Ammann has inaugurated its new manufacturing plant in Zhangjiagang, China, which will produce asphalt plants and parts for the local market and beyond. An opening ceremony took place in early August.

“The design of the new (manufacturing) plant adheres to the Swiss concept of environmental respect, i.e. reducing energy consumption, plant emissions, and its impact on the environment,” said Zhang Liguang, general manager of Ammann China.

The new facility spans 50,000 sq m, with 5,000 sq m dedicated to office space. It has the capacity to manufacture 80-100 asphalt plants annually. In addition, the facility will produce spare parts for the region.

Ammann said the asphalt plants from the Zhangjiagang facility will adhere to strict Swiss sustainability standards. That includes Ammann’s global Green Plant initiative, which promotes sustainable technologies, innovative solutions, and environment-friendly asphalt-mixing practices.

The facility site, located near a key transport hub, was chosen to reduce shipping costs; improve sustainability by shortening travel distances for importing raw materials and exporting finished plants; quicken delivery times; and increase access to strategic markets throughout China and the Asia Pacific region.

Ammann entered the Chinese market in 1997 and opened a Beijing office in 2000. The growth spurred the development of the Shanghai factory, which began manufacturing asphalt plants in 2005. It has built 500 plants since opening and will continue to operate.

“The opening of the new factory continues the firm investments made by Ammann in the Chinese market for many years,” said Hans-Christian Schneider, CEO of Ammann Group.

According to Ammann, this latest move was years in the making and represents a major turning point in the company’s growth plans for Asia. “A great deal of time and effort were required during the site selection process and building of the factory. Yet the development team stayed on track, despite the pandemic and other challenges,” said the company.

“I would like to thank all the governmental authorities who have helped us with the new plant project, our partners who have worked so hard together, and the Ammann China team who have worked so hard to make this happen,” concluded Mr Schneider.