An agreement was signed between Duowei Union Group (Duowei) and the Xi-Tong Science and Technology Industrial Park (XSTIP) on Nov 16 to undertake a project related to new energy-saving building materials, which received over 500 million yuan ($71.21 million) in investment.

Duowei, founded in 1983, focuses on the research and production of steel building structures and metal containment systems. It is a leader in China's new energy-saving building materials industry and generated 1.8 billion yuan in taxable sales revenue in 2018.

Duowei has decided to construct a high-end research and manufacturing center in the XSTIP equipped with smart facilities, high-tech products, and ecofriendly production techniques. It will make use of the manufacturing base that the company built in 2017.

The center, which will cover an area of 153 mu (10.2 hectares), is expected to generate about 400 million yuan in annual sales revenue.

Duo Weikuan, chairman of Duowei, said that the group has established two marketing centers in North and East China and two manufacturing centers to provide supporting services.

Ling Yi, head of Tongzhou district, said that government support will be offered to ensure the project can be carried out smoothly.

He also expressed hopes that the group would develop the base into a regional center and leader in the prefabricated building industry in the Yangtze River Delta Region.