German machine tool maker eyes China's industrial automation

SHANGHAI - German machine tool maker Schwabische Werkzeugmaschinen GmBH (SW) has set up its first factory outside Germany in Suzhou Industrial Park in East China's Jiangsu province.

"We plan to establish smart assembly lines and an automatic production department in China," said Reiner Fries, Managing Director Sales of SW.

Since SW's Shanghai office was set up in 2010, it has won nearly 50 clients and sold more than 200 machines.

Fries said SW is instilling in China the concept of German Industry 4.0 step by step, contributing to the development of "Made in China 2025".

The machine tool manufacturer is best known for its multi-spindle technology.

Markus Schmolz, legal representative of SW Asia Co Ltd, said that as China goes through manufacturing transformation and upgrades, the concepts of intelligent manufacturing and industrial automation are becoming more and more popular.

High-grade numerical control machine tools are among those encouraged by the "Made in China 2025" development plan. Among the others are large aircraft, aero-engines and gas turbines, civil aviation, smart green trains, fuel-efficient and new energy vehicles, marine engineering equipment and high-tech ships, intelligent power grid equipment, nuclear equipment, high-end diagnosis and treatment equipment.