R?chling opens new Romania plant unit to lift fuel-efficient autopart capacity

Inauguration of R?chling Automotive Oarju plant extension this week

R?chling Automotive has completed a second significant plant expansion project in Romania to allow it to supply advanced components to leading global vehicle manufacturers.

With its sister injection moulder R?chling Precision Components and Italian joint venture partner, Errecinque , the company officially launched a 7,500m2 production hall at the Oarja site near Pite?ti, Romania.

Inauguration of the extended facility took place this week (19/6) in the presence of senior management board members, regional Romanian officials and Pite?ti town mayor Constantin Bilea.

The latest enlargement took the plant’s total area to 16,100m2 following an earlier expansion project which added 1,600m2 of extra work space in 2014.

Today, R?chling Automotive’s Oarja site employs 182 working on the production of fuel-saving and emission-reducing technologies such as the firm’s SCR exhaust gas after-treatment and filling system and the controllable air flap unit of its Active Grille Shutter system (AGS).

The company, part of Mannheim, Germany-based technical plastics processor R?chling Group, also makes cowl grilles and compact and lightweight intake manifold and air filter systems at the Romanian site.

In addition, R?chling Precision Components turns out a range of component housings and precision parts there. Overall plant output is delivered to global customers including Volkswagen, Ford, Daimler and Renault/Dacia.

“Oarj/Pite?ti is an important site for our growing worldwide business with new product innovations and technologies. In addition, we support customers with local production,” explained the company’s chief executive officer Erwin Doll.

Family-owned R?chling Group, with production across Europe, Asia and the Americas, makes technical plastics components for medical equipment and other industrial customers, but automotive represents the biggest sales share.

Meanwhile, the German group recently completed an expansion scheme at its Spanish processing offshoot R?chling Plásticos Técnicos S.A.U. in Bocairent near Valencia, Spain. It opened a new 1,500m2 production hall at the industrial component moulder to allow shorter delivery times and accommodate continuing business growth.

The Spanish firm specialises in machining custom produced parts and supplies semi-finished and fibre reinforced plastic products to customers in the chemicals, food, renewable energy and lining technology sectors