Is non-stick cookware market heating up in China

Is non-stick cookware market heating up in China.There is a large steel cookware market in China, but only 10% ofthe products sold are coated. Therefore, for companies selling non-stickcoatings, the growth potential is very big. To serve this market, thereare at least seven fluorocarbonfluorocarbon /flu·o·ro·car·bon/ (floor´o-kahr?b?n) any of the class of organic compounds consisting of carbon and fluorine only.  resinresin, any of a class of amorphous solids or semisolids. Resins are found in nature and are Non Stick Coating chiefly of vegetable origin. They are typically light yellow to dark brown in color; tasteless; odorless or faintly aromatic; translucent or transparent; brittle, fracturing  producers in China with a totalcapacity of approximately 10,000 tons per year.However, getting Chinese consumers to switch to non-stick cookwareand appliances is not always easy."Since China represents over 300 million households, it isalready a potential growth market for non-stick coated cookware,"said Carol Hsu, greater China and Asian marketing manager,fluorosurfacing, DuPont. "The challenge in non-stick coatings forcookware is encouraging steel-made cookware consumers to try thenon-stick coated cookware."Spreading the WordMs. Hsu said DuPont has to continuously communicate the benefits ofnon-stick coated cookware--such as easy cleaning and good health--toChinese consumers. "We continuously educate sales people in retailstores, as well as consumers about the benefits and the proper usage ofnon-stick coated cookware through marketing programs."In rural areas of China, consumers use mostly steel wareware See Groupware, Hardware, Shareware, Software. , but asthe economy improves and rural dwellers become potential customers, themarket will grow more so. "We think the future is very bright aseconomic development continues at a steady pace."She said the company's Teflon is a market leader in Chinaamong non-stick coatings products. DuPont's non-stick operations inChina are backed by its Shenzhen plant, which was put into operation inMay, 1999. The plant--DuPont's fifth non-stick factory in theworld--not only provides household and industrial use non-stickingcoatings, but also water-based PTFE Suppliers non-stick coatings for householdappliances."The Shenzhen plant is able to produce customized non-stickcoatings that meet the particular requirements of Asian manufacturers ofhousewareshouse·wares  pl.n.Cooking utensils, dishes, and other small articles used in a household, especially in the kitchen.  and industrial products (such as cookware, rice cookersFor the car modification term, see .A rice cooker or rice steamer is a self-contained electrical appliance, used primarily for cooking rice. There are also microwave, gas, and open flame variants. ,small electric appliances, and specializedspe·cial·ize  v. spe·cial·ized, spe·cial·iz·ing, spe·cial·iz·esv.intr.1.  To pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study.2.  industrial applications). Inaddition to cookware, we do coatings for small electrical appliances,such as rice cooker inserts, electric grills and industrial applicationssuch as copy rollers."DuPont's Shenzhen facility has been set up to support regionalgrowth, and is supported by a research and development and coatingperformance laboratory, as well as a separate process and qualitycontrol laboratory."There are many advantages to DuPont Teflon Coating non-stick coatings,including access to the Teflon brand--one of the most recognizedconsumer brands globally--and new and innovative fluoropolymerA fluoropolymer is a polymer that contains atoms of fluorine. It is characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases.Fluoropolymers were discovered serendipitously in 1938 by Dr. Roy J. Plunkett.  technology from our sister fluoropolymers business," Ms. Hsu noted.But DuPont is not alone in its quest to gain a larger share of thegrowth market offered in China. Akzo NobelAkzo Nobel is a multinational company, active in the fields of healthcare products, coatings and chemicals. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the company has activities in more than 80 countries, and employs approximately 62,000 people.  has constructed a newwholly-owned non-stick coatings factory near its wood coatings factoryin Dongguan, Guangdong provinceNoun 1. Guangdong province - a province in southern ChinaGuangdong, Kwangtung . Prior to setting up the factory, AkzoNobel's products were imported from overseas.COPYRIGHT 2003 Rodman Publications, Inc.No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.Copyright 2003 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.