Originally from Hangzhou, a historic city located about 250 kilometers from Changzhou, Joyce Zhu has developed her career marked by dedication, strategic vision, and a strong commitment to continuous growth. Joyce graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Wuhan University, where she also studied Economics. Later, she expanded her academic background with a master's degree in Project Management from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, an experience that enriched both her professional profile and multicultural perspective.
Before joining ME Elecmetal, Joyce worked as a project engineer, and later joined the international marketing department of a control systems company, collaborating in the expansion into foreign markets. In 2012, she joined the ME Elecmetal China team, coinciding with the start of the plant construction in Changzhou.
In these 13 years at ME Elecmetal China, Joyce Zhu has held various roles that have accompanied the plant’s growth. She started as a project assistant, collaborating on multiple tasks within a team that was much smaller at the time. In that role, she actively participated in coordinating the different stages of the project and in acquiring equipment to establish the foundry.
“At first, we were a small team, so I worked in different roles at the same time,” Joyce recalls about the early years at the Changzhou plant. Later, when the construction and installation of equipment were nearly completed, she took on new responsibilities: “I was transferred to purchasing materials for the start-up of operations.”
Since then, her career has continued to evolve until reaching her current position as Head of Purchasing: “I lead a team of 8 people responsible for ensuring the timely and proper supply of inputs and services necessary for production,” she explains. “There are 4 people in the warehouse and 3 in purchasing. Our goal is to ensure that all materials are properly organized to meet operational needs.”
“I have felt very comfortable working in this environment, with a sense of belonging. (…) We cooperate closely with each other to achieve the company's common goal, and when we have problems, everyone involved is willing to contribute to solving the issue. Many colleagues are not only my coworkers but also good friends”
“I am proud of what we have achieved since the founding of ME Elecmetal China. We completed the new foundry project within budget and on schedule; we reached full production capacity in 2024, and now we are expanding our capacity to 40,000 tons. Additionally, we manufacture high-quality products,” Joyce explains.
She also recalls key moments of that process: “We received senior executives from ME Global and Chile who supported us in decision-making. Especially Royce Larson, Randy Millard, and John Sellars, who came regularly and spent a lot of time with us.” They — she explains — conveyed a culture focused on problem-solving, rigorous with principles, respectful and caring towards people, and willing to train young professionals: “We worked together like a true family.”
Joyce expresses the affection she feels for working at ME Elecmetal. She deeply identifies with the company’s values and recognizes how these are transmitted and applied in daily work.
“I hope ME Elecmetal continues developing for another 100 years, with more global entities, and that I can contribute to the globalization of the mining supply chain, as we are doing now. I imagine retiring from this company after more than 30 years of work, as many other senior members have done. And I would love to attend the 50th anniversary of ME Elecmetal China,” she says enthusiastically.
