Lincoln Electric China head office located in Shanghai     The Lincoln Electric Company began operations in China with the opening of the Tianjin Representative Office in 1989. Lincoln Electric's exports to China grew steadily during the 1990's and by 1996, the Company had established another Representative Office in Shanghai to support growth within China. In 1997, Lincoln Electric opened its first manufacturing facility in China, a welding wire plant that manufactured flux cored wire and MIG wire. During 1997-2000, Lincoln Electric China continued to develop imported product sales and both domestic and export sales for locally manufactured welding wires. In January of 2000, Lincoln Electric became the largest shareholder (35%) in the Kuang Tai Group of Taiwan. This joint venture included manufacturing in both Taiwan and China and provided a large base of stainless steel and mild steel welding consumables for Greater China and export markets. In mid-2004, Lincoln Electric made a significant investment to take controlling interest in two Kuang Tai Group China operations: The flux cored wire facility in Baoshan District, which was partially completed at that time A stick electrode factory in Inner Mongolia Lincoln Electric's plans to make the Baoshan facility its flagship operation in China are well underway, with continuing expansion of the flux cored wire production capacity, the addition of welding machine manufacturing and the opening of the Asia Pacific headquarters and Welding Technology Center. The operation will provide the foundation for Lincoln Electric's long-term growth plans in China, which include rapid expansion of machine production and the development of a branch network to support markets on a localized basis in terms of inventory, sales and technical support. Lincoln Electric has a sales and manufacturing workforce of 650 people across China. Lincoln Electric plans to continue to invest in people and facilities in China so that it will be in a position to grow with China as its infrastructure and economy develops.

Shanghai Lincoln Electric Co., Ltd Consumable Division	Shanghai Lincoln Electric Co., Ltd Machine Division
Shanghai Lincoln Electric Co., Ltd Welding Training Center	Shanghai Lincoln Electric Co., Ltd Flux Cored Wire LW-81Ni1
The Lincoln Electric (Inner Mongolia) Welding Co., Ltd.

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