China has begun construction of an 80,000-ton press forge for
manufacturing large planes in Deyang, Southwest China's Sichuan
Province.
With an investment of 1.517 billion yuan ($204.7 million), the
project won the approval of the National Development and Reform
Commission. It is expected to be the world's largest when finished
in two and half years, Zeng Xiangdong, project director and vice
general manager of China National Erzhong Group Co, said on
Friday.
A large die-hydraulic press forge is one of the key pieces of
equipment for manufacturing jumbo planes - a longtime national
dream. Only a few countries, including the United States, Russia
and France, have such facilities, Zeng said.
The largest press forge is 75,000 tons and is owned by Russia.
All of China's press forges are less than 40,000 tons and are unfit
for making key parts of very large planes, which has hindered the
country's development of aviation, equipment and manufacturing
industries.
Chen Xiaoci, vice director of the press forge project, said the
machine was designed by China National Erzhong Group and would be
built in the company's compound.
The company has produced more than 400,000 die-forges during the
past three decades.
(Xinhua News Agency December 8, 2007)
