The expansion in Asia continues, and SKF is building a new factory in Jinan, China, on newly acquired land. The investment is part of SKF’s strategy to strengthen its manufacturing footprint in China and will support the rapid growth of SKF’s business in the region.

The factory will be built according to LEED certification standards and will manufacture mainly tapered roller bearings and truck hub units for the automotive business, but it will also serve the industrial market and aftermarket.

The investment amounts to around 67 million euros. The 16,000-square-metre factory will be fully operational in the first half of 2012 and will employ about 500 persons in the first phase.