Governor Mitch Daniels joined a Chinese delegation from Ningde City and executives from Techtop Motor LHP today to celebrate the grand opening of the company's 60,000 square-foot logistics center at 6889 South International Drive.
Techtop Motor LHP is a recently formed joint venture between Indiana-based LHP Technologies and China-based Shanghai Top Motor and Simo Motor. Today's ribbon-cutting follows the company's 2008 announcement that it would add 60 new jobs and invest $7 million to build and equip a manufacturing and distribution center for electric motors, pumps and generators.
"Techtop's start of operations in Indiana is a big step in our efforts to further economic relations with China, and a sign of promising things to come," said Daniels, who met with Techtop officials last fall during his first economic development mission to China.
The company's new facility serves as a warehouse and distribution center for its line of products ranging from brake motors for automobiles to submersible pumps for residential and commercial applications. Techtop LHP has hired nine associates and plans to continue adding new employees over the next three years as it ramps up its assembly and manufacturing operations at the Columbus center.
"Our new logistics center and Techtop Motor LHP, our new joint venture, will bring new investment and new jobs to Columbus and will serve as a magnet to attract more Chinese companies to invest in Columbus," said Ryan Hou co-founder and chief executive of Columbus-headquartered LHP, Inc. "Our joint venture has purchased 30 acres adjoining this facility and this ideal location in Woodside Northwest Industrial Park is already attracting interest from Chinese companies."
"We currently export our products to the Middle East, Africa and Europe as well as sell domestically in the Chinese market. In order to become recognized as a truly global company, we must have a significant presence in the U.S. marketplace, and Columbus meets all our location objectives for establishing our presence in the United States," said Lin Yin, chairman of Shanghai Top Motor and Techtop LHP.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Techtop is the U.S. subsidiary of Shanghai, China-based Shanghai Top Motor, which sells its line of pumps and motors in more than 40 countries."In addition to new jobs and future growth opportunities, Techtop is extremely important to our economic development efforts in Columbus as we continue to pursue relationships and investments from around the world," said Mayor Fred L. Armstrong. "This is a result of the efforts and cooperation of many people, public and private, and I would like to thank all who supported this project. This is another good day in Columbus."