The launch in June 2009 of a laboratory established in Shandong by the US-headquartered Rockwell Automation (China) has enabled both Jinan Steel, one of China’s ten largest steelmakers, and now under the control of Shandong Iron and Steel Group, to better access to services offered by the world renowned automation control technology and IT services provider, and Jinan Steel International Engineering Technology to sharpen its edge in the engineering contractor markets. Jinan Steel and Rockwell have formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement.