GKN Powder Metallurgy expands in China
October 15, 2014
GKN Powder Metallurgy has announced that it is investing £8.7 million to build a new production facility at its Danyang site in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, China. The company also announced that its new facility in Yizheng, Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, China, which began construction in 2012, has now been officially opened.
Construction work at Danyang is scheduled for completion in September 2015. The existing Danyang facility, established in March 2006, produces highly engineered Powder Metallurgy (PM) parts primarily for automotive engines and transmissions. In addition its powder mixing facilities provides metal powders for the Danyang site and the wider Chinese PM market.
GKN Powder Metallurgy’s Yizheng facility produces small precision parts mainly for automotive applications in engines and chassis. By the end of 2014 around 80 people will be employed at the site.
Since entering the Chinese market in 2006 GKN Powder Metallurgy claims to have gained market share each year and is now in the top five suppliers to the Chinese automotive PM market.
Nigel Stein, Chief Executive of GKN plc, stated, “The expansion of our production capability in China is a reflection of our commitment to expanding our global footprint and meeting the needs of our customers. Both facilities have been built to the highest standard and will allow us to better serve our customers in China and the wider Asia Pacific area. It also represents an important expansion of GKN’s long-established presence in China.”
Ceremonies held to mark both occasions were attended by senior members of GKN, including Nigel Stein, CEO of GKN Powder Metallurgy Peter Oberparleiter, Deputy Consul General of British Consulate General Shanghai Matthew Forbes, the Counsellor of British Embassy China Dr Mark Wareing, and senior government officials of Danyang, Yangzhou and Yizheng, including the Mayor of Danyang KeKe Chen, the Deputy Mayor of Yangzhou LingJun Kong and the Party Secretary of Yizheng Xi Cheng.
GKN Chief Executive Nigel Stein speaking at the Danyang ceremony
