TOKYO (Nov. 19)--Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. plans to open a high-pressure hose/couplings assembly plant in China to meet growing demand for the assemblies from the construction industry.
Yokohama is creating Yokohama Hose & Coupling (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd. to assemble and sell high-pressure hoses and their metal fittings. The factory, in the Economy and Technology Development Zone in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, will begin operations in April 2005.
Yokohama said demand for these assemblies, used in the hydraulic systems of construction machinery, is growing because of large-scale projects for the development of infrastructures necessary for holding the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the Shanghai Expo in 2010.
Initially, the new company will concentrate on original equipment business with Japanese construction machinery makers, Yokohama said, but will be researching replacement market opportunities as well.
Yokohama will supply the plant with hoses from Japan but it is planning to secure local production of metal fittings as soon as possible.
Press release from Yokohama
