AUTOMOTIVE INVESTMENTS
Echlin acquires French plant for thermoplastic hose / Findlay sets up to supply Saab and Opel in Poland / Lear moves into Czech Republic / Trinova to sell Aeroquip interior components plants
US automotive component suppliers continue their inward investment in Europe with the announcement from Echlin Inc (100 Double Beach Road, Branford, Conn. 06405, USA) it has acquired the French company Nobel Plastiques SA (41 rue des 3 Fontanot, BP 206, F-92002 Nanterre), while Lear Corporation (Southfield, MI 48034, USA) has bought a Czech manufacturer of headliners. Another leading player in automotive interior components, Findlay Industries (1957 Crooks Road, Troy, MI 48084, USA), is to open a new plant in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland in March, but Trinova (1695 Indian Wood Circle, PO Box 632, Maumee, OH 43537-0632, USA) has decided to exit the interior trim market which will involve the sale of two plants in Germany.
Echlin Inc's automotive division is specialised in supplying system components for the automotive industry, as well as parts for the automotive aftermarket. The acquisition of Nobel will move the group into the manufacture of thermoplastic hoses as well as expand its presence in fluid-systems worldwide. Nobel specialises in fluid, hydraulic and pneumatic servo control lines made of multilayered, thermoplastic hose. These products are used in fuel, power-assisted brake, steering and clutch applications. The specialist injection moulder and extruder has plants in France and Spain, and the new parent company put annual sales at USD 70m.
Making its first move into the Czech Republic, Lear has acquired Empetek Autodily S.R.O. (CZ-Prestice) from ERPE, a holding company of EMPE Holding GmbH (Dieselweg 10, D-82538 Geretsried). Details of the acquisition were not given, although according to Lear the company had 1996 sales of USD 11m. Empetek manufactures overhead systems, with its primary customer the Volkswagen Group. Last year Lear bought the automotive components business of Borealis A/S in Sweden (see Plasteurope.com 21, 1996).
The investment by Findlay in Poland reflects the rapid growth in automotive production in the region. Poland is the largest and most populous country in eastern Europe and last year was Europe's fastest growing car market, with a 41% increase in sales. Findlay is a supplier of interior components and the new plant, its first in Europe, will be used to supply several OEM plants in the area on a JIT basis. Contracts already awarded include modular assembled door and quarter trim panels for the Saab 900 and headliners for a new Opel model.
The announcement from Trinova it is to sell its Aeroquip interior automotive plastics operations, is yet another example of the way component suppliers are increasingly focused on specific sectors. For Trinova it has decided fluid connectors will be its core automotive business. The sale will involve eight plants, six in North America and two in Germany at Rödelheim and Beienheim, which generated sales of USD 130m during 1996.
A deal has already been reached with Key Plastics Inc for the sale of three of the US plants, but the company is not thought to be interested in the German facilities. Last year Key Plastics acquired a stake in automotive moulder Materias Plasticas SA of Portugal and bought Clearplas Ltd in the UK (see Plasteurope.com 11, 1996). The Aeroquip companies make interior engine covers, instrument panel clusters, air vent assemblies and other trim products using injection and compression moulding technologies. Given the leading players in automotive interiors are nearly all North American-based, it would seem likely the sale might offer another opportunity for one of these to increase its presence in Europe.
Echlin Inc's automotive division is specialised in supplying system components for the automotive industry, as well as parts for the automotive aftermarket. The acquisition of Nobel will move the group into the manufacture of thermoplastic hoses as well as expand its presence in fluid-systems worldwide. Nobel specialises in fluid, hydraulic and pneumatic servo control lines made of multilayered, thermoplastic hose. These products are used in fuel, power-assisted brake, steering and clutch applications. The specialist injection moulder and extruder has plants in France and Spain, and the new parent company put annual sales at USD 70m.
Making its first move into the Czech Republic, Lear has acquired Empetek Autodily S.R.O. (CZ-Prestice) from ERPE, a holding company of EMPE Holding GmbH (Dieselweg 10, D-82538 Geretsried). Details of the acquisition were not given, although according to Lear the company had 1996 sales of USD 11m. Empetek manufactures overhead systems, with its primary customer the Volkswagen Group. Last year Lear bought the automotive components business of Borealis A/S in Sweden (see Plasteurope.com 21, 1996).
The investment by Findlay in Poland reflects the rapid growth in automotive production in the region. Poland is the largest and most populous country in eastern Europe and last year was Europe's fastest growing car market, with a 41% increase in sales. Findlay is a supplier of interior components and the new plant, its first in Europe, will be used to supply several OEM plants in the area on a JIT basis. Contracts already awarded include modular assembled door and quarter trim panels for the Saab 900 and headliners for a new Opel model.
The announcement from Trinova it is to sell its Aeroquip interior automotive plastics operations, is yet another example of the way component suppliers are increasingly focused on specific sectors. For Trinova it has decided fluid connectors will be its core automotive business. The sale will involve eight plants, six in North America and two in Germany at Rödelheim and Beienheim, which generated sales of USD 130m during 1996.
A deal has already been reached with Key Plastics Inc for the sale of three of the US plants, but the company is not thought to be interested in the German facilities. Last year Key Plastics acquired a stake in automotive moulder Materias Plasticas SA of Portugal and bought Clearplas Ltd in the UK (see Plasteurope.com 11, 1996). The Aeroquip companies make interior engine covers, instrument panel clusters, air vent assemblies and other trim products using injection and compression moulding technologies. Given the leading players in automotive interiors are nearly all North American-based, it would seem likely the sale might offer another opportunity for one of these to increase its presence in Europe.
31.03.1997 Plasteurope.com [19462]
Published on 31.03.1997