Autoneum continues its growth course in China by opening two new plants in addition to the eight existing ones. The ninth Autoneum production facility was officially opened in Pinghu (Zhejiang Province) yesterday in the presence of CEO Martin Hirzel. A further plant in the north-eastern city of Shenyang Tiexi (Liaoning Province) is already in the ramp-up phase. The series production of lightweight multifunctional components for noise and heat protection will start at both plants in a few days’ time.

According to the manufacturer, the continued strong customer demand for lightweight components for acoustic and thermal management made it necessary to further expand Autoneum’s production capacities in China, the world’s largest automotive market. The company’s Asian production network has been enhanced with a 9,000 square metre-plant in the city of Pinghu, located around 100 km southwest of Shanghai, and a production facility in Shenyang Tiexi in the northeast of the country.

Using state-of-the-art production processes, Autoneum Pinghu will manufacture underbody systems made of Ultra-Silent for European, US-American and Chinese customers. These textile underbodies will be installed, among others, in various hybrid models and a fully electric vehicle of a new Chinese car manufacturer. When operating at full capacity, around 5.5 million underbody components made of Ultra-Silent will be produced in Pinghu each year and delivered just-in-time to the local production facilities of customers.

With Ultra-Silent, Autoneum says it offers the lightest underbody systems for vehicles available on the market: Compared with equivalent components made of plastic they are up to 50% lighter, fully recyclable, reduce noise and thanks to improved aerodynamics help to reduce a vehicle’s fuel consumption and emissions.

“With our two new plants in China we are continuing our strategy-driven expansion course in this important growth market,” said Autoneum CEO Martin Hirzel, on the occasion of the Pinghu plant opening. “In order to be able to offer our customers industry-leading components, we are investing heavily in sustainable production processes as well as in innovative technologies and materials. At the same time we are supporting the expansion of electromobility in China with the regional market launch of multifunctional components for a diverse range of drive systems.”

Pre-production has already started in Shenyang Tiexi, Autoneum’s second production facility in Liaoning Province, and series production is to start in a few days’ time. Around 7.5 million carpet systems, inner dashes, floor insulators and heatshields will be produced there annually for German and Swedish vehicle manufacturers on a site measuring 23000 square metres.

www.autoneum.com