In the morning of May 29, Linde Hydraulics Weifang plant launching ceremony was held at the Weichai Industrial Park. Chairman Tan Xuguang, the Weichai management team, Linde Hydraulics management team all the way from Germany, and Linde Hydraulics (China) factory workers witnessed this exciting moment in history together. The new plant not only means a solid step of Weichai's hydraulics business, but also means that Weifang of China is now with the production capacity of the world's most advanced hydraulic parts. This is a powerful practice of the dream of "Create another Weichai" from both Weichai and Linde.
Zhang Quan, Executive President of Weichai, presided over the commissioning ceremony of the new plant. Mr. Ulrich, Linde Hydraulics CEO, gave a warm speech. He expressed sincere thanks to the Weichai team on behalf of Linde management team. The new plant will reduce production costs and shorten the launch time to market. With the full range of resource collaboration with Weichai, Linde Hydraulics' procurement, manufacturing, and service capabilities will be greatly enhanced and fully meeting the needs of Chinese customers, laying a solid foundation for Linde Hydraulics to develop the Chinese market. The successful operation of the new plant is another strong practice of the Sino-German cooperation. In the future, with efforts of both sides, Linde Hydraulics will continue to "turn power into action" in order to promote European quality in China and the Asia-Pacific market development.
Sun Shaojun, Executive CEO of Weichai Power, refreshed the memories of the guests about the mutual cooperation and good foundation for preliminary cooperation. He also said that Weichai will continue to support the development of Linde Hydraulics, and help it to become the world's best hydraulic powertrain manufacturer based on Weichai's rich resources and mutual coordination.
In 2012, Weichai Power restructured Linde Hydraulics, and both teams made the hydraulics business one of the Group's strategic businesses. The strategic vision of turning Linde Hydraulics into "the top two hydraulic powertrain manufacturers with world's leading technology and whole series of products for all applications", and the will to "Create another Weichai" based on the hydraulic business platform were established. And how to land Linde Hydraulics business in the Chinese market, combine European advanced technology with low-cost Chinese manufacturing, and create synergy between emerging businesses and Group's competitive businesses, have always been the direction of both teams' joint effort.
After much argument, the two sides reached a consensus. A joint venture in Weifang and construction of hydraulic plant will be used to speed up the localization of high-end hydraulic parts, so that "European Quality + China Costs" mode could be set up in Weichai.
In sonorous sound of music, Chairman Tan Xuguang, and Linde Hydraulics CEO Mr. Ulrich, together hosted the opening ceremony for Linde Hydraulics Weifang Plant, opening a new journey for Weichai hydraulic business.
It is reported that Linde Hydraulics (China) was founded in 2014 by Linde Hydraulics Co., Ltd. and Weichai Power Co., Ltd. The company is a joint venture specialized in design, production and sales of high-end high pressure hydraulic pumps, motors, valves and other products.
Currently, the new plant covers an area of 5,500 square meters. According to the project plan, the first phase consists of one production line and one test bench. By the end of this year, one assembling line will be finished, and production capacity of 8,000 units per year will be achieved. To 2017, six production lines and ten test benches will be completed to give the plant the production capacity of a full range of Linde Hydraulics products. The overall annual production capacity will be up to 100,000 units.