Chinese machinery giant Liugong has a growing presence on building sites around the region. With a bold claim of being the world's largest manufacturer of wheel loaders, the massive Chinese construction market is not enough for this industrial power house. It's push into the Middle East has had an impact that is not just measured in machinery sales. By flying the flag for Chinese machinery, the wider construction industry has been exposed to a new meaning for Chinese quality at Chinese prices, a factor which has made the local machinery market a more competitive place to be.

The company's international ambitions haven't stopped at sales either. Late in 2009 it opened its first manufacturing facility outside of its home market, with a plant in India. Once development of the plant is complete the company expects to be able to add another 10,000 units a year to its already significant 36,000 units-a-year production capacity. With more than US $1.6 billion in sales in 2008, the company has continued to push its brand throughout the tough months of 2009 with a strong presence at trade shows. The company was planning a big presence at Bauma, a massive equipment show in Munich, and will certainly hope that the disruptions in travel, caused by volcanic ash, won't stand in the way of more growt.