Brose produces door systems for Volvo in cross-plant collaboration

Ghent (18.05.2004). Brose, the international automotive supplier, officially opened its first plant in Belgium on 18 May 2004. The ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt. Brose Gent bvba produces door systems for the medium-sized vehicles Volvo S40 and V50 in cross-plant collaboration with the German plant Hallstadt. “It only takes 30 minutes from the moment the delivery request is received until the products are delivered,” explained plant manager Paul Rijs.

65 employees have been taken on at the Brose plant in Ghent. Working round the clock, they produce door systems just-in-sequence at a daily rate of about 2,800. The headcount is to increase to 100 with daily door system production increasing to 4,000 by 2006 when Brose will be supplying other Volvo models. Brose has invested 35 million euro in this cross-plant collaboration which also includes the plants of Hallstadt near Bamberg and Saarwellingen.

At the Ghent plant, the final assembly of the basic pre-mounted modules from Hallstadt near Bamberg is completed. This involves installing other components such as loudspeakers, wiring harness and door latch. The door systems are subsequently delivered to the customer’s plant two kilometers away. Volvo Cars Gent is the Scandinavian automaker’s most important production site outside Sweden.

Brose has been engaged worldwide since 1987 in the development and production of door systems for 24 different vehicle models - to date, some 40 million units have been supplied. Depending on the customer’s wishes, Brose supplies products ranging from individual components like window regulators, door latches or door control units to door systems with frame, glass, seal and a part of the door structure.

The automotive supplier Brose is the international market leader in door systems and is pursuing its aim of supplying the complete vehicle door from one supplier. Business with door systems worldwide will continue to grow over the next five years. There are currently new locations being set up in Europe, the USA and Asia. Every fourth vehicle built worldwide is equipped with at least one Brose product.


Press-Contact:
Christian Treinies
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E-Mail: christian.treinies@brose.net