Auto cable specialist Coroplast expands new Moldova plant

Moldova PM Pavel Filip (L) visits Coroplast plant in Causeni, Moldova

Auto cable assemblies specialist Coroplast Fritz Müller, which set up a new plant in Moldova last year, is already expanding capacity and will more than double its 410-strong workforce there.

The group, based in Wuppertal, Germany, is investing around €17.3m overall with an additional production hall being built at the site in the C?u?eni sub zone of the Balti Free Economic Zone, south of the capital Chisinau.

Its local subsidiary, Coroplast Harness Technology SRL expects to increase the local workforce to 1,000 with the expansion scheme.

As well as serving East European markets as well as exporting further afield, the Moldova operation is expected to supply cable products to the country’s growing automotive industry.

News of the additional production hall planned at Coroplast Harness Technology’s site in C?u?eni, coincided with a visit to the existing 8,500m2 plant last month by Moldova’s Prime Minister Pavel Filip.

The Moldovan leader pointed to the success of the existing Coroplast operation and said its expansion plans speak well of his government’s effort to make Moldova attractive to foreign investors.

During his visit, Filip held talks with the plant employees discussing pay levels and their opportunity to work locally. He said the workers appeared pleased with conditions at the site.

Coroplast Harness Technology SRL is reported to have annual sales worth €15.6m with its current output going to export markets.

While the automotive sector represents the German family-owned group’s main market, it also supplies wiring and cable assemblies along with technical adhesive tape products to customers in mechanical and plant engineering, automation technology, construction and appliance manufacturing.

Coroplast group has other production plants at Wuppertal, Germany and Dylaki in south western Poland as well as in Tunisia, China, Mexico and the US. Last year, it recorded a turnover of about €500m.