Last month, employees from TEDA TPCO America took it upon themselves to fundraiser for the American Heart Association for their 20th Annual Heart Walk 5K on October 1st, 2016 in Corpus Christi Texas.  25 people signed up to walk as part of the TEDA TPCO America Heart Walk Team, but the fundraising was a company wide effort. Some employees wrote letters, while others used social media to garner support and donations. In as little as 2 weeks, $2,155 was raised from family, friends and vendors.

Meanwhile, the company held a coin collection competition among the employees. 4 teams duked it out to see who could raise the most money in coin collection jars. Between Administration, Construction, Heat Treat and Casing Line a total of $562.23 was raised, with Construction taking the crown for the highest amount raised. The total amount raised was $2,717.23!

On the day of the walk, TEDA TPCO America Employees showed up in matching red t-shirts, alongside hundreds of other teams, to support the American Heart Association in their fight against heart disease and stroke.

More information about the American Heart Association and the TEDA TPCO America donation page can be found by clicking this link.

On the afternoon of July 26th, The Tianjin-Texas Investment & Economic Cooperation Meeting was held at the Tianjin Pipe Group Corporation Meeting Center. Prior to the meeting, Chairman Li Qiang’s leadership team took part in discussions regarding the operation and construction status of the TPCO America Project with State Representative Todd Hunter and his delegation. Vice-Director of the Tianjin Commission of Commerce, Zhu Weishan, TPCO Preisdent Sun Kaiming, and Todd Hunter were present and spoke at this meeting. TPCO Vice-President Liu Hongan presided over the meeting. The Texas Delegation, 14 company representatives and TPCO America Project leaders attended the meeting.

Zhu Weishan pointed out in his speech, Tianjin and the USA have always maintained friendly exchanges and trade. America has already become the second largest foreign market for Tianjin, the number of Tianjin enterprise investing in the USA already reaching 216. Exchanges and cooperation in metallurgy, high-tech research and development, logistics, warehousing and other fields are expanding and interdependence is constantly growing. In September 2014, “Chinese Province and Texas Trade and Investment Cooperation Joint Working Group” was officially established. As a member of the Chinese side, Tianjin has established a good relationship with a sister city in Texas and each continues to promote pragmatic cooperation with each other. Under these joint efforts, the investment by today’s host, TPCO, in the seamless steel pipe project has become the largest greenfield investment by China in US history. This marks a new milestone for bilateral cooperation in the field of manufacturing processes. This Tianjin-Texas Investment & Economic Cooperation Meeting is to further deepen the relationship between Tianjin and Texas, guide and service enterprises to actively carry out international economic cooperation and promote the two sides on the basis of mutual benefit, greater cooperation and development.

On behalf of the company, Sun Kaiming warmly welcomed the arrival of distinguished guests. He said in his speech, “TPCO, as one of the world’s largest enterprise specializing in the production of seamless steel tubes, has always been committed to providing global customers with the best products and services. TPCO America has received great support and help from local state, county, municipal leaders, the EDC and Port Authority, making hiring and development of supporting facilities very convenient. At the same time the Tianjin Commission of commerce has given a lot of specific help. For this, we express our heartfelt gratitude. Currently, TPCO America Phase I has already started operations, utilizing our own proprietary products to serve the US and Canadian markets. Phase II is actively moving forward. TPCO America will strive to build the company into a reputable, responsible and respected, globally competitive localized company, that contributes to local economic development. I believe the local government departments at all levels will continue to give us support and help in all aspects, in order to stimulate more Chinese enterprises to invest. I hope that through our unremitting efforts, we can build TPCO America into a model for bilateral economic and trade cooperation between Texas and Tianjin, between China and America. We can build trust, a bridge of communication and friendship, to promote Tianjin Texas mutual investment and economic cooperation for mutual benefit and common development.

Todd Hunter said, “Tianjin Pipe Group is a great company, and more importantly, our good friend. Thank you for your friendship and investment. Tianjin’s many friends have become our vital partners. Texas is the second largest state in the US. As a state representative, I am happy to see many investment opportunities and development opportunities with Texas and Tianjin – China and America. Trade, investment and economic exchanges, make the world seem smaller and smaller. I’m paying close attention to desalination, oil, transport and tourism projects. I warmly welcome more enterprises from Tianjin to come to Texas to invest.

At the meeting, Corpus Christi Economic Development Board and Port Authority officials introduced the local investment environment and Port Corpus Christi. The Tianjin delegation of entrepreneurs and representatives were intent on cooperation. Before the meeting, Li Qiang, Sun Kaiming, Meng Liang, Liu Hongan and other group leaders accompanied the Texas delegation, visited the TPCO Science and Technology Building, exhibit rooms, rolling mill 460-unit production site, employees and technological innovation park sports center and to watched the feature film, “Glory”, reflecting the company construction and developmental achievements.

On December 10th, 2015, TEDA TPCO America donated 60 metric tons of steel pipe, worth an upwards of $70,000, to three local universities, colleges and training centers. Del Mar College and Craft Training Center plan to use the pipe for their high level welding programs. It is estimated enough pipe was donated to support their program for 2.5 years. Texas A&M University will use the pipe to research the building of artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.

On December 19th, 2015, TEDA TPCO America sponsored the Gregory Spirit Fest, hosted by G.I.V.E. This is the 5th year for TEDA TPCO America to support the holiday event. TEDA TPCO America representatives were present at the event to wish the citizens of Gregory a happy holidays and assist in the charitable giving.

On December 19th, 2015, TEDA TPCO America sponsored the Gregory Spirit Fest, hosted by G.I.V.E. This is the 5th year for TEDA TPCO America to support the holiday event. TEDA TPCO America representatives were present at the event to wish the citizens of Gregory a happy holidays and assist in the charitable giving.

At the Coastal Bend Society of Human Resources Management Excellence Awards, TPCO America came away with three awards. • Most Effective Internal Communications Strategy • Most Successful Change Management Strategy • Human Resources Manager of the Year Award presented to Vicki Daniels Entries were submitted and award recipients were chosen by an independent panel of educational and business professionals. The selection process was based on the applicant’s ability to promote and enhance the overall effective operation of the business, organization, and profession through the project.

For the “Most Effective Internal Communications Strategy”, TPCO America submitted evidence of the effectiveness of our “Cultural Wall” where employees will find safety tips, birthdates, quality ideas to reduce the cost of business, job postings, tickets for games, and a new word each day in Chinese and in English. This award exemplifies TPCO America’s goal of blending cultures. Accepting the award was Mr. Liu, Ms. Yu, Mr. Han, Mr. Lan, Mr. Li, Gloria Gil, Jennifer Thurman, Robbin Goodman and Vicki Daniels.

TPCO America’s President, Mr. Andrew Liu, was the catalyst for TPCO America receiving the “Most Successful Change Management Strategy” award. Over a span of 4 months, September through December, President Liu met with every one of TPCO America’s employees over lunch, discussing the direction of the company, new ideas and personalizing each discussion with the employees. These “skip-level” lunches were very well received by all, as they allowed employees from every level of the company direct access the President. Accepting the award was Mr. Liu and Vicki Daniels.

Reflecting her hard work and dedication to the TPCO America project, Vicki Daniels was recognized as Human Resources Manager of the Year. Her focus on bringing out the best in each and every employee, through engagement and training, sets the bar high for all Human Resource Managers.

US House of Representatives Votes to Lift Ban on Oil Exports – Read The Full Article

“Lawmakers voted 261-159 to lift a ban Congress first put in place after the 1970s Arab oil embargo that sent domestic gasoline prices skyrocketing.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is known as the second most important holiday in Chinese Culture. The festival celebrates the three fundamental concepts of gathering, thanksgiving and prayer. Such as, families traditionally gather during the Mid-Autumn festival to harvest crops, give thanks for the harvest and pray for a good future. In many ways, the Mid-Autumn Festival is similar to Thanksgiving in America. This year, TEDA TPCO America employees and the instructors and leaders from Tianjin Pipe Group (TPCO) came together as a new family to give thanks for the progress and achievements of the TEDA TPCO America project and wish for continued success.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the Moon Festival. This is because the festival tracks the Chinese Lunar calendar and always falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar – a full moon. To celebrate this festival, TEDA TPCO America put on a Moon Festival party hosted by Assistant Operations Manager, Jennifer Armstrong, with a presentation by Vice President of Production, Mr. Bai. Mr. Bai recounted the ancient Chinese moon festival origin story of the legendary hero, Hou Yi, and his valiant wife, Chang E. After learning about the ancient myths surround the Moon Festival, everyone was treated to moon cakes and lunch.

In celebration of the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival, TPCO America employees gathered together to share cultures through story and food. During a shift change, Production manager Liu Jinhai and Human Resources manager Vicki Daniels called a company wide meeting. First, Manager Liu took everyone back to the days of The Spring and Autumn Period in China, over 2500 years ago, to share the story of statesman, academic and poet Qu Yuan. Covering thousands of years of history in just a few minutes, Manager Liu recalled the fabled story that laid the groundwork for Mrs. Vicki Daniels to introduce TPCO America employees to the traditional food eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival, Zongzi (rice cake in bamboo leaves). Mrs. Daniels also showed off pictures of TPCO’s dragon boat team racing in the Tianjin Municipal Dragon Boat Race.