Gibson forms piano manufacturing partnership

American Music Teacher, Dec, 2004

Gibson Guitar Corp., parent company of Baldwin Piano, recently formed a joint venture with domestic partners Zhongshan city government and Yue Hua Music Limited to invest in Zhongshan Yue Hua Piano and Musical Instruments Co. Ltd. The partnership will form a new company called the Baldwin Zhongshan China and will give Gibson Guitar absolute majority ownership in this piano manufacturing facility in China.

The effort will ensure that Gibson Guitar Corp. will be able to offer a full line of China-made pianos both in the local and international markets, and is part of the company's long-term growth strategy in China. Gibson's first manufacturing plant in China is located in Qingdao and currently produces Epiphone Masterbilt acoustic guitars.

With Gibson's investment in Zhongshan Yue Hua, Chinese consumers will be able to acquire a high-quality piano more conveniently. "In the past, consumers had to place orders through local music stores and have pianos imported from the United States," said Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar and Baldwin Piano. "Now our pianos will not only be easier to purchase, they will be more affordable for piano lovers in China."