise, and will do what it takes to meet an aggressive schedule. In this case, the firm is SSOE. The market is the oil and gas industry and the product is high quality API Grade steel tube – over 500,000 metric tons annually.
Challenging. Competitive. Rich with opportunities. From where we sit as a global provider of EPCM services, those words sum up the world’s current economic landscape. Our management team, like yours, studies information on economic trends and their affect on the production of goods and provision of services worldwide. Our expansion plans are all about being wherever our clients want to be. READ MORE
Whether our clients decide to further expand within their home country or break new ground across the globe, increasingly the projects have tight schedules. The most obvious reason is the faster the products can be manufactured, the sooner they can generate revenue. Once the decision is made to develop the facility, time becomes a key factor. As the completion date draws near, every week is measured by production gained or lost. If the facility is to be developed in an unfamiliar location, working with a company that lacks global experience invites delays and missteps. READ MORE
“It’s a small world after all” is proving more and more true – except when selecting a site for a new location across the globe. When a company is faced with finding a site for a new facility thousands of miles and several cultures removed from “home,” the distance factor can seem insurmountable. SSOE’s site selection services neutralize the difficulties this challenge poses. READ MORE
The shift in development from the major Chinese metropolises to smaller emerging cities is a trend with serious implications for global businesses.
Until recently, companies planning to develop operations in China honed in only on the areas around Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. These large Westernized cities, often referred to as Tier 1 cities, offered labor at bargain prices as well as the infrastructure to support development. Both the Chinese and the foreign companies have come to understand each other’s business practices, and that has lowered the hurdles for outside developers. However, the dramatic social and economic changes that have rippled through China in the past few years are now reshaping the landscape for industrial, commercial, and retail facilities development.
“Although industrial investment seems close to levels we were seeing before the 2009 recession in China,” says Andrew Kwok, SSOE’s General Manager of Asian Operations,” new foreign investment is experiencing a geographic shift.” Attracted by lower development costs (including land, labor and materials), operating costs, and more aggressive government incentives, some investors are opting to develop in more dispersed regions in China. Corporate giants like Ford, GM, Borg Warner, Coca-Cola, Cummins, Goodyear, and P&G are among them.
Foreign factories aren’t just about cheap labor and low tariffs.
If your company has or is planning overseas production plants, follow the lead of superior global manufacturers. They have come to realize that using foreign factories exclusively for cheap labor is squandering an opportunity to gain competitive advantage.
Leading manufacturers are expanding and elevating the role of their foreign factories. “They use them not only to gain access to the usual incentives but also to get closer to their customers and suppliers, to attract skilled and talented employees, and to create centers of expertise for the entire company.” (Kastra, Furtows, Harvard Business Review)
SSOE’s China office, which has tripled in size and capacity over the last year, is taking advantage of these types of opportunities. SSOE China has developed relationships with an extensive network of local suppliers and has attracted a talented staff that values SSOE’s global focus.
Any number of factors can drive a project: quality, technology, cost savings, etc. Beyond the construction documents that any number of firms could provide, a good consultant identifies what is driving a specific project and adjusts its traditional approach to ensure your priorities are met.
Case in point. When two wireless companies merged, they needed to add high-speed data capabilities to their southeastern U.S. network. With fierce competition already in place, this needed to happen almost as fast as the computer signals fly over the system. Obviously speed was the driving factor, and a traditional 9 to 5 approach wouldn’t cut it. Instead, we assigned a geographically diverse team in different time zones to make around the clock progress possible on a project spanning from Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Mississippi to China. “This project required speed as well as engineering details,” notes Floyd White, PE, senior electrical engineer and technical leader on this project. “SSOE’s Shanghai office helped produce 450 sets of drawings in four months.” Using data gathered locally and a predeveloped set of five prototype designs, engineers in SSOE’s Shanghai office helped create the drawings to kick off each location’s work. Read more
“This is a phenomenal enterprise,” began Ohio Governor Bob Taft at a press conference at SSOE’s headquarters on July 18. “There is more work getting done here more quietly then anyplace in the entire state of Ohio. What this company does is incredible and it is a great success story. [SSOE] is a company that is investing and growing and expanding here and has an impact world wide. In fact, just this year I was very proud to present SSOE an “E” Award for Excellence in Exporting for the second time. They come with me on my trade missions. They are operating in China and Europe; they are operating in Mexico. They are truly a global enterprise.”
Starting business operations in China involves navigating a complex process of bureaucratic requirements which are prevalent in emerging economies. Language barriers, remote locations with decision makers on several continents, cultural differences, and even time differences are bigger obstacles than most companies can navigate alone.
With that in mind, SSOE brought on-board Enzo Colonna, managing director of SSOE China, who has over 12 years of experience managing projects and operations in China. SSOE China combines our familiarity with the domestic U.S. market and the business conditions motivating you to move overseas, with our knowledge of how to do business in China. This makes your move to China possible quick, easy, and cost-effective.
From offices in both the U.S. and Shanghai our expertise leads you through the Chinese design and construction project delivery process, which is even more demanding than in the U.S. The Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) project delivery method is how 95% of projects are completed in international markets. SSOE China has established relationships—that means you don’t have to spend your time searching for and evaluating partners. We have the relationships, expertise and the systems all in place. That’s one stop shopping.
Ford recently recognized SSOE China for “Excellent Safety Performance” for our work on its Nanjing Test Center project—a result of 1M hours worked with no reportable injuries. Based on our 50-plus year relationship with Ford coupled with our exceptional safety track record, we were hired to coordinate development and construction of Ford’s vehicle testing center in Eastern China, which includes fully-equipped test tracks and cutting-edge testing laboratories that make innovation easily accessible to the client.
China’s explosive economic growth has fostered the development of an urban upper class whose new-found wealth has opened a significant market in luxury goods. But trend-savvy companies are recognizing another consumer group in China: an emerging middle class that presents opportunities and challenges.
However you define the Chinese middle class — by income, occupation, or Western spending habits — the economics of China’s population will change dramatically in the coming decades:
Continued growth will see the incomes of most Chinese citizens rising, with fewer people living in poverty.
More people will move from rural areas to cities in search of higher paying jobs.
As a result, experts predict that in 20 years the urban middle class in China will become one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
Many Americans were still finishing off Valentine chocolates wrapped in red foil on February 18. But if you were in China, the color red would be associated with money, clothing, and a PIG. February 18th was the Chinese Lunar New Year of 4704—the year of the Red Pig and the first day of a 15-day festival.
Recent events have left many wondering what the Red Pig year holds for China. Analysts cite many possible reasons for the biggest downturn in China’s stock market in a decade including: the pressure for profit-taking days after the market hit a record high, growing concerns that China’s government will seek to slow its tremendous growth, and even comments by former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan to a business conference in Hong Kong that the US may be nearing the end of its prosperous economic cycle—proof that we are truly in a global economy.
What does all this mean for firms looking to enter the China market? Read more
SSOE Group is a leader in leveraging the latest technology to enable integrated and collaborative project delivery. SSOE Group was featured in BOSS Magazine, in an article highlighting the company’s technology strategy and culture — both of which are helping provide better solutions to clients. Driven by collaboration, SSOE is using innovative tools and customized applications to deliver high quality projects more efficiently, while working to maintain employee engagement along the way. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, October 21, 2019 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, is proud to announce that they are serving as a global alliance partner for American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM)—a global leader in design, engineering, validation and manufacturing of driveline, metal forming, powertrain, and casting technologies for automotive, commercial, and industrial markets. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, December 20, 2018 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, announced today that two project teams have been selected as recipients of the firm’s Founder’s Award and five individuals have been selected as recipients of Leadership Awards. Read more
HANGZHOU, China, September 04, 2018 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, is proud to celebrate an exceptional safety milestone of 2 million working hours injury-free with FerroTec, a leading manufacturer of advanced material, component, and assembly solutions in Hangzhou, China. Read more
SHANGHAI, China, February 20, 2018 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, is proud to announce the opening of their new office in Chengdu, Sichuan province China.
In 2005, SSOE opened its first international office in Shanghai to support a variety of automotive and manufacturing plant-development projects for multinational corporations in and around China. Today it has grown to be one of the firm’s largest offices and experienced its best year on record in the past 5 years in 2017. SSOE’s new Chengdu office will be staffed with local resources and will enhance SSOE’s presence within the Asia-Pacific region. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, August 1, 2017 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, recently welcomed back Paul Spinazze as Division Manager and Senior Associate for their Asia-Pacific Operations. He previously worked for SSOE from 1987 to 1994 as an electrical engineer / project manager. Read more
LAGRANGE, Georgia, July 11, 2017 – Sentury Tire, a global advanced-technology tire manufacturer of automotive and aircraft tires, selected SSOE Group, a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, to design its 1.4 million square foot tire manufacturing facility in LaGrange, Georgia. Read more
SAN FRANCISCO, California, June 21, 2017 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, announced today that several of its semiconductor manufacturing experts will be joining business and technology leaders, researchers, and industry analysts in attending SEMICON West 2017 on July 11th – 13th, 2017. Organized by SEMI and celebrating its 47th year, SEMICON is the flagship annual event for the global microelectronics industry. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, July 13, 2016 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global architecture, engineering, procurement, and construction management firm, announced today that one of its employees earned a professional registration and 12 additional employees earned professional certifications during the third quarter of SSOE’s 2016 planning year. Attainment of professional licensures and certifications is strongly encouraged at SSOE. In fact, the company covers the expense of preparation classes and exam fees as well as provides paid time off to take the exam. As an added incentive, once a staff member has passed an exam, they are awarded a recognition bonus. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, March 8, 2016 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm welcomes Robert “Scott” Goodwin, COSS as Corporate Safety Manager. Scott comes to SSOE from Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Northwest Ohio where he served as the Director of Safety and Training.
In this role, Goodwin is responsible for providing safety leadership, training, and guidance. This includes conducting safety audits and inspections for SSOE’s corporate facilities and construction work sites as well as developing contractor qualification standards, reporting safety metrics, and authoring weekly safety tips for staff as well as the company’s safety blog. Read more
Toledo, Ohio – June 3, 2014-— SSOE’s Board of Directors announced today that it has selected Bob Howell to be the next President and CEO of SSOE Group—a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm . Effective December 3, 2014, Bob Howell will assume the reins from current CEO, Tony Damon, who announced his plans to retire late last year.
Shanghai, China, September 27, 2013 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, announces that it will continue its’ support again this year as a Platinum Sponsor for AmCham Shanghai’s Manufacturing Summit, presented by the AmCham Shanghai Manufacturers’ Business Council and Suzhou Committee. The event is being held October 17th, 2013 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Shanghai.
TOLEDO, Ohio, January 31, 2013 –SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, is proud to announce that it has been ranked second by Engineering News Record (ENR) in their 2012 Top International Design Firm Rankings survey results for Auto Assembly. The rankings were released in December and are based on revenue.
Shanghai, China, October 23, 2012 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, along with General Motors (GM), celebrated another significant safety milestone recently. Two million hours have been worked with no recordable incidents during Phase 2 of construction of GM’s first Chinese automotive research and development (R&D) facility, otherwise known as GM China’s Advanced Technical Center. The new facility, currently being constructed in Shanghai, celebrated two prior safety milestones of 500,000 hours worked without a recordable accident back in September 2011 and 1,000,000 hours worked without a recordable accident just five months ago in April 2012.
Shanghai, China, April 10, 2012 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an international engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, along with General Motors (GM), is celebrating another significant safety milestone. One million hours have been worked with no recordable incidents during Phase 2 of construction of GM’s first Chinese Automotive Research and Development (R&D) facility, otherwise known as GM China’s Advanced Technical Center. The new facility, currently being constructed in Shanghai, reached its’ first milestone of 500,000 hours worked without a recordable accident just seven months ago, during construction of the Advanced Materials Laboratory Building, or Phase 1, which opened on September 21, 2011.
SSOE and GM were both represented during the celebration. President and Managing Director of the GM China Group, Kevin Wale, applauded the group noting, “This is truly a remarkable achievement – made possible only through the conscious effort each person put forth day in and day out to continuously review surroundings and look out for hazards on the job site before starting work. Safety is not just about numbers. It’s about protecting workers from injury. I want to congratulate the SSOE construction team and contractors on-site for managing the success of this project and for working with GM to support our safety program.”
Shanghai, China, October 05, 2011 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an international engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, along with General Motors (GM), celebrated the outstanding safety record incurred during the construction of GM’s first Chinese Automotive Research and Development (R&D) facility, otherwise known as GM China’s Advanced Technical Center. The new facility, currently being constructed in Shanghai, reached the milestone of 500,000 hours worked without a recordable accident during construction of the Advanced Materials Laboratory Building, or Phase 1, which opened on September 21, 2011. Read more
Shanghai, China, September 29, 2011 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com) the EPCM firm of record, along with their client The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, announced today that they have successfully reached seven million hours worked with no recordable incidents at Goodyear’s newest tire plant in China. This plant, which currently produces passenger tires and soon will produce truck tires, is the largest manufacturing project under construction in China. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, April 25, 2011 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an international engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, is proud to welcome Alexandra Segers as its new International Senior Account Executive / Program Manager.
October 14, 2010, Toledo, Ohio – SSOE Group, a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm announced expanded roles for key staff as it plans for continued international growth despite the turbulent economic climate. Currently SSOE has 19 offices domestically and two in China, in Shanghai and Beijing. As international opportunities continue to increase and become a larger part of SSOE’s growth strategy the firm plans to open two additional offices in China, two in India, and two in Canada in 2011. Currently SSOE’s international business comprises 8% of total revenue. By 2015 the firm projects that 25% of their total revenue will be generated internationally, increasing to 33% by 2020. According to Tony Damon, CEO and President of SSOE, “Expansion of our business globally is one of the key drivers of our growth strategy including driving growth here in the U.S. to service the growing international marketplace.”
September 23, 2010, Toledo, Ohio– SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global EPCM firm, was recognized for its success in the global marketplace by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel at a luncheon held in Columbus yesterday. SSOE was named the “Large Exporter of the Year.” In total, 20 Ohio companies were presented with the Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Award (“E”Award). This is SSOE’s third time being an “E” award recipient; they also received this honor in 2002 as well as 2006. The Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Award annually recognizes Ohio companies that have increased sales and Ohio-based employment as a result of export activity, or have implemented a strategy to expand international sales.
Toledo, Ohio, April 13, 2010 – SSOE Group, a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, announced today it will act as a Bronze Sponsor for the Asia Pacific Business Outlook (APBO) Conference being held April 19, 2010 at the University of Southern California’s Davidson Conference Center in Los Angeles.
Beijing, China, December 10, 2009 – SSOE Group, a global EPCM firm, announced today the opening of their Beijing office, their second in China. The new office is the launch of the firm’s North China operations and is located in the Central Business District (CBD) of Beijing. The CBD Beijing has experienced tremendous growth over the last decade. As Beijing’s CBD is home to over 100 Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries and more than 60 percent of overseas-funded companies in Beijing are located there, this location is key for SSOE’s growth and client service.
TOLEDO, Ohio, JUNE 26, 2009-SSOE Group took a significant step forward when the EPCM firm was awarded its Chinese design license from the Chinese government. The license allows SSOEto directly perform architectural and engineering detailed design services for its clients within China.
Toledo, OH, June 17, 2008 – SSOE, Inc. one of the nation’s largest architecture and engineering firms, announced that over the course of four months, they will expand a number of their offices adding enough space for over 110 new employees. This is SSOE’s third consecutive year of 25%+ revenue growth and projections show 20% growth for 2008. To accommodate this growth, SSOE has hired over 200 people in the last year and has plans for hiring over 100 more in the next year, requiring the expansion of offices across the country and the globe. Read more
SHANGHAI, China, August 8, 2007 – SSOE China Co. LTD of Shanghai China, a wholly owned subsidiary of SSOE, Inc. of Toledo, Ohio, a leading architectural, engineering and management firm, is helping Ford Motor Company’s efforts to increase its footprint in the world’s largest growth market with the Ford Research and Engineering Center located in Nanjing, China. Read more
February 9, 2005 – SSOE, Inc., a recognized industry leader in providing architectural, engineering and management services to a global client-base has opened an operation in Shanghai, China. The new office will manage a variety of projects in and around China. Read more