tna is pleased to announce the opening of TNA Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd to provide local food manufacturers with on-the-ground support services. Located in the Minhang district of Shanghai, the office will be managed by Sean Xu, who recently joined tna as general manager - China, and will host both sales and technical service staff. The new office follows the opening of tna's first Chinese manufacturing site in Qingdao in 2011 and demonstrates the company's long-term commitment to the region and the local food industry. "China is one of the major economic players in the world and we're delighted to be opening another site here as we continue to expand our global footprint," comments Alf Taylor, CEO at tna. "Our installation base in the country is well-established, ranging from baggers, conveyors, fryers and seasoning equipment to complete potato processing and confectionery molding lines. With our new Shanghai office we are even more accessible to our local customer base and provide them with the support they need to maximize the potential of our integrated packaging and processing solutions." Joining tna as general manager is Sean Xu. Having worked for some of the world's leading food equipment suppliers, he is an expert in providing customized processing and packaging solutions. Sean's industry experience, customer service focus and market insights will be instrumental in helping local food manufacturers reach higher efficiencies, enhance food safety, reduce waste and improve food quality. Commenting on his appointment, Sean says: "I'm thrilled to be joining tna at such an exciting time for the company. tna's growth has been unprecedented in the last few years and its dedication to innovation and engineering excellence are renowned across the industry. "The Chinese food industry is expected to grow faster than anywhere else in the world. It's a huge and highly competitive market, but it's also a market that is filled with opportunities. In particular food safety and automation will be key issues over the next few years, something tna is well-equipped for thanks to its comprehensive portfolio of integrated turnkey solutions. There is also a growing number of time-pressed consumers with higher disposable incomes, who desire confectionery products with new tastes and flavors, making it an ideal market for our flexible starch molding technology from NID. Together, we'll be able to equip local manufacturers with the tools and strategies they need to gain a stronger competitive advantage." China's GDP per capita grew at a CAGR of 8% during 2011-2016. A high GDP growth rate coupled with a high proportion of younger demographics make China an attractive investment destination for consumer goods companies and is expected to have a positive influence on the savory snacks sector. The sector was valued at USD10,515.4 million in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.6% during 2016-2021. Increasing disposable income and growing employment rates are the key growth drivers for the savory snacks sector in China. China is also one of the largest confectionery markets globally, with a value of USD15,584 million and a strong growth forecast of 8.6% CAGR over the 2016-2021 period. tna is a global supplier of integrated food processing and packaging solutions with 35 years of industry experience and over 14,000 systems installed across more than 120 countries. The company provides a comprehensive range of products including materials handling, processing, cooling and freezing, coating, distribution, seasoning, weighing, packaging, inserting and labelling, metal detection, verification and end of line solutions. tna also offers a variety of production line controls integration & SCADA reporting options, project management and training. tna's unique combination of innovative technologies, extensive project management experience and 24/7 global support ensures customers achieve faster, more reliable and flexible food products at the lowest cost of ownership.