Metso to expand manufacturing capacity in China

METSO Minerals have announced plans to expand the manufacturing capacity at the company’s Tianjin factory in China with a €5 million (£3.5 million) investment in new and upgraded buildings and equipment.

The investment will double the capacity of the Tianjin factory, allowing it to take a global role in the manufacturing of small unit crushers, while releasing capacity at Metso Minerals’ other factories for manufacturing large and special crushers, thereby allowing the company to better meet the increased worldwide demand for crushing and screening solutions.

According to Metso, the decision to build a new workshop and warehouse and upgrade the current factory building and production equipment in Tianjin is a part of the company’s profitable growth strategy.

With the infrastructure boom in Asia and the other emerging markets resulting in increased demand for mining and construction-related equipment and services, Metso say their aim is to respond to customer needs by strengthening their presence, capabilities and the capacity to supply in the emerging countries.

Expansion of the Tianjin facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.

Meanwhile, Metso Minerals have recently invested another €5 million in the expansion of their manufacturing, research and office premises in Tampere, Finland, and a further US$5 million (£2.4 million) in their new manufacturing unit in Columbia, in the US.

Metso Minerals’ Tampere unit specializes in manufacturing large and custom-made crushers and mobile crushing plants, while its research and development work serves the company’s crusher manufacturing operations on a global basis. Metso say the Columbian facility will serve the growing demand for mobile crushing units in the US market.