Röchling opens New Factory in Spain

German automotive supplier Röchling Automotive has opened a new factory in Spain, its second in the country. The plant in which the company has invested 16 million euros (USD 19.1 million) is located in Teruel and covers an area of ​​40,000 square meters. It will engage in the production of plastic parts and components for the automotive industry like wheel arch liners, deflectors an design covers which are supplied to Ford’s factory in Valencia. Later in 2017, cowl grilles will be added to the product range while the factory will commence production of active air shutter systems and SCR tanks in 2018.

Renzo Magnabosco, commercial director of Röchling Automotive Europe South explained that with the new plant, the company would be able to meet the increasing demand while reducing delivery times and the amount spent on logistics.

The location of the new plant is ideal as it is close to the General Motors assembly plant in Zaragoza and Seat-Volkswagen’s factory in Martorell. Nissan’s factory in Barcelona and PSA’s factory in Madrid are also within easy reach.

Though the current workforce is only 30, this is expected to increase to 100 by 2019 once the plant attains its full capacity.

Rochlings has plans to add five more production machines at the factory between 2018 and 2019, thus doubling production space from 7,000 to 15,000 square meters.

“Through this investment, we continue our growth strategy in the Automotive Division at high speed,” said CEO Ludger Bartels.

Erwin Doll, who oversees the automotive division of Röchling, said that the new site would allow the company to be more flexible when it comes to responding to customer needs.

Röchling Automotive has plans to further expand the site and has already registered an interest in an acquiring an additional 40,000 square meters of space.

“Experience shows that our newly built works will soon reach their capacity limits. We are ready for this,” explains Luca Guella, technical director of Röchling Automotive Europe South.

The plant is slated to reach full production capacity in 2019 with the total investment in the factory being  21 million euros.