Moving on Relocations and expansions

NEWS

MOVINGON

Relocations and expansions across Europe

Volkswagen Group expands production capacity in China

IN the presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, member of the board of management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft and president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, recently signed a joint declaration for two new vehicle plants in China together with Xu Jianyi, chairman of FAW.

The two new vehicle plants are to be built step-by-step on the east coast of China in the cities of Qingdao in Shandong Province and Tianjin. The decision in favour of these two locations was taken together with the joint venture partner FAW. The key site factors were high qualification levels and the infrastructure available. Furthermore, Tianjin is the location of a new production plant for dual-clutch gearboxes (DSG) for Volkswagen in China that is due to be inaugurated at the end of 2014. Together, the two partners are to invest about two billion euros in the expansion of production capacities. Visit: www.volkswagenag.com

DEUTZ to expand its presence in Asia

China is the largest growth market for DEUTZ in Asia. The Cologne-based firm has now opened a new sales office in Shanghai, which is an important centre for DEUTZ’s European and American customers. The new office will employ sales staff as well as application engineers and service engineers in order to further expand customer support.

In addition to the existing representative office in Beijing, DEUTZ also established a sales and service company in the Chinese capital in 2010 to consolidate the company’s activities for the local market. The new sales office in Shanghai will allow DEUTZ to strengthen its local market presence in central and southern China and will contribute to its success in the world’s largest emerging market. Visit: www.deutz.com

Alltech builds algae plant and expands production in Latin America

Within the framework of an expansion strategy for the Latin American region, Alltech, a global animal health and nutrition leader, has commenced construction on an algae production plant on the same premises as Alltech Sao Pedro, the largest yeast plant for animal nutrition in the world. This new $63 million investment in Brazil will generate more than 200 direct and indirect jobs, and it will increase Alltech’s Latin America production by 58%.

“The company’s experience with its first algae manufacturing plant in Kentucky has been a great success and this is the reason for making the investment in Brazil,” said Dr Mark Lyons, Alltech’s vice-president for corporate affairs. “People are looking for something different, and algae are critical for conquering new markets. Visit: www.alltech.com

WEG launches new European automation centre

WEG, a leading international supplier of drive technology, has opened a new European automation centre in Unna, Germany, to improve support for its customers and to further strengthen its automation components business in Europe. In addition to locating its European automation specialists in the new centre, WEG is opening a shop with test stands, a training centre and warehouse space for automation components.

The opening of the new automation centre brings together WEG’s staff and its expertise from the German headquarters in Kerpen with those of its subsidiary Watt Drive to a single location. This leads to an even closer integration of Watt Drive gear technology, particularly technology for relatively low power levels, with automation components such as frequency inverters. Visit: www.weg.net

Tibbett Logistics extends retail logistics operations in Romania

Keswick Enterprises Group member company, Tibbett Logistics, has extended its logistics business in Romania with an unnamed leading European multinational retailer to include the storage and distribution of non-food imports from Asia Pacific and European suppliers. As a result the company has opened a dedicated 8500m2 (91,500 sq ft) warehouse in Europolis Park on the western edge of Bucharest – its tenth distribution centre in the country.

Tibbett Logistics already handles the storage and domestic distribution of the retailer’s imported dry food products, plus merchandise from Romanian suppliers, at a neighbouring 22,000m2 (237,000 sq ft) dedicated distribution centre based in Europolis Park.

The company’s warehousing portfolio in Romania now exceeds 80,000m2 (860,000 sq ft) – making it the country’s largest third-party provider of warehousing solutions. Visit: www.tibbettlogistics.com