Groundbreaking Celebration for Recaro Aircraft Seating China
SCHWAEBISCH HALL, Germany / QINGDAO, China – On July 31, 2018, Recaro Aircraft Seating China held a groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase of its major expansion plans, inviting 50 international guests including government officials, airline customers, OEMS, suppliers and business partners.
The expansion project’s second phase is a major building extension on the company’s current premises. The total construction area is roughly 7,500 square meters and includes equipping four assembly lines to increase their maximum seat production capability to 60,000 seats per year. Construction is scheduled for completion next year.
Dr. Mark Hiller, Chief Executive Officer and Shareholder of Recaro Aircraft Seating, delivered an opening speech at the groundbreaking ceremony.
“This expansion project bears witness to Recaro’s solid commitment to the Chinese market,” he said. “When we chose to set up our plant here and invest in Qingdao six years ago, we knew it was the right decision and we are delighted with the support we have received from the High Technology Industrial & Development Zone of Qingdao.”
Dr. Hiller congratulated the group on the launch of the ground breaking ceremony for the second phase of the project. He also announced Recaro’s phase three investment plans, which will further support ongoing business growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
Mr. Shang Liqun - Deputy Party Secretary of Qingdao High-Tech Zone Government sincerely congratulated Recaro for the ground breaking ceremony Phase II. And he proudly highlighted that Qingdao with its high-tech emerging industrial organization and entrepreneurship demonstration project was included in the “China Entrepreneurs” Action Plan.
Mr. Pan Changjun – President of Phase II Project General Contractor (New Continent Group) wishes the project to be completed successfully. In the future, the new Recaro plant will be a modernized international factory, an extraordinary and model project in Qingdao High-Tech Zone.
Launched in March of this year, the conceptual designs for the second phase of the project were developed by MPS Construction Engineering, Shanghai, in close cooperation with their mother company in Stuttgart, Germany. MPS also took the lead in negotiations to select the best general contractor, correspond with respective authorities, and supervise the development and implementation of the detailed project design.
Recaro Aircraft Seating China is one of the early pioneering investors in the High Technology Industrial & Development Zone of Qingdao, a state-level zone approved by the State Council in May of 1992. The zone houses a national-level collegiate science and technology park as well as a state-level software industrial base.
Recaro was the first international aircraft seat manufacturer to set up production facilities in China. The company has been operating in Qingdao for nearly five years and has doubled their production output over the past two years, in large part due to outstanding support, recognition and collaboration from all parties involved.
“Recaro Aircraft Seating China does not only act as a production site, but also provides an important basis for our Asia Pacific business developments,” says Irene Tan, Recaro Aircraft Seating’s General Manager, Asia Pacific Region. “Tremendous achievements were made within the past five years.”
With its new expanded facilities, Recaro Aircraft Seating China will be ideally equipped to take on thriving market opportunities while also laying a solid foundation for further development in the Asia-Pacific region.
