Automotive supplier Mecaplast (Monaco; www.mecaplastgroup.com) has announced plans to open a production site in Zrenjanin, near Belgrade, Serbia, to supply parts to Fiat. Mecaplast said it will develop and manufacture interior, exterior and engine parts for a small family vehicle for the Italian car maker.

As the project had a tight schedule, instead of implementing a greenfield project Mecaplast is using an existing 3,200 m² factory to which it will add a 2,500 m² shop floor. Construction of the new shop floor began in June 2011 and production is scheduled to begin in May 2012. The Zrenjanin factory will employ 150 people, mainly locals, the company said.

Mecaplast already has three factories in central Europe, in Zebrak and Pardubice in the Czech Republic and a joint venture factory in Legnica / Poland. Including the Zrenjanin plant, the company is present in 15 countries and has 25 production sites. In China, the company hopes to double its business by 2014 (see Plasteurope.com of 23.09.2011).