JLG Industries Breaks Ground on New Manufacturing Facility in China

(NYSE: OSK), broke ground today for a new manufacturing facility in Tianjin, China. Today’s announcement is another step in Oshkosh Corporation’s strategic business initiatives to meet the demands of a global economy and the growing demand for aerial work platforms in the Chinese and Asian markets.  The new facility will produce JLG® access equipment specifically for the Asian market.  JLG currently has manufacturing operations in Pennsylvania, Ohio and North Dakota, U.S., and in Maasmechelen, Belgium, Tonneins, France, and Medias, Romania. 
“This new Tianjin facility is a major milestone in our global business expansion and operations strategy.  We have chosen to expand in China because we believe the Asian market holds tremendous long-term potential for our access equipment.  In many respects, our Asian customers are just beginning to see the tremendous value that access equipment can provide in construction, manufacturing, maintenance, industrial and shipyard applications,” said Craig E. Paylor, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president of JLG Industries. 
“We are committed to providing the best value to each of our customers individually, customized for their location, application and duty cycle.  This new facility will allow us to better supply and support our customers in the region,” continued Paylor.
Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer, said, “Today’s groundbreaking is confirmation of our investment in the future, and a significant opportunity for our customers, as well as the company. This facility will be the first ever China-based manufacturing facility for Oshkosh Corporation.  The facility we are building in Tianjin is a strategic initiative to directly service regional customers with a faster delivery turnaround for our JLG brand of aerial work platforms.” 
JLG Industries has been selling and servicing products in the Asian market for decades.  The company opened an office in Beijing in 2002 to enhance responsiveness for its Chinese customers in the shipyard, construction, airport, hotel, industrial and maintenance industries.  
“This locally produced product will give Oshkosh a distinct strategic advantage in a very aggressive, competitive Asian landscape. JLG product made at the Tianjin facility will be targeted for the China and Asian markets and be a complement to other JLG manufacturing facilities which build product for the rest of the world,” added Bohn.
As part of its on-going social out-reach program in China, the company also donated two JLG telehandlers to help local officials in the rebuilding in Wenchuan County, which was tragically impacted by the major earthquake that occurred in May in Sichuan Province.