The factories will introduce the company's latest technologies such as bluetooth for hand-held gauging.

The company will also set up three new subsidiaries in northeastern and central China to expand its distribution channels, the Italy-based firm said over the weekend in Shanghai.

"With these measures, we expect to double our sales volume in China in five years," said Mario Benea, head of Marposs subsidiaries worldwide.

The company, whose strength lies in the automobile sector, says it holds a 15 percent to 20 percent market share internationally in auto gauging equipment.

Its share in China is even higher, at about 30 percent, as its customers include almost all the country's auto companies and major auto parts makers. Marposs is also trying to develop new market sectors such as the glass and electronic industries.

Its China sales are expected to top US$20 million this year.

The two new production facilities will be in Jiangsu Province's Wuxi and Nanjing, joining an existing plant in Shanghai.

The three sales offices will be in Shenyang, Chongqing and Wuhan, which are bases for major Chinese car and machine tool manufacturers.

The analytical instruments market in China will grow by as much as 250 percent in the next four years given the country's strong economic growth and growing expenditures on research and development, according to the China Association for Instrumental Analysis.

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