KOBELCO to set up plant

KOBELCO has plans to construct a manufacturing plant for hydraulic excavators in India. The company is planning to venture into both Asia and Australia, with total investment in the land, building and equipment to cost over AUD $11million. The new 5,300- sq m facility will include assembly, painting and shipping lines and will fire up in January 2011, with an initial production capacity of 1,200 units per year. It will produce 20-tonne machines, for which demand is currently highest. The plant will become part of the existing KOBELCO Construction Equipment India (KCEI), which currently only markets and services excavators. With this plant,  KCEI will become a full-line company covering manufacturing, marketing and after-sales services. When the Indian plant is up and running, KOBELCO will have plants at six locations in Asia, including Japan, China, Thailand and India. Contact: KOBELCO. E-mail: www-admin@kobelco.co.jp