BALTIMORE, Maryland (July 8, 2016)—On June 21 in Washington, D.C., Danfoss participated in the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit, an initiative established by the White House as a government-wide effort to encourage, facilitate and accelerate business investment in the U.S. by domestic and foreign firms.

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the summit’s theme was “The Innovation Advantage,” showcasing the U.S. as the world leader in innovation and the premier destination for business. It convened business and government leaders to share insights on the latest innovations and trends.

John Galyen, president of Danfoss North America, joined Michael Araten, president of K’NEX Brands; Stephen Chabot, vice president operations and quality at INFINICON Inc.; and Pedro Ferro, CEO at Fras-le, in a panel moderated by Jason Miller, deputy director of the National Economic Council.

Galyen emphasized that investing in the U.S. market is vital to participating in a global economy. People all over the world want to buy products made in the U.S., he said. He also cited the skilled U.S. labor force, stable currency and robust infrastructure as benefits of doing business in the U.S.

“For Danfoss, which is present in more than 100 countries worldwide, the United States is our largest market,” said Galyen. “Being close to our customers is essential to our business. We need to have local production and local support, making further investment in this market a priority. Today we have 17 sites in the U.S.”

John Galyen, president of Danfoss North America, speaks during the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 2016.John Galyen, president of Danfoss North America (center), speaks during the 2016 SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 2016.

He also noted that trends around energy efficiency and climate change are impacting the company’s investment in innovation and research and development.

“The United States generally sets the bar on product standards,” he said. “For example, air-conditioning chiller standards are set here. We are continuing to make investments to expand our U.S. footprint, including a new Application Development Center being built in Tallahassee, Florida, that will help our customers accelerate high-efficiency, innovative technologies to the market.”

Danfoss is a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency electronic and mechanical components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration, industrial and water systems. The company has 17 facilities in the U.S., including manufacturing and research and development operations.