Stockholm, Sweden / Changshu, China, 23 November, 2006 – Alimak Hek, the world’s leading supplier of mast climbing equipment and added-value services for the construction and general industry, has opened its wholly-owned, state-of-the-art factory in China.

“Opening the factory in China is a key step in the global strategy of the Alimak Hek Group and means we now have production in all major regions around the world – Europe, USA and Asia”, says Petter Arvidson, president and CEO of the Alimak Hek Group.

The modern Chinese facility – owned by Alimak Hek Vertical Access Equipment (Changshu) Company Limited – comprises production space and offices, as well as extensive outdoor facilities. The factory will produce, sell, maintain and service construction products, initially construction hoists such as the Alimak 450 CN for customers in China. Production is scheduled to start at the end of 2006.

The factory is located in the economic zone’s Riverside Industrial Park in the ancient yet dynamic and progressive garden city of Changshu, on the southern bank of the Yangtze River 90km northwest of Shanghai.

“None of our competitors can now match our unique world-spanning ability to deliver local markets the vertical access solutions they need – in terms of both durable hardware as well as smart added value solutions such as service and financing – at fiercely competitive local rates”, says Petter Arvidson.

“The Chinese hoist market is massive, with thousands of lifting units being sold every year to meet the vertical access needs of China’s booming construction and other industries. Many of those units being sold by other manufacturers closely resemble our mast climbing vertical access technology, which Alimak introduced in the early 1950s. The inauguration of our new factory in Changshu not only gives us a solid and highly competitive local presence, but also means the ‘original is back in town'”, he adds.