The success story of Lotusworks just keeps on growing. The Sligo-based company is set to win the kind of international contract most Irish companies can only dream of - a foothold into the world’s biggest market, with one of the world’s leading micro-processor semiconductor manufacturers.
Lotusworks has been chosen by Intel as Independent calibration program managers at it's first wafer fabrication plant in China. The company’s Asian subsidiary, Lotusworks Asia Holdings Ltd which was set up specifically to break into the Chinese market, has been awarded the contract.
It's being seen as hugely significant for the successful Sligo firm. Lotusworks Asia Holdings Ltd Managing Director Manel Da Silva says “China is the one continent where we didn’t do business with Intel so getting this contract is a major coup".
“The contract is of huge strategic importance. This opportunity will generate other opportunities in China and elsewhere in Asia” adds Da Silva. “There’s a saying in China, ‘if you’re Number One in China, you’re Number One in the World” he smiles.
In October 2007 Lotusworks identified a potential Chinese business partner and sent Da Silva to China to build up a joint venture. Master of the understatement, Da Silva describes the intricacies of setting up a business in China as “ambiguous”. “Because the Chinese market is changing so fast we have had to engage a consultant to help us navigate company processes there” he says. "From Q4 2008 through to 2009 were difficult years due to the global economic crisis" according to Da Silva.
But Lotusworks persisted, mostly due to the fact that the Directors back home realised China would be a long term commitment for the company: "They knew it wasn't going to be a slam dunk, but they had committed to expanding into the Chinese market".
The Lotusworks team kept going, quietly building a presence led by Da Silva based between Shanghai and Ireland. In October of last year Intel contacted Lotusworks with a proposal. By early November, serious approaches were being made by both sides. Negotiations continued right up into January and Lotusworks closed the deal with Intel at the start of this month.
Lotusworks have now set up their own legal entity, an absolute must if they’re to continue to do business there. “We’ve just set that up in December 2009 so everything is falling into place” says Da Silva.
They’re now getting business enquiries at the rate of one a week, with four to five job enquiries per week from countries across Asia such as India and Malaysia. “The market is getting back to normal” says Da Silva.
Lotusworks will employ local technicians and engineers to carry out the instrument calibrations in the Intel Dalian Plant.
A long haul lies ahead but Da Silva and his directors are optimistic: “It’s not a slam dunk, but it’s a manageable risk” he says. "Intel is one of the most respected companies in the world. If we can cut the mustard with Intel China, we can do business anywhere in China” he smiles.
What started as a dream just over two years ago has finally become reality for Lotusworks.
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18001 provides a framework for managing Health and Safety Management responsibilities through an Occupational Health and Safety Management System, it enables our company to control our health and safety risks and improve our performance. Lotus is certified to OHSAS since 2006.
Lotus is ISO 14001 certified since 2006 and this internationally accepted standard assisted us in putting an effective Environmental Management System in place. The standard addresses the delicate balance between maintaining our profitability and reducing our environmental impact.
ISO 9001 is the International standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It provides our company with a set of principles that ensures a common sense approach to the management of our business activities to consistently achieve customer satisfaction. Lotus is certified since 1999.
