Novares has opened an extension to its factory in Zrenjanin, Serbia, increasing plant area by a third, including a clean room with a capacity of 1m automotive components per year.
The 3,000 sq m extension has been equipped with the latest technology and robotics, including five injection presses and a clean room containing two production lines for engine components (water outlets) with infrared welding, automatic component assembly and leak testing sections.
The factory produces complex plastic components for the automotive industry: exterior and interior parts, body trims and engine parts.
Its workforce here will rise from 190 employees to 240 in 2019.
The plant, located in the Vojvodina region in the north of Serbia, supplies components to several major customers in the area, including Fiat, PSA Group, Jaguar Land Rover, Suzuki and Dacia.
The factory was established in this area as part of the supplier's strategy to be geographically close to its customers
The EUR5.25m project was carried out with subsidies from the Vojodina provincial government (EUR200,000) and the Serbian government (EUR300,000).
"The Zrenjanin site has proven excellent performance and quality records and this extension is a sign of our confidence in the plant and our commitment to better serving our customers in the region where they operate. Serbia is growing in importance as an automotive hub, so our increased presence in the country reflects this," said CEO Pierre Boulet.
Operating in 21 countries with 42 factories, Novares specialises in technical plastic injection and produces parts for most OEMs and many Tier 1 suppliers. Its 2017 revenue was EUR1.2bn.
