Schaeffler Taicang Plant Expansion Program Finished

After 10 months' construction, the expansion program of Schaeffler(China) Taicang Plant No.1 has been finished on March 11. The expanded plant covers 19 thousand square meters. Schaeffler Group is the second largest auto bearing manufacturer all of the world. Since they first opened plant in Taicang in 1998, Schaeffler Group has operated in China for 7 years. During the 7 years, they developed so fast that their staffs increased from 50 to 350, annual sales increased from millions of RMB to more than RMB100 million. As a result of these development and favourable investment environment, the Schaeffler head office decided to invest more to expand the former plant from 8 thousand square meters to 19 thousand square meters in 2003. On the Finishing Ceremony of Taicang Expansion Program, Mrs. Schaeffler was pleased with the successfully finish of the program and dramatic development of Taicang plant. She said: "China is a promising market, Taicang is a favourable place, we will further satisfy our customers in this promising China market." Furthermore, Mrs. Schaeffler indicated that they will invest another $180 million to build the second plant which will covers 60 thousand square meters and be finished in 2006. In 2010, all Schaeffler plants in Taicang will covers 90 thousand square meters and staffs will increased to more than 3000. The Taicang Plant No.2 will be the largest manufacturing base among the other Schaeffler plants aroud the world. In order to satisfy requirment of the fast changing market, they planned to build a research and development center in Taicang and made it a part of their Aisan R&D Network. The major job of this R&D Center is to develop clutch, hub and motor parts bearings. It will be put into practice in 2006. Taicang city located in Jiangsu province China.