Taiwanese injection press maker Fu Chun Shin Machinery Manufacture Co. Ltd. is doubling the capacity at its plant in Ningbo, China, to focus on large-tonnage machines, particularly for the booming mainland automotive market.
FCS, headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, is spending US$1.5 million to bring capacity for the plant from about 600 machines a year to 1,200 early next year, said Jerry Wang, vice general manager of the Ningbo operation.
Beyond automotive applications like lights and decorative parts, the Ningbo operation is seeing growth in two-component molding machines for markets like mobile phones and writing pens.
The Ningbo operation, which will double in size to about 215,300 square feet, will focus on machines with clamping forces of 1,000-2,000 tons, with its largest to date being 1,680 tons, the company said.
According to Wang, FCS gradually is transferring more technology to its mainland operations, in Ningbo, its third and newest facility, and in Dongguan, which focuses on smaller machines. The Ningbo site opened in September 2004.
Besides bringing more two-component molding technology to Ningbo, the company plans to start making its hybrid injection machines on a pilot scale next year and begin production there in 2008, said Wang, who spoke during an Aug. 16 interview at the Applas show in Beijing.
About 30 percent of Ningbo's machines are exported, mainly to developing markets like the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but it recently sold its first to Germany, for making boxes for storing cables, Wang said.
While it is beefing up technology on the mainland, the company will keep production of more sophisticated machines, like its two-platen and all-electric machines, at its Taiwan headquarters facility, Wang said.
