Henniges Automotive is to open a new Technical and Innovation Centre in the Czech Republic next year to strengthen its development and research competence in the region.
The 22,927 square-feet (2,130 square-metre) facility in Mladá Boleslav will be used to support all new projects and innovation programmes in Europe and globally, through its location near the company’s other manufacturing plants and European customers.
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The company’s new facility will feature development and testing facilities, capable of 3D rapid prototyping and laser scanning, climatic testing and simulation.
“The new Technical and Innovation Centre will reflect Henniges’ research and development competence and technical expertise,” said Henniges Automotive president, Larry Williams.
“The resources and access of this facility will enable us to remain at the forefront of anti-vibration, vehicle sealing and glass encapsulation technologies, while keeping our commitment to offering new solutions to customers.”
With its base in the centre of the Czech Republic, the Technical and Innovation Centre will link its R&D capabilities and test programmes with other nearby Henniges facilities to improve synergies in product design processes, validation and marketing.
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By GlobalDataIn addition, the facility will benefit from the area’s long engineering history to draw talent and well-qualified specialists to work at the facility.
Sixteen employees are currently slated to work at the site, which is due to open in the spring of 2019, with hiring doubling in size in the near future. Eventually, the facility will house nearly 75 employees including product experts and business unit managers.
To create the new centre, which will become the company’s European headquarters, Henniges is using part of a US$1.8m State investment incentive, which it received from the Czech Government through its Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Operational Programme: “Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness.”
Based on a business plan, the government awarded Henniges its first State incentive due to the associated innovation and social benefits the company’s investment would bring to the area. Henniges is also investing US$3.6m in test and laboratory equipment.
Of the State incentive, US$600,000 is being used to expand the development and testing equipment at the new facility. The remainder is funding the building of a global competence centre at Henniges’ production plant in nearby Hranice.
This competence centre will be used for advanced extrusion processes, such as the development of plastic materials for rubber sealing.
“We are thankful to receive this generous incentive by the Czech government and pleased the recognition validates our dedication to pursuing new and commercially interesting products,” added Williams.
Henniges has plans for further expansion in 2019, including a new manufacturing plant in South America.
