Cutting the ribbon at Pyroban China's opening ceremony

Explosion-proof specialist Pyroban has opened its first factory outside Europe, in Suzhou city, Jiangsu province, China.

The 1,300 square metre plant, in Suzhou Industrial Park, is initially capable of converting 150 forklifts a year. Pyroban will offer its explosion-proof systems to Chinese and foreign brand forklifts.

Pyroban (Suzhou) general manager Alan Winn and the company's engineering manager are the only UK-born staff. The rest of the workers are from Suzhou.

"The engineering manager has responsibility for training to ensure quality standards at Pyroban China are consistent with Pyroban's strict manufacturing standards in Europe," Winn said.

No employee number was available but Winn said more workers were expected to be employed once the plant was in full production.

The Pyroban factory in Suzhou Industrial Park, China.

"Pyroban will consolidate its position in China as a leading supplier of explosion-proof solutions to the materials handling industry. Pyroban will develop the skills of its workforce [in China] through education and training programs, so it can establish a full design and production facility in Suzhou," he said.

Winn came to China as managing director of the Chinese subsidiary of a company providing injection moulded parts for the mobile telephone industry. He left that company in 2003 to head a Sino/UK joint-venture consulting company before joining Pyroban. He is has a degree in physics.

China has a statutory regulation governing explosion-proof systems, GB19854-2005 "General rules of explosion-proof techniques of industrial trucks for explosive atmospheres". The regulations "generally follow the European standard EN1755:2000 but with some significant local changes", a Pyroban statement said.

Winn said the Pyroban China factory "will make explosion-proof conversions according to local systems. Our move to China is to support the Chinese market in the future, not to export to Europe".

Pyroban was introduced to China more than 20 years ago by the Beijing Material Handling Institute to help Chinese forklift manufacturers produce explosion protection safety products. Its other plants are in Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex, the UK, and Hendrik Ido Ambacht, in the Netherlands.

Pyroban officially opened its China plant on October 18 with a traditional Chinese ceremony. Pyroban Group CEO Brian Tyrer, Pyroban Ltd managing director Ian Ratcliff, and representatives from the China Construction Machinery Association, Anhui Heli Fork Truck Company and the Industrial Vehicles Safety Standards Committee were present.