"Regional customisation, a broad portfolio of high quality products, coupled with timely service, are some of the factors that have underpinned ESAB's position as one of the most trusted brands in the global arc welding equipment and filler metals market," notes Frost & Sullivan Program Manager Archana Chauhan. "A strong focus on customer satisfaction and product customisation has boosted customer productivity, while underlining ESAB's competitive advantage."

ESAB's global approach for success is: 'Localisation is the new Globalisation'. According to Frost & Sullivan, the effective implementation of this strategy has helped the company increase its global footprint. "ESAB has strategically planned its global expansion," Frost & Sullivan noted in a press statement. "It has leveraged lower manufacturing, operational and labour costs in low cost regions to produce premium quality products. It is thus able to offer clients high quality, yet cost-effective, products."

The statement went on to note how the company has upgraded its manufacturing facilities in India, China and Latin America to optimise the growth potential in these regions. At the same time, significant R&D investments in the major regions have enabled product customisation according to specific regional requirements.

"ESAB is growing its presence in markets such as Russia whilst also venturing into regions such as CIS, Turkey, Romania, Australia, Africa and Bulgaria," adds Ms Chauhan. "This will allow the company to rapidly meet the needs of customers, worldwide."

Regular acquisitions have enabled the company to strengthen its portfolio of welding technologies across the globe. For instance the acquisition of Russian welding filler metals giant, Sychevsky in 2011, helped ESAB consolidate its footprint in the region.

"The company's ability to look beyond products has helped it develop the new benchmark in hybrid laser arc welding called Hybrio, develop the soon to be launched ICE process which will revolutionise sub arc welding and SAT, the Swift Arc Transfer process that will help ESAB move beyond the commodity game," concludes Ms Chauhan. "The company continues to innovate in this regard and has also introduced various training programmes to enable clients to optimise the use of their welding products."

"It is key to allow regional entities to be representative of their business and social environments whilst conforming to a well defined and clear global brand image and a consistent customer value proposition that combines the best of local and global," comments Nazmi Adams, Global Head of ESAB's consumables business. "Critically, ESAB has succeeded in developing a truly international senior leadership team with a diverse technical base".

The Excellence in Globalisation Award is presented to the company that has excelled in the following criteria: processes a strategic global footprint, leverage of global assets, global integration of processes/systems, enhanced global value to customer and exhibits a global perspective (sees world as a global community).

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

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