Brose UK has announced “a post-Brexit vote boost to UK industry”: a GBP10m paint shop that can e-coat 3.5m seats a year.
The supplier, which employs 900 people at its two plants in Coventry, detailed the investment as group CEO Jürgen Otto and fellow board member Periklis Nassios, responsible for the seats division, visted the UK to view the early stages of the paint shop’s construction and meet with staff.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The e-coat line, due to be completed by August next year, will bring an important process in-house, improve production scheduling and ensure all structures are finished to the highest quality standards, Brose said in a statement.
The move will create an additional 30 jobs at the expanding UK unit where factory headcount will rise from about 500 in late 2014 to over 1,000 by the end of 2017.
“This is a massive show of faith in Coventry and confirms the group’s intention of giving us the technology and capability we need to take on and successfully deliver higher volumes for our UK customers,” said managing director Juergen Zahl.
“Having the paint shop in-house means we control our own destiny and can have a much more joined-up approach to assembly. The seat structures are also coated to such a high standard that they would be accepted by all of the major car manufacturers in the world.”
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataHe added: “2017 will see the launch of three new model platforms and will take the number of front and rear seats we produce annually to over 2m for the first time in our 30-year history.”
In the last year, Brose UK sales have increased 25% to GBP195m including new contracts to supply seats and window regulators to OEMs including Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan and Toyota.
“Coventry is very special to the group, as it was one of the first locations to be launched outside Germany almost 30 years ago. The last decade has seen significant challenges but the backing and financial support has always been there and our faith is now paying off with significant growth,” said Otto.
“This investment in Coventry is part of the long-term strategy we pursue as a family company.”
In the last three years alone, Brose has spent over GBP50m on its UK operation.
