With sales of DEM 641m last year, Rütgers Automotive AG (Westuferstr. 7, D-45356 Essen) is not one of the big names in the automotive supply sector. Yet, even companies of this size cannot escape the requirements imposed by the globalisation of the automotive markets. Rütgers is thus building new plants in Mexico and Brazil; it has established a joint venture in China with the market leader in the friction linings sector, Hangcheng Friction Material Ltd., with the aim of intensifying its supply relationship with Volkswagen. VW is also the company concerned in Mexico, with the production of all the GMT parts for VW de Mexico (including the VW New Beetle).

Rütgers Automotive specialises in SMC and GMT processing. As European market leader for GMT components for the automotive industry, the company increased sales by 13% in 1997. Firm orders are available up to 2003 for the German plants in Köngen and Peine. Subsidiary CWW-Gerko Akustik GmbH & Co KG (Weinsheimer Str. 129, D-67547 Worms), market leader in the acoustics market, is supporting the development of the 95 m.p.g. car at the vehicle makers with innovative sandwich elements in bitumen-aluminium and a microfibre absorber.

READER SERVICE: 1997 Annual Report of Rütgers AG (PO Box 103154, D-45031 Essen) with further details on Rütgers Automotive AG (German):PIE-No. 42513.