Italian injection press maker Italtech SpA has signed a partnership with a Taiwanese counterpart, Fu Chun Shin Machinery Manufacture Co. Ltd.
The move comes six months after Italtech got a new owner, when Italian car company Fiat Group sold the machinery maker to Pegoraro Group of Padua, Italy. The new owner brought back Italtech founder Adelio Grasselli as managing director.
Based in Brescia, Italtech specializes in large injection presses, with clamping forces up to 3,300 tons. Fu Chun Shin, which makes smaller presses, recently opened a Ningbo, China, plant. The firms will market each other's product line. Italtech also will outsource some production to Fu Chun Shin.
Fu Chu Shin export manager Susan Wang said the alliance will help her firm understand the European market. She said Fu Chu Shin slowly has been increasing exports but that it is difficult for a Taiwanese company to sell in Europe. Fu Chun and Italtech announced the partnership at K 2004 in Dusseldorf.
Taiwan exported $16 million worth of machinery to the United States in 2003, making it Taiwan's eighth-largest export country.