Wärtsilä Corporation and Zhuhai Yuchai Marine Power Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Group Co Ltd, have jointly signed a licence agreement for the manufacture and sale of Wärtsilä RT-flex low-speed marine diesel engines by Zhuhai Yuchai Marine Power in China.
The agreement grants Zhuhai Yuchai Marine Power the right to manufacture all sizes of Wärtsilä RT-flex modern low-speed engine types at its new factory in Zhuhai City, Guangdong province. However, Zhuhai Yuchai Marine Power will focus on engines of 35 to 50 cm cylinder bore. The main attraction of the new licence agreement for Zhuhai Yuchai Marine Power is Wärtsilä's programme of RT-flex engines with common-rail technology. This is the latest and most modern technology for low-speed diesel engines incorporating full electronic control of engine processes.
The new manufacturing capacity of Zhuhai Yuchai Marine Power will make a significant contribution to the delivery of Wärtsilä low-speed marine engines to the growing shipbuilding industry in China. The first engines are planned to be completed in November 2011.
Support for the manufacture of Wärtsilä low-speed engines will be provided by Wärtsilä's Switzerland company which is the group's centre of excellence for the design, development, research, marketing, licensing, servicing and support of Wärtsilä low-speed engines.