Stadco has signed a letter of intent with the Leningrad regional government that has secured the site on which it is to build a dedicated body in white (BIW) stampings and assembly facility in order to supply major international motor manufacturers in Russia.
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This followed an announcement in April that Stadco has been awarded a supply agreement with Ford that would see the need for the company to develop a BIW stampings and assembly facility in the St Petersburg region – the first such operation to be established in Russia by a western European supplier.
The latest agreement sees Stadco allocated a 15-hectare site in Vsevolozhsk while the Leningrad government has confirmed its full support to Stadco to assist with rapid development of the facility.
Andrew Morriss, managing director of Stadco, said: “The signing of the letter of intent is a major step forward in our drive to be the first western European supplier to offer a modern BIW stamping and pressing facility to the fast expanding automotive market in Russia.
“The agreement means that we can now look ahead to start construction of our facility which we anticipate will commence in the autumn of this year. Importantly, it means that we are ahead of schedule ensuring that we are able to meet the supply contract with Ford.”
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By GlobalDataThe facility, featuring the latest automated processes, will initially employ up to 200 people and production is expected to start in January 2009.
Stadco predicts rapid growth for the plant and anticipates that within six years it will employ about 800.
Morriss added: “The location of our 15-hectare site in Vsevolozhsk in the St Petersburg area is convenient for Ford and we believe it will enable us to facilitate significant growth with the automaker on future models.
“Importantly, the site is also well located to allow us to offer our unique capabilities to other major OEM’s that have established themselves in the region including Nissan, GM, Toyota and Suzuki.”
