Oshkosh Corporation announced October 25 the grand opening of its new manufacturing plant in Tianjin, China. This state-of-the-art facility is producing JLG access equipment for China and other Asian markets. The new factory marks yet another milestone in the Oshkosh commitment to the important Far East markets and further enhances the corporation's international presence.
"The completion of the Tianjin facility gives Oshkosh Corporation and JLG, our access equipment business and the world leader in aerial access equipment, a strategic advantage to better serve our Asian customers," said Charles L. Szews, Oshkosh Corporation president and chief operating officer. "It allows us to quickly respond to customer requirements in this very important market."
Construction on the Tianjin plant was completed in the spring of 2010. Since then, JLG has gradually introduced additional product models into the plant for local fabrication and assembly. The facility utilizes the latest in manufacturing, subassembly, fabrication and paint technologies.
"With the Tianjin plant, we have brought together the most advanced manufacturing processes to continue our long, proud tradition of building the best access equipment in the world," said Szews. "Producing in the region will allow rapid product delivery to customers, and complement our other manufacturing locations."
Oshkosh has a rich history in China. The company first entered the Chinese market in 1982, when it began supplying Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicles. In 2002, a JLG sales office was opened in Hong Kong, followed in 2006 with an Oshkosh corporate office in Beijing. In 2008, Oshkosh opened an additional corporate office in Shanghai, primarily dedicated to sourcing parts and components for the manufacturing of Oshkosh and JLG products. Tianjin is a municipality located in northeast China, two hours from Beijing.
Today, many different Oshkosh Corporation products are in use throughout China, including ARFF and snow removal vehicles, fire trucks, tow trucks, mobile communications vehicles and access equipment. JLG equipment is in use at some of the largest and busiest shipyards, construction, building maintenance, and aviation and aerospace sectors. More than 100 Oshkosh ARFF products are in operation at major airports such as Shanghai Pudong Airport, Hangzhou Airport, Quzhou Airport, Ningbo Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport and Tibet Lasha International Airport, the worlds' highest airport at 4,500 meters. In 2010, Pierce Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, received delivery orders for new fire trucks from the Nanjing, Jiangsu Province Fire Bureau.
In addition to China, Oshkosh has manufacturing operations in nine countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Romania and the United States. Sales and service centers are strategically located throughout the world.
