Ammann's new factory in China is hailed as a major turning point in the company's growth plans for Asia – and a major win for sustainability in China.
The factory in Zhangjiagang will manufacture asphalt-mixing plants and parts for China and beyond. An opening ceremony was held in early August.
Hans-Christian Schneider, CEO of Ammann Group, opened his statements to those gathered with a single word: “Sustainability!”
The region now has a sustainable factory – building sustainable asphalt-mixing plants.
“The design of the new (manufacturing) plant adheres to the Swiss concept of environmental respect, i.e., reducing energy consumption, plant emissions, and its impact on the environment,” said Zhang Liguang, general manager of Ammann China.
The factory’s final products – the asphalt plants themselves – will adhere to tight Swiss sustainability standards. That includes Ammann’s global Green Plant initiative, which promotes sustainable technologies, innovative solutions, and environmentally friendly asphalt-mixing practices.
The new company spans 50,000m2, with 5,000 m2 dedicated to office space. It has the capacity to produce 80-100 asphalt-mixing plants annually. Additionally, the factory will produce spare parts for the region.
The location in the Yangtze River Delta region will play a crucial role in the region’s success.
The factory site, near a key transport hub, was chosen to reduce shipping costs, improve sustainability by shortening travel distances for importing raw materials and exporting finished plants, quicken delivery times, and increase access to strategic markets throughout China and the Asia-Pacific region.
Ammann entered the Chinese market in 1997. It opened a Beijing office in 2000.
The growth spurred the development of the Shanghai factory, which began manufacturing asphalt-mixing plants in 2005. It has built 500 plants since opening and will continue to operate.
“The opening of the new factory continues the firm investments made by Ammann in the Chinese market for many years,” Schneider said.
The new facility was years in the making. A great deal of time and effort were required during the site selection process and building of the factory.
Yet the development team stayed on track despite the coronavirus and other challenges.
“I would like to thank all the governmental authorities who have helped us with the new plant project, our partners who have worked so hard together, and the Ammann China team who have worked so hard to make this happen,” Schneider told those gathered.
