China's ban doesn't harm Polish tech firm

Polish infrared detector manufacturer Vigo Photonics has been placed on a list of 14 EU entities facing a Chinese ban on importing components with potential dual civilian and military applications. However, the company's CEO, Adam Piotrowski, asserts that this restriction does not significantly harm their core business.

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We have largely secured our supply chains, we import components from Europe, sometimes from the United States or Japan. So this ban is not painful for our core business.

Piotrowski explained that Vigo Photonics has largely secured its supply chains by sourcing components from Europe, and occasionally from the United States and Japan. This diversification means the Chinese ban is not a "painful" blow to their key operations.

Despite this resilience, Piotrowski acknowledged that expanding and scaling up production in Europe presents its own challenges. The continent sometimes lacks the capacity for large-scale manufacturing of certain materials and pure elements. This is where reliance on Chinese suppliers can become necessary for growth, highlighting the ongoing need to find and cultivate alternative sources.

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However, if you want to grow, to scale, then in Europe there is often a lack of capacity to produce certain materials, certain pure elements on a large scale. And then you have to reach for China. Therefore, we have to find other suppliers, secure them together with them and cooperate well.

The company finds itself in "good company" on the Chinese blacklist, though Piotrowski expressed uncertainty about the selection criteria. He indicated that it remains to be seen who might be targeted next.

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We are in good company, it's just not clear how it was selected. We'll see who's next.