SHANGHAI - A German firm has sent a 200-tonne milling machine to China's upcoming import expo, which will be the largest exhibit to be on show at the first-of-a-kind international event.

The machine, packed into 12 containers, was sent by Waldrich Coburg, a German large machine tool manufacturer, via marine shipping from Hamburger. They reached the Port of Shanghai on Tuesday.

Liu Zhongbai, the company's representative, said the machine can churn out high-accuracy micron-sized parts, which can be used for automobile production and in the aerospace industry. The company hopes to attract Chinese firms with its high-tech equipment at the expo.

The exhibit is expected to cover 200 square meters of exhibiting space during the expo, which is scheduled to be held in Shanghai on Nov 5-10.

A total of 170 German companies have registered for the expo. Most of them are from the high-tech, manufacturing, automobile and chemical industries.