Start of Production in China

At the end of April 2008 our JV HARDTOP Bimetals (Ningguo) Co., Ltd in Ningguo, Anhui province, has started production. In this state-of-the-art foundry, with three tandem centre-frequency induction melting furnaces with optimum capacity offering high flexibility, bimetal wear parts for the power plant and cement industry will be manufactured.

The joint venture company is the first foundry in China which is specially designed for compound castings. With a projected yearly capacity of 1.500 t compound casting with an average weight per piece of 13 kg, it is especially aiming at the rapidly growing Chinese domestic market, as well as for export to other East Asian markets. Selected monometallic parts will also be produced on request of our customers.