Chinese manufacturer makes history

Liugong has opened its first overseas factory in India making it the first Chinese construction equipment company to open a plant outside of China.

The company said it has 16 manufacturing plants and all but one are in China.

Covering an area of 177000 m² the new wheeled loader factory in Pritampur, near Indore, currently employs about 200 people - 90% of whom were recruited from India - the remainder are Chinese.

Liugong is launching the new plant in three phases and will invest a total of US$ 30 million in the project by 2012. By its final phase, the 20000 m² facility will be capable of producing up to 2000 wheeled loaders per month as well as excavators, backhoes, compactors and forklift trucks.

The company said wheeled loaders are already rolling off the production line to meet the needs of India's booming construction market. It took less than a year to construct the new plant and make it ready for use.

According to Liugong vice chairman and president, Zeng Guang'an, the construction project team were so successful in creating local relationships and expediting construction progress that Indian officials are now pointing to Liugong as an example of regional best practice.

A grand opening for the plant was held last month and attended by Indian and Chinese officials and the company's most senior executives, including Mr Guang'an and chairman, Wang Taiping.