Herman Miller Announce Investment in China

Herman Miller Announce Investment in China

September 07, 2006

    SHANGHAI, China, Sept. 7 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Herman
Miller, the world's leader in office furnishings and
related services, is pleased to announce the expansion of
its business operation in Asia, as it embarks on a
multi-million dollar investment in China.

    The venture includes opening a National Design Center
in Shanghai, which will serve as headquarters of the Asia
operation, as well as a client showroom. Here, Herman
Miller will display its Asia product offering, including
classics from Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson, the
iconic Aeron Chair, as well as more recent designs such as
the Resolve system, the award-winning Mirra and Celle
chairs, and the latest in intelligent furniture systems,
AbakEnvironments. Shanghai was chosen as the headquarters
location, not only to facilitate the acquisition of new
business, but also to support Herman Miller's rapidly
expanding client base in Asia.

    The manufacturing hub will be in Ningbo, where two
factories will operate to ensure efficiency, lead-times and
quality for China and Asia markets.  Both factories will
produce Herman Miller's seating portfolio, the classics and
furniture products. Distribution will be through a highly
trained and professional sales force and dealer community,
offering our customers a global capability at a local
level.

    Herman Miller will develop its brand in China through
communicating its heritage, innovation, and commitment to
sustainable design. In addition, the company will support
and encourage design in China, delivering workplace
knowledge through regular lectures, workshops and
exhibitions.

    Commenting on the expansion of operations in China,
Steve Cox, Herman Miller's Vice-President for Asia, stated,
"We are confident that our formula of product
innovation, solution delivery, operational excellence and
local dealer service will enable us to succeed in the China
market".

    The official opening of the National Design Center is
Tuesday 12 September, and workshops and events will be
taking place throughout the week. Interested parties
wishing to attend should contact Dawn Chen
([e-mail])

    About Herman Miller

    Herman Miller helps create great places to work, heal,
learn, and live by researching, designing, manufacturing,
and distributing innovative interior solutions that support
companies, organisations, and individuals all over the
world. The company's award-winning products, complemented
by furniture management and strategic consulting services,
generated over $1.7 billion in revenue during fiscal 2006.
Herman Miller is widely recognised for both its innovative
products and business practices. Herman Miller is a
recipient of the prestigious National Design Award for
product design from the Smithsonian Institution's
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. In 2006, the company
was once again cited by Fortune magazine as the "Most
Admired" company in its industry and is among Business
Ethics magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens."
The company trades on the NASDAQ market under the symbol
MLHR. For additional information, visit
http://www.HermanMiller.com .

    For more information, please contact:

     Dawn Chen
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Address: 
      17F, Headquarters Building, No.168, Xizang Road (M),
Shanghai, 200001

SOURCE  Herman Miller