Most production will move to company’s nearby Kraichtal site
Composites specialist Menzolit-Fibron will close its headquarters plant in Bretten, Germany, by the end of the year. A large part of the sheet moulded composite (SMC) parts production in Bretten will move to the company’s nearby site at Kraichtal-Gochsheim, where expansion will enable the large SMC presses from Bretten to be accommodated and ensuring that the majority of the Bretten staff will continue to be employed in Kraichtal.
Staff that are not taken up in Kraichtal will be employed in the company’s production plant in Rastatt, that was acquired from Peguform in November 2004 and that has been meanwhile reconstructed into a “modern module centre” where moulded SMC parts such as bumpers, steps, front panels and fenders for DaimlerChrysler (DC) commercial vehicles are painted, assembled and sent with sequential delivery to DC’s plant in Wörth. Two new modern painting lines will also be added to the Rastatt plant.
Menzolit-Fibron points out that due to the creation of additional production capacity in Kraichtal, only a small part of the Bretten production will have to be transferred to the company’s plant at Sladkovicovo in the Czech Republic.
The company claims that by concentrating the pressing of SMC parts in Kraichtal-Gochsheim, supported by painting in Rastatt, it is increasing its performance and flexibility.
Menzolit-Fibron has belonged to the Swedish headquartered Plastal automotive moulding group since its parent, Dynamit Nobel Kunststoffe (DNK), was acquired by Plastal from Metallgesellschaft last November (PRW.com, 8 November 2005).
