Forklift attachments manufacturer Cascade Corp is expanding production capacity at its three facilities in China.

Cascade has fork manufacturing factories in Xiamen and Hebei province and an attachment factory, also in Xiamen.

"This expansion of attachment and fork production in our Cascade China locations is in response to growing customer demands from both inside and outside China," says Frank Altenhofen, vice president, Asia-Pacific.

Cascade's involvement in the Chinese market began 24 years ago when the company formed a joint venture in the port city of Xiamen, in Fujian province, to build attachments for the Chinese market. In 1995, Cascade purchased the joint-venture partner's interest and became one of the earliest wholly owned foreign enterprises in China.

In 1997, Cascade bought Kenhar Products Inc, including Kenhar's fork factory in Hebei province. Under Cascade's auspices, Kenhar manufactures lift truck forks in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

As the Chinese economy has boomed, demand for forklifts, forks and attachments has increased. Today, Cascade China employs more than 500 people in the facilities.

Within its niche, Cascade says it has the largest group of technical sales representatives in China.

Each of the facilities has received ISO 9001:2000 certification. In March, Cascade's Xiamen attachment and fork factories received ISO3834-2 certification and it became China's first attachment and fork manufacturer to be recognised for meeting the international welding standard.

"China is a fantastic market for us," says Robert Warren Jr, president and chief executive officer of Fairview-based Cascade. "I don't think any of us who were involved in setting up the joint venture 24 years ago realised how big it would become, and I believe Cascade is poised for even more growth and success in China in the near future."