Delphi Automotive is opening a new manufacturing facility at Moldova Noua, in the southwest region of Romania. The site will produce wiring harness modules for vehicle manufacturers across Europe and will work closely with other Delphi facilities in the country to ensure efficiency and flexibility for its customers. Employment at the new plant could potentially approach 1,000 by the end of the year, expects Delphi.
According to Cristian Gulicska, regional director, Delphi Electrical/Electronic Distribution Systems, Romania East, electrical/electronic distribution systems are comprised of many different modules, each with a specification that is dependent on the content of the vehicle and the options chosen by the consumer. "These modules are increasingly complex, often with built-in control electronics," explains Gulicska. "At Moldova Noua, we will focus on manufacturing a range of these customized modules, removing complexity from our other manufacturing operations and allowing for better overall efficiency."
On April 4, 1,400 square meters of the Moldova Noua facility was opened as part of the first phase of development. During this phase, the manufacturing team is validating processes and gaining valuable production experience. An additional 2,400 square meters of the facility will be opened in September 2011.
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"Our quality and cutting-edge technology are driving significant growth in our European business as we work with automakers to help them manage the increasingly complex electrical and electronic requirements of vehicles," comments Gerhard Mertes, global sales director, Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture. "This new plant will allow us to build on the expertise and capital investment we’ve made at our other plants in Romania in order to support our customers’ increasing production volumes."
"I would like to thank the city council and M. Ion Chiselita, mayor of Moldova Noua, for working closely with us to successfully recruit and train a team of operators and engineers in our first phase of development," Mertes added.
Delphi currently operates three plants in Romania, employing more than 10,000 people at facilities that manufacture wiring harnesses and components for high-precision diesel common rail systems. Many of the systems manufactured by Delphi use the company’s lightweight cable, which has a gage size of just 0.13m2 compared with an industry average of 0.35m2. By substantially reducing the size and weight of wiring harnesses, Delphi says the new cable helps vehicle manufacturers improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and improve packaging. The small gage cable also reduces exposure to fluctuating copper prices.
Delphi has operated in Romania since 1997. The company’s plants in Sannicolau Mare, Moldova Noua and Ineu produce electrical/electronic distribution systems and its plant in Iasi produces diesel engine management systems.
More Info: www.delphi.com
Source: WebWire
