CHINA
21
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013
access
INTERNATIONAL
>
JCHI SET TO PRODUCE AIRO LIFTS IN CHINA
Beijing Jincheng Heavy Industry (JCHI) is set to open a new factory in China to potentially manufacture Airo
platforms.
JCHI, which already produces its own platforms in China, took majority ownership of Italy-based
manufacturer Airo in February last year.
Michelle Yu, director of marketing at JCHI, said it had been looking to buy a manufacturer of high quality
access equipment for some time, and took the opportunity to acquire Airo at an attractive price following
the slump in the Italian economy.
JCHI produces its range of crane and access products, including articulating and telescopic booms,
scissors, tracked platforms and vertical masts, in Beijing. They are aimed at the Chinese and Asia Pacific
markets primarily.
Airo’s products are currently produced in Luzzaro Italy for the international market – the company also
has offices in France, Spain and Brazil. That may be set to change with a new factory in China which
would see Airo products aimed at China and the
surrounding region.
“The idea is to have a sales network for both
companies through Asia Pacific and Europe, but
we will keep the two brands.” says Ms Yu,” The
Airo products are more expensive and we want to
reduce their price, so we may build a factory for
them in China.
“The construction market for access equipment
in China is very small, but it will grow in the future.
There is a trend for big construction projects with
foreign contractors to use many access platforms.
Airo products are high quality and better suited to
general construction.”
Airo platforms on the JCHI stand at BICES
Export
Looking outside China, 60% of Dingli’s
machines are exported with 20% of those
going to Germany. North America is firmly in
Dingli’s scope, following a visit from a major
manufacturer from the USA at the Dingli
booth during the BICES exhibition, Mr
Shugen tells
AI
.
Mantall export manager Mike Wuang
forecasts that in 12 months time the Chinese
access market will have grown to 10000 a
year.The company was showing its new 16 m
working height XE 160W scissor at BICES.
The company says it will see how the model
was received in China, then it will be exported
– it is already CE marked. Also on show were
new compact scissors the XE50MINI/ED
and the XE60MINI/ED, with 5 m and 6 m
working heights, respectively.They are designed
for the export market, particularly Europe, says
Mr Wuang. “The compact scissor is not good
for the Chinese market – it is more suitable
for Europe and we are aiming machines at
Western Europe.
“Currently we are not selling any units in
the USA as we do not have ANSII, but we will
have that in the next one to two years.”
He adds that 80 units had been sold to
Europe this year, with the company exporting
30% of its products, most of which are going
to South America, Middle East, India, Eastern
Europe and Turkey.This year Mantall started
concentrating on the ASEAN region, including
the established Singapore market and the
fledgling Indonesia,Thailand, Vietnam and
Cambodia markets. So far 100 units have been
sold there, mainly to Singapore.
New US/Chinese joint venture aerial work
Juhong Heavy Industry was showing its SC
construction hoist. It has a capacity of up to
2 tonnes and a maximum lifting speed of 28 m/
min. It is designed for the Chinese market.
