Siempelkamp (Qingdao) Machinery Manufacturing Co, the first German-funded project in the Sino-German Ecopark in Qingdao, will likely begin trial operation in June, qdcaijing.com reported, citing the Ecopark's regulatory commission.

A cornerstone-laying ceremony was held for the project in the eastern Chinese coastal city last July. Construction of factory buildings has been completed and installment of manufacturing equipment is currently underway.

Siempelkamp Group, one of Germany's largest family businesses, has a history of more than 130 years and is specialized in machine and plant engineering, foundry technology and nuclear technology. The company plans to invest a total of 17.44 million euros ($18.92 million) into the Qingdao plant, with 11.8 million euros to be invested in the initial stage, according to the report.

The Sino-German Ecopark expects Siempelkamp to help attract more German projects, and says it will step up efforts to expand international cooperation in 2015, aiming to get construction of 10 new international projects started this year.