Investment fuels growth at Kawasaki Precision Machinery's European facility.

Rapidly rising European sales of Kawasaki hydraulic pumps, motors and valves for the off-highway and industrial markets are fuelling a major 5 million euro investment programme in new product development and advanced manufacturing facilities at the company's European base.

Kawasaki Precision Machinery (KPM) saw turnover rise by 25% in 2003/04, with a further 20% increase predicted for 2005 following the launch of the designed-for-Europe K3VL B series of pumps, as well as enhancements to other products including an additional 200cc pump and increased power for the company's Staffa motors.

Now these sales successes are being reflected in an ongoing programme of investment in R&D and manufacturing equipment at the 70,000sq m KPM European sales, marketing and manufacturing facility in Plymouth, UK.

New equipment includes multi-purpose machining centres, vertical lathes, precision grinding machines as well as a new dedicated paint shop, clean-room assembly area and pump production test rigs.

The investment will further strengthen KPM's ability to supply a wide range of hydraulic piston equipment to customers throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Australia within highly competitive production lead times .

With an extensive distributor-base throughout Europe, KPM also provides a strong support service through its distributors and from the Plymouth facility.

In addition to their widespread use in off-highway vehicles, KPM pumps and motors are increasingly being specified for many industrial and marine applications including press machinery, plastics injection moulding machinery, marine winch-gear, deck machinery and general industrial hydraulic power packs.