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Melfi/Italy

New Brose Plant in Melfi

The official opening of the new plant (from left): Kurt Sauernheimer (Executive Vice President Door Systems Brose Group), Scott Garberding (Head of Group Purchasing Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), Jürgen Otto (CEO Brose Group) and Luigi Di Battista (General Manager Brose Melfi).

Melfi/Italy, 11-18-2014

Brose, the automotive supplier with global operations, has officially opened its first Italian production plant in Melfi. The company decided to expand its production capacity when it received its first contract for door systems from Fiat. The mechatronics specialist will start by producing door systems for the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X on the 4400m2 site, supplying products for around 400 vehicles per day. The first phase of development created around 70 jobs.

The opening ceremony was attended by 40 guests from government and industry. Piero Lacorazza, Chairman of Basilicata Regional Council, welcomed the company in the presence of Jürgen Otto, CEO of the Brose Group, saying: “I am delighted to welcome Brose, a global player, to the region.” Luigi Di Battista, General Manager Brose Melfi, expressed his thanks for the effective, uncomplicated support provided by the local authorities and Brose’s customer, Fiat.

Scott Garberding, Head of Group Purchasing Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), said: ‘We are delighted with Brose’s commitment to open a site here in the region. We need a supplier like Brose to work with to achieve our global growth target.” “With this investment, Brose is building on the long-term collaboration between our customer FCA and the Basilicata region,” said
Jürgen Otto. Brose has invested over 4.3 million euros in the new location, which will employ up to 80 people by the end of the year.

Production in step with vehicle assembly

The process for manufacturing the door systems follows the just-in-sequence method. Once an order is received in Melfi, the plant has 312 minutes to assemble, check, transport and deliver the ready-to-fit door systems to the Fiat production factory just a few meters away. “We produce more than 113 different variants. Our customer receives a high-quality product that matches its requirements, in the precise order and at the exact time that it is required for final vehicle assembly,” says Luigi Di Battista. Brose Melfi plans to increase its door system production by
150 percent by next year.

Brose combines mechanical, electrical and electronic components on a carrier plate. This improves functionality and saves costs, while pre-tested units lead to higher quality standards. Consistent lightweight design and the novel material combinations used in the door systems help reduce the total vehicle weight by around three kilograms.

New plant as basis for further collaboration

“Fiat’s decision to award the contract to our company is a door opener for further Fiat business. It is an important step towards expanding our existing partnership and making it more international,” says Kurt Sauernheimer, Executive Vice President Door Systems, Brose Group. Brose opened a sales office in Turin, just 200 meters from Fiat’s headquarters, in 2011. In addition to the new door systems contract, the automotive supplier has for years been producing window regulators, electric motors and closure systems for Fiat. And in China, Brose
already produces door systems for the Fiat Viaggio for Fiat’s Chinese joint venture with GAC. The mechatronics specialist also has a long-standing relationship with Fiat subsidiary Chrysler. To help its customer meet its growth targets, Brose will be following Fiat to Goiana in Brazil next year, where it will produce door systems for the same Fiat vehicles and other model series in close proximity to its customer.

Contact Communications Brose Group +49 9561 21 1188 E-mail

Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. KG, Coburg 96450 Coburg