• Shenyang is Röchling Automotive’s fifth production site in Asia
• In direct vicinity of automotive manufacturers
• Successful internationalization strategy

Shenyang, 27 September 2017... The global plastics specialist Röchling has opened a new plant in China. Röchling Automotive opened the new production site in Shenyang, the largest city in the northeast of the country, at a ceremony attended by numerous guests.

“China is a key market for Röchling and remains a focal point for our investments,” said Erwin Doll, CEO of Röchling Automotive, at the opening. The newest plant in China is part of the company’s internationalization strategy, he continued. The Röchling Group is present everywhere in the world where new markets with a good environment arise, primarily following its customers. “The closer we are to them, the better we can meet their requirements,” said Doll. €3 million was invested in Shenyang.

In recent years, Röchling Automotive has taken up a very good position in the growth region of Asia and has grown strongly. The first plant was opened in Changchun, China, in 2006, followed by further production sites in Chengdu, China, and Kunshan, China, and a joint venture in Osaka, Japan. Röchling Automotive is continuing its Asian success story with the plant in Shenyang. “We have firmly established ourselves in China and feel at home here,” said Gerhard Neidinger, Executive Vice President Asia Automotive Division.

The new Röchling Automotive plant is in the direct vicinity of a production site maintained by BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) – a joint venture between BMW and its Chinese partner Brilliance – in the Tiexi district in the west of Shenyang. In addition to the proximity to BBA, the location was chosen because of the city’s investor-friendly conditions and the good understanding with the lessor of the land, the Australian real estate company Goodman, said Neidinger.

Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, is a metropolis with a population of 8.3 million and the economic, trade, transport and cultural center of China’s northeast. Besides BBA, the direct vicinity of the Röchling Automotive site is also home to Shanghai GM and more than 500 supply firms.

The plant’s opening ceremony was attended by members of the Röchling Automotive management as well as representatives of the municipal government, authorities and regional administration and the German consul in Shenyang, Peter Kreutzberger. “With its investment, Röchling Automotive is contributing to the further positive development of our region. We are delighted that the renowned plastics specialist Röchling has chosen Shenyang,” said Zhang Yanzan, Deputy District Mayor of Shenyang Tiexi District.

The construction work in Shenyang began in mid-2015 and was completed in June 2016. Röchling has erected a roughly 16,000 square meter plant on a plot of land of nearly 30,000 square meters. Production halls account for 7,400 square meters, logistics halls 4,700, offices 2,500 and auxiliary buildings 1,100. 81 employees currently work at the site. They produce wheel arch liners, underfloor panels, active grille shutter systems, air filters and controllable air guides using eleven injection-molding machines with a clamping force of 700 to 2,400 tons.

Röchling started producing plastic components for BMW Brilliance Automotive back in January 2017. The company is developing quickly and stably on the Chinese market. “Our existing plant in Changchun could no longer comprehensively meet the rising demand from BBA. With our new plant in the direct vicinity of BBA, we are considerably increasing our capacity and optimizing our service for BBA,” said Neidinger.