German Businessman "Takes Root" in China for 21 Years, Builds "Suzhou-style Garden" at Taicang Factory

China Economic Journalists Guo Yangchen, Zhang Jiazhen, Suzhou Report

Harald Josef Schmidt, Global President of Production at BODE Group, in the “Suzhou-style Garden” at Taicang Factory. Photo by Guo Yangchen

Suzhou, Taicang City, Jiangsu Province, is known as the “Hometown of German Enterprises,” with over 560 German companies gathered here, many of whom work and live in the area.

Harald, the 50-year-old German businessman and Global President of Production at BODE Group, is one of them. He has worked and lived in China for 21 years, married a Chinese wife, has children, and obtained a Chinese “Green Card” in 2025. He also built a “Suzhou-style Garden” in the courtyard of BODE’s Taicang factory.

According to reports from China Business Journal, Taicang Factory is BODE Group’s largest overseas plant, with a localization rate of core components reaching 60%. Over the past three to four years, products developed at Taicang have not only been sold locally but also expanded to global markets.

“The rapid development in China encourages us to continue increasing our investments here,” Harald said. “First, China’s manufacturing industry has broad development prospects; second, China’s digitalization and automation levels are very high; third, there is a large reserve of professional talent, with many young, motivated workers.”

Buying Land and Building the Factory

Relevant data shows that BODE Group was founded in 1946 in Ingelfingen, Germany, as a high-tech family enterprise specializing in fluid control systems. Its products are mainly used in medical, pharmaceutical, and biopharmaceutical fields, making it a “hidden champion” in Germany.

In 1998, BODE China was officially established; in 2006, BODE built its first factory in Suzhou Industrial Park on Suhong Road; in 2020, BODE Group decided to purchase land in Taicang Port Area, with construction starting in April 2021 and completing in December 2022.

The new BODE Taicang factory covers an area of 40,000 square meters, including 14,500 square meters of factory buildings, 7,000 square meters of logistics and warehousing, and 4,500 square meters of office space. The new plant can accommodate 400 employees and produce 1 million valves annually.

(Inside the BODE Group Taicang Factory production line. Photo by Guo Yangchen)

“Our Taicang factory is currently the largest in our global network, in terms of building area, it is also the largest plant we have built so far,” Harald said. “We chose Taicang because it is a manufacturing hub for many German companies, with strong policy support, close to Shanghai and Suzhou, and well-equipped with resources—an ideal location for future development.”

“Most impressive to me is the proactive attitude of the Taicang government departments. They listen patiently to our questions, understand the actual situation, and quickly provide solutions,” Harald said.

In recent years, the localization rate of core components at BODE’s Taicang factory has increased to 60%, aiming to enhance the company’s independence and make the supply chain more resilient.

“Localizing a core component takes about three months,” Harald explained. “On one hand, we deepen vertical integration within the factory to produce core products domestically, ensuring quality standards; on the other hand, the quality and reliability of local suppliers have greatly improved, making localization much easier.”

In February this year, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz led nearly 30 top executives from German industrial giants to visit China, becoming the first foreign leader to visit China in the Year of the Horse.

“The outcomes and feedback from high-level talks make us more optimistic about China’s future development. We also see that the cooperation between Germany and China has a more solid foundation, which strengthens our confidence to continue investing in China,” Harald emphasized.

“Overall, China has many advantages,” Harald further stated. “On one hand, China has a strong manufacturing foundation and a complete supply chain system, with high levels of digitalization and automation; on the other hand, there is a large reserve of professional talent, with many young, motivated workers. Human resources are a significant advantage. It’s easy to find skilled and capable talents here.”

Cultural Integration Between China and Germany Accelerates

By 2025, Harald, who has worked and lived in China for 21 years, finally obtained a “Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners,” or “China Green Card.”

Harald has also “settled down” in China, married a Chinese wife, and started a Chinese family. “Although I still have some trouble distinguishing between the flat and falling tones, I now speak Chinese at home. I feel increasingly integrated into China. China is like a safe and comforting home for me,” he said.

For Harald, on one hand, China’s lifestyle is becoming more international; on the other hand, with the popularization of digital services like translation and navigation, life for foreigners has become very convenient.

Walking into the courtyard of BODE Group’s Taicang factory, a “Suzhou-style Garden” catches the eye. The garden features pavilions, artificial mountains, waterfalls, and flowing water, with koi swimming leisurely; inside the workshop, machines roar, while outside, flowing water and lush greenery create a peaceful scene.

(Inside BODE Group’s Taicang Factory “Suzhou-style Garden”. Photo by Guo Yangchen)

Harald told reporters that when designing this factory, the headquarters of BODE Group set some strict requirements, with the overall architectural style designed by German architects. To blend Chinese and German cultures, a Chinese-style garden was built at the Taicang manufacturing base, combining modern production with Suzhou’s classical garden culture. Both Chinese clients, government officials, and German customers highly appreciate this fusion.

“I really like the koi in the garden. After finishing my rounds at the factory, I spend a few minutes feeding them. Whenever I have time, I like to stay in the garden for a while, have a coffee, and read a book,” Harald said with a smile.

Beyond daily life, Chinese-German cultural integration is also accelerating at BODE’s Taicang factory.

“In manufacturing, the most obvious difference between Germany and China is in the understanding of time and efficiency,” Harald said. “German companies plan every detail meticulously, aiming for ‘150% preparation’ before implementation. But to meet the needs of the Chinese market and customers, we need to respond more quickly and flexibly.”

Harald further explained that for BODE Group, Germany’s rigorous planning and craftsmanship are the foundation of development, while China’s rapid progress in digitalization and automation is a key growth driver. “By combining the strengths of both, we can maintain high craftsmanship standards while optimizing operations, making the company more efficient and cost-effective. This allows us to ‘develop while implementing, repeatedly advancing,’ keeping pace with market changes and demand.”

Now, Harald holds dual roles: overseeing operations at BODE Group’s China factories and coordinating global production.

“The past 15–20 years have seen rapid growth in China’s manufacturing industry. To enhance competitiveness in the global market, China’s development experience is very valuable for Germany to learn from. For me, the core goal now is to bring China’s flexible, efficient development philosophy and talented team into BODE Group’s German factories,” Harald summarized.

(Edited by Zhang Jiazhen, reviewed by Tong Haihua, proofread by Wan Ling)