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New production plant for carbon components in Austria

17 May '12

3 min read

Benteler-SGL GmbH & Co. KG, a joint venture between Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH and the SGL Group, has set up a new plant in Ort im Innkreis in Upper Austria. A production center for the manufacture of automotive components made of fiber reinforced composites is being built on the 45,000 m2 property; the construction of the facility began in April. The investment is approx. 36 million Euros. Benteler-SGL will enhance its production capacities and provide 70 new jobs. The series production will start the middle of 2013.

The product line includes, for example, outer shell components such as side blades, doors, and visible carbon fiber parts for small series (smaller than 5,000 parts p.a.). Customers include many known automobile manufacturers primarily from the premium class.

Dr. Christian Howe, Managing Director Benteler-SGL: "The goal of Benteler-SGL is to increase the series production of fiber composite components for the automotive industry. We are counting on new high-performance materials such as carbon fibers, which are then processed into high load bearing products. We are working full speed on the automation of component production. The new ultra-modern plant in Ort im Innkreis in Austria will do justice to the growing customer demand for composite parts produced in large series. We will continue to expand our technological and market position in this rapidly growing market segment."

With the new construction, the company is responding to increasing demand from the automotive industry, which has commissioned Benteler-SGL with large series orders for composite components. Currently, composite components are predominantly produced in advanced manufacturing work steps and seldom manufactured in series.

It is therefore the greatest technological challenge to automate existing production processes to large-scale production.

Sebastian Grasser, Second Managing Director of Benteler-SGL: "Crucial for the decision to select the site Ort im Innkreis was the economic policy of the State of Upper Austria, which promotes the establishment of technology-oriented companies and the cooperative and proactive support of the local authorities. In addition, we are able to hire employees from a pool of many well-educated and highly motivated people."

Lightweight construction is becoming increasingly important in the automotive industry in the light of strict CO2 exhaust emission standards. Benteler-SGL benefits from the associated rise in demand as composite components help to reduce fuel consumption and simultaneously offer greater safety. This feature applies especially for electro-mobility, where lighter components are required in order to compensate for the additional weight of the batteries.

Benteler-SGL GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 2008 and is a joint venture company of Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH with home office in Paderborn/Germany, one of the largest independent world-wide suppliers to the automotive industry, and the SGL Group with home office in Wiesbaden/Germany.

Benteler-SGL GmbH & Co. KG

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New production plant for carbon components in Austria

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