TI Automotive, which specialises in fluid storage, carrying and delivery technology, has opened its newest factory in Liberec, Czech Republic.
The 63,700 sq ft (5,920 sq m) facility will produce plastic fuel filler pipes for Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi, and assemble fuel tank systems for Citroen, Peugeot, Toyota and Skoda.
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Liberec is TI Automotive’s fourth location in the Czech Republic, joining two in Jablonec nad Nisou and one in Mlada Boleslav, and will have 85 employees at full production. It is the first dedicated plastic fuel filler pipe production facility in the region.
The new, seamless plastic fuel filler pipes are part of the supplier’s’s fuel tank systems technology and provide added benefit to automakers by reducing weight and emissions while improving packaging options.
“Through our blow-molding process expertise, we were able to develop a seamless filler pipe that provides the same or better evaporative emissions performance as steel, with a significant reduction in product weight,” said Hans Dieltjens, executive vice president, fuel tank systems. “The new plastic components provide a tremendous advantage when designing and integrating a complete fuel system and play a role in helping automakers meet new fuel economy and reduced emissions standards.”
Currently there are two dedicated production lines within the facility and the floor plan allows for two additional lines as needed.
“Eastern Europe features a rapidly growing manufacturing base, and the Liberec location provides us with a facility that is centrally located to our customers within the region,” Dieltjens said.
