SKF AB (Sweden; Stockholm: SKFA) has revealed another phase in building infrastructure and ramping up production resources at its bearing manufacturing plant in Dalian, China.

Reportedly budgeted at more than USD $83 million, this next phase buildout next to the existing plant in the Dalian Economic & Technological Development Area suggests SKF has aggressively increased its plans for the Dalian location.

Dalian primarily manufactures medium-size and large-size bearings, which are in high demand across Dalian's target Asian markets.

When this next phase is online, in late 2009, production capacity will more than double.

SKF said the move is, "in order to support the continuous business growth in China and other parts of Asia, especially in the areas of renewable energy, metalworking, mining, construction and industrial transmission industries."

The staged buildout of manufacturing in Dalian was announced as part of the original plan for the facility in 2005. The first phase reportedly budgeted in at a modest $20 million.

article: SKF building bearing plant in Dalian, China
The current Dalian facility began coming online in mid-2006, initially employing only 100 workers. Today, it employs 240.

Sunny Chan, GM of SKF Dalian, said: "Reviewing the past three years since the company's establishment, the company's business develops fast, stable and healthy."

This next phase at Dalian will add 25,000 square feet of manufacturing floorspace, and push the number of workers from 240 now to nearly 600.