Shenzhen, China (October 31, 2011) – austriamicrosystems (SIX: AMS), a leading global designer and manufacturer of high-performance analog ICs, is continuing its drive to expand its presence in Greater China with the opening of a new office in Shenzhen, one of the hubs of China's booming electronics industry. The office is the company's fourth in China, along with Shanghai, Beijing and Suzhou. Located at China's southern gateway, it provides the company with an important strategic foothold both in China and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

With 30 years experience of analog design and system development, austriamicrosystems is an established leader in the most challenging applications in the fields of power management, sensors and sensor interfaces for the smartphone, consumer, industrial, medical and automotive markets. The company counts some of the world's best-known brands among its customer base, and the new office in the heart of the central business district of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone will be a significant contribution to the company's objective of better serving its customers in southern China.

"austriamicrosystems has always recognized the importance of the Asia-Pacific region in the global electronics market and we are seeing high double digit growth rates in China specifically," said John Heugle, CEO of austriamicrosystems. "The new office we are opening today reflects our full confidence in the future of the industry in this part of the world, which no industry player with global aspirations could afford to ignore. It follows the opening of our new Taipei office in July, and underlines the efforts we're making to invest and increase our presence in Greater China as a whole."

As well as opening new offices in the region, the company is aiming to develop a better understanding of the China market in other ways. In July, John and the senior management team took the unprecedented step of moving to Shanghai for six months together with their families, in order to experience living and working in China. To maximize the opportunity to learn about the country, all of the executives have been learning Putonghua for the last year.

"Shenzhen is noted for its high-technology and advanced manufacturing," said Laurence Zhang, China Country Manager. "Our office there will bring us closer to our customers, better equipping us to provide the outstanding customer service on which our company prides itself."

Despite its growth, the company is maintaining its commitment to environmentally sustainable operations in all of the markets in which it operates. It aims to become 100 per cent carbon-neutral by 2015. If it succeeds, it will be the world's first semiconductor company to do so.

Elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region, austriamicrosystems has offices in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.