CHICAGO - Chinese plastic mold injection supplier Wellmei Industrial Co Ltd plans to invest $1.9 million in building a new plant in US state of Michigan, local media reported Thursday.

The subsidiary, Wellmei US Inc, plans to lease 20,000 square feet (1,858 square meters) to 40,000 square feet (3,716 square meters) of space to accommodate mold production as it builds plastic injection-molding lines to serve the automotive and medical industries, according to a memo of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Local media reported that Wellmei US Inc will hire 71 skilled workers for the plant in Troy, which is the company's first North American manufacturing operation.

The Michigan state will offer financial support for the new plant through the Michigan Strategic Fund.

Based in Dongguan of China's Guangdong province, Wellmei Industrial Co Ltd specializes in injecting mold tooling for the auto and appliance industries, with molding production for mold tryouts.