Moving on Relocations and expansions

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Relocations and expansions across Europe

Daimler expands activities in China

Daimler AG and its Chinese partner Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC) have signed a strategic framework agreement to further expand their cooperation in China. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of German chancellor Dr Angela Merkel and the Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao.

About 2 billion euros will be invested in the joint venture Beijing Benz Automotive Co, Ltd. (BBAC). The agreement includes four major projects: Local passenger car production for the Chinese market will be expanded to include the GLK compact SUV as of 2011; current production capacities of about 80,000 units for the C-Class and the E-Class long version will be further expanded; as of 2013 a new engine plant will produce 4-cylinder gasoline engines, for locally produced Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and vans; lastly, a new R&D centre will be established. Visit: www.daimler.com

Fortum invests in new biofuel-fired CHP plants in Finland and Latvia

Fortum has invested in two new biofuel-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plants in Järvenpää, Finland and Jelgava, Latvia. The combined investments total around €160 million and the plants are estimated to start commercial operation in 2013.

The new biofuel-fired plant in Järvenpää will replace current natural gas and heavy fuel oil heat production. The annual production of the plant will be about 280 GWh of heat and about 130 GWh of electricity. The new plant will be connected to the existing Tuusula and Järvenpää district heat network.

A similar biofuel-fired CHP plant will be built in Jelgava to provide heat to the district heat network. The Jelgava plant will replace heat provided by gas, and its annual production is approximately 230 GWh of heat and 110 GWh of electricity. Visit: www.fortum.com

Carrier opens new addition to its Montluel Lead Design Research & Development Centre

Carrier, the world’s leader in high technology heating, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions and business unit of United Technologies Corp. (UTX), has opened an addition to its Lead Design Research & Development Centre in Montluel, France. The addition increases the size of the research laboratory by 400m2 and will bring together more than 90 Carrier scientists, engineers and technicians to develop innovative products for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning market.

Carrier president Geraud Darnis officially opened the expanded facility. “This expansion reaffirms Carrier’s commitment to research and development and to Montluel. The new energy efficient and environmental technologies and products developed here will benefit customers worldwide,” he said. Visit: www.carrier.com

The Renault-Nissan Alliance opens Silicon Valley research office

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is set to open a research office in the heart of Silicon Valley. The offices in Mountain View will allow one of the world’s largest automotive groups to capitalise on the region’s worldclass engineering talent and stay ahead of trends that are reshaping the way people interact with their cars.

The office will build staff organically to focus on specific projects and business developments as they emerge. Small, highly efficient teams will initially work on vehicle IT development, advanced engineering research and technology recruitment.

Renault’s Silicon Valley work will focus on research and advanced engineering, in particular electric vehicles and their supplier and infrastructure ecosystem, on-board services and business development. Visit: www.alliance-renault-nissan.com

Bolzoni Auramo and MEYER open new subsidiary in Russia

Bolzoni Auramo and MEYER have assumed a leading position on the CIS market in recent years. In April 2011 they took a further important step in strengthening their position on the Russian market with the opening of a subsidiary company in Moscow, ‘Hans H. Meyer OOO’ LLC.

‘Hans H. Meyer OOO’ LLC offers the full range of high quality forklift truck attachments, lift tables and forks from both the Bolzoni Auramo and MEYER ranges, and a customer oriented product consultation service based on their many years of expertise in the materials handling industry.

“This new organisational structure is aiming to increase the level of service to our Russian customers at a new quality level in this market,” says Denis Babushkin, managing director of the newly founded company. “It is planned to actively develop, alongside our continuous sales activities, a broad variety of after-sales and service elements, offering more than just product advice to our customers for the entire life of our products.” Visit: www.bolzoni-auramo.com