• Move to a New Site in Industrial Area
• Opening Ceremony for New Production
• 132 Jobs Retained

The plastics specialist Röchling has started production in its new plant in Wackersdorf. A ceremony marked the opening of the site in an industrial area in the presence of Mayor Thomas Falter and representatives of the Röchling Group.

Last year Röchling Automotive, previously located in an innovation park, had acquired a 36,000-square-meter property in the industrial area. In May 2013, construction began on a new production facility, including logistics and administrative services. The construction and subsequent move of the machinery from the nearby innovation park went seamlessly. “We are very pleased that we can put our new plant into operation as planned,” said Ulrich Mauß, Executive Vice President of Röchling Automotive, at the opening ceremony. Mauß thanked the gup architectural firm from Worms as well as the mostly local firms Klebl, Donhauser, Beck, and Buchfink for their quick and professional work. The total investment amounted to EUR 23 million.

Previously, Röchling Automotive had leased its production site in the Wackersdorf innovation park from the BMW Group, the owner and operator of the innovation park. “Our newly opened plant conforms to our high production standards and also offers the possibility of future expansions,” reported Mauß. The production area in the industrial park currently totals 3,300 square meters, and the logistical area totals 4,000 square meters.

An initial expansion stage is already planned for 2015. At that point, 1,000 square meters for production and 1,500 square meters for logistics are expected to be added. In the final expansion, the previous space can even be doubled.

During the past year, Röchling Automotive increased the number of employees in Wackersdorf from 127 to 132. By the end of this year, it should have 140 employees. In addition, four new apprentice positions will be created. “We are very pleased about keeping the jobs in Wackersdorf and Röchling’s further expansion plans,” Mayor Falter said. He explained that the city was able to offer Röchling Automotive an attractive property and ensure its development. In the process, the conditions were created for keeping the firm in Wackersdorf. “We also welcome the decision of our long-term partner Röchling to put down long-term roots in Wackersdorf,” elaborated site manager Peter Häckl of the BMW Group.

Besides BMW as its primary customer, the Wackersdorf plant counts among its customers Porsche, Plastic Omnium, Opel, Hella and Behr, Faurecia, and Magna Steyr. Parts are produced for the underbody, wheel arches and liners, engine compartment covers, and air duct systems with controlled shutter systems and windshield cowls. “Additional parts are now an intake silencer and air filters for BMW, including robot assembly,” reports Mauß.

Röchling Automotive has also upgraded its machinery. Investments included an injection molding machine with a clamping force of 1,000 metric tons. It has state-of-the-art control technology, new pumps, and a so-called disk filter for effectively eliminating impurities in the plastics. By the end of this year, another injection molding machine should be put into service. Equipment has also been added for material drying. In the planning and execution stages, work safety always had top priority, as demonstrated by the construction of a so-called “safety island.”

http://www.otv.de/wackersdorf-werkseroeffnung-bei-roechling-automotive-97294/
(Source: Oberpfalz TV Nord GmbH & Co. Studiobetriebs KG, Arnberg)