Autoneum, a Switzerland-based producer of vehicle acoustics and thermal management systems, is expanding its presence in the Chinese growth market and will open its seventh plant for the production of lightweight acoustic and thermal management components in the Eastern Chinese city of Yantai.

Multifunctional inner dashes and carpet systems will be produced in series for vehicle manufacturers in China at the manufacturing location measuring 6,600 square metres from the summer of 2017.

Strong demand

In order to meet the persistently strong demand by international and local vehicle manufacturers for lightweight noise and heat protection components and simultaneously minimise the logistics costs for customers, Autoneum expands its production capacities in China with a seventh plant.

Starting summer 2017, the copany says it will ensure the just-in-time delivery to vehicle manufacturers at their nearby production facilities out of the 6,600 square metre plant in the Eastern Chinese city of Yantai in the Province of Shandong.

“With over 26 million light vehicles produced this year, China is the world's largest automobile market. The investment in a further plant in this growth market will enable our customers to receive innovative lightweight components just-in-time and with significantly lower logistics costs,” explained Martin Hirzel, CEO of Autoneum. “At the same time, the expansion of our Chinese production capacities is in line with our strategy and will contribute to the targeted market share increase in China.”

Increase in production

Following the start of serial production, carpet systems and inner dashes will be manufactured for around 250,000 vehicles per year, with an increase in production easily possible, the manufacturer explains.

As part of the implementation of sustainable production processes at all Autoneum locations, production waste in the form of polyester or mixed fibre fleece is to be recycled and re-used in the manufacture of components at the new facility in Yantai.

With an expected production increase to over 29 million light vehicles in the year 2020, China is one of the key growth markets for the automobile industry. In addition to the three fully owned plants in Chongqing (since 2006), Taicang (2010) and Shenyang (2011), Autoneum jointly operates Chinese production locations with Japanese automotive supplier Nittoku in Guangzhou (2003), Tianjin (2004) and Wuhan (2013).

www.autoneum.com