Brose extending competence in vehicle door
Coburg/Stuttgart. Effective 1 November, 2002, the Brose Group acquired the closure system activities of Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart.
For the first time, the expansion of the corporate group, which has enjoyed an above-average rate of growth over the last fifty years, is due to the purchase of a new business segment. With this acquisition, Brose is extending its competence in the vehicle door, making it the second largest supplier of door latch systems in Germany. Furthermore, the company is pursuing its aim of strengthening and expanding its component and door system business operations.
The closure system activities taken over from Bosch encompass the business with latches and mechanical operating components including electronics for automobiles. Major customers in this market segment include BMW, DaimlerChrysler, GM, Ford and VW.
All corporate activities of Bosch are to be continued. In the course of the new company’s integration, it is Brose’s express aim is to combine the best-practice solutions of both firms and to develop them even further.
The global production, engineering and sales network of the rapidly expanding automotive supplier Brose enables the company to do business in an increasingly international market and to have plants located within close proximity of the customer all over the world.
In the medium term, Brose’s intention is to achieve a similar leading position with closure systems as it has done with window regulators, door systems and seat adjusters. With its innovative capabilities, modern manufacturing technology and logistics, above all, however, with its strategic investments and stable ownership structures, Brose is equally intent on maintaining a secure long-term oriented partnership with the automotive manufacturers.
Brose will keep the production sites at Wuppertal, Roznov/Czech Republic and Tondela/Portugal operational. According to a company statement, production operations in the USA and Mexico are to be incorporated into existing Brose plants. This means the corporate group is now represented on all major automobile markets at 24 locations with almost 7,000 employees.
Jürgen Otto (38), director of the seat adjuster business division in the Brose Group, is also responsible for the closure system business during the integration phase. Martina Merz will continue to run the operational side of the business from Wuppertal.
According to current planning figures, the closure system business’s contribution to the Brose Group turnover in this year will be approximately €230 million. In the three existing business divisions of window regulators, door systems and seat adjusters, the automotive supplier anticipates a 6% increase in business, amounting to €1.5 billion, for the complete year. With the acquisition of the Bosch closure system activities, the worldwide turnover is expected to amount to almost €1.8 billion (+23%).
