The Bolzoni Group will boost its fork production capacity with a new plant in a town 250 km (155 mi.) south west of Beijing.

"In a worldwide scenario constantly changing and evolving, the creation of the new fork manufacturing facility in China is a new challenge for us, allowing us to better satisfy the growing market demand for quality products," says Bolzoni CEO Roberto Scotti.

The 16,000 sqm (172,223 sqft.) plant in Longhua Town, Jing County, Hebei is divided into three production lines - two for standard forks and one for larger sections. The first production line has a capacity of 200,000 forks annually in two shifts, while the production capacity of the entire plant is 500,000 forks a year.

On 25 May, Bolzoni Huaxin Co Ltd, the joint venture between Italian forks and attachment maker Bolzoni SpA and Chinese fork manufacturer Hebei Jing County Huaxin Forks Co Ltd (Huaxin), was officially opened at a ceremony attended by government officials and about 400 local and international guests (Forkliftaction.com News #509).

Bolzoni Group controls 60% of the new company, while the remaining shares are owned by Huaxin. The joint venture agreement also includes Bolzoni's purchase of 20% of Huaxin's share capital.

Bolzoni Huaxin's new facility boasts advanced technologies and efficient high-capacity processes, including, a "fully automated production process" and "automated welding of upper and lower hooks with a robotic system".

Bolzoni Huaxin president Emanuele Scotti says the marriage of Huaxin's fork production know-how and Bolzoni's well-established worldwide distribution network "opens thrilling new opportunities".

Huaxin Fork Co Ltd, established in 2004, is located in the Longhua Industrial Zone in Jing County, Hebei, China. About 120 people work at the company that has an annual production capacity of over 200,000 forks.

Bolzoni's 2011 turnover was about EUR116 million (USD144 million). It has eight manufacturing plants in Italy, USA, Finland, Germany and China.