Belgian interior supplier, Recticel says it is working with major OEM customers to develop alternative manufacturing plans following a severe fire at its Most plant in Czech Republic, which caused no injuries to staff but which is disrupting its component chain.
The company provides elastomer interior trim parts, such as skins for dashboard and door panels, which are sold to various Tier-1 automotive suppliers, but is citing Force Majeure after Czech authorities closed the plant on safety grounds.
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Recticel declined to elaborate to just-auto from Belgium on any further details, but invoking Force Majeure has meant a hasty evaluation of its supply chain with OEMs, including PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault, Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen, noting it was collaborating with the companies to source production.
“For safety reasons, the premises have been closed by the authorities on that day (23 January) and production has been stopped. As a consequence, Force Majeure has been declared to affected customers of the Most plant,” said a Recticel statement.
“Recticel is now in a position to confirm no one has been hurt. Since 27 January, part of the premises is again accessible to engineers and contractors and clean-up activities are ongoing.
“Recticel and its customers, supported by the affected OEMs PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault, Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen, are cooperating to identify solutions and elaborate alternative production plans that will allow gradual restart of the production of parts, in order to minimise disruption at customers’ assembly plants.
“RAI Most is covered by insurance policies which are in line with industry standards. Recticel is currently not in a position to assess the financial consequences of this incident.”
The plant in Most produces elastomer interior trim parts for cars, such as skins for dashboard and door panels, which are sold to various Tier-1 automotive suppliers.
In 2016, RAI Most realised sales of EUR20.3m (US$22m) and employed 390 people. Recticel has around 7,600 people in 97 establishments in 27 countries.
In 2015 Recticel achieved combined sales of EUR1.3bn.
