Oshkosh Corp opened its first manufacturing and processing plant in Tianjin Oct 25. The $40 million plant can produce 15,000 aerial work platforms a year.

The US-based Fortune 500 company, which makes airport rescue and firefighting equipment, entered the Chinese market in 1982. Charles L. Szews, Oshkosh’s president and chief operating officer, said the Tianjin plant will allow quicker delivery of goods to customs and also serve as a platform to cooperate with other area businesses.