CTC Groupe, based in Lyon, France, announced the opening of its new Chinese subsidiary 'CTC Shanghai.' China commands nearly 75 % of the world's shoe and leather-goods production, and CTC Shanghai will be located at the heart of this dynamic market.

The expansion will be the CTC's second in China and will allow closer contact with its clients.

It will also enable CTC to offer its world-renowned services to manufacturers and retailers in China and abroad.

This new subsidiary is located in the Pudong business district of Shanghai has been in operation since January 2005.

All of the services will be implemented in collaboration with CTC's American partner STR, and include physical testing, performance evaluation (comfort, safety, and quality features of footwear, gloves, luggage, and leather goods), chemical analyses on the products and their components (textiles, leather, plastics), and conformity inspections at various stages of the manufacturing process as well as end-product shipping inspections.

Social compliance audits and factory audits in production zones will also be performed.

Mr Pierre Beaupoil manages the staff, which consists of five engineers and consultants and is expected to grow rapidly.

This expansion reinforces CTC's presence in China after it launched 'CTC Asia' in Hong Kong in 1996, which now employs 12 people.

CTC will be exhibiting at the APLF Fashion Access trade show in Hong Kong, held April 6 to 9, where they will give a presentation on footwear quality control and standards.