Benteler-SGL inaugurates new production facility in Austria
- Benteler-SGL is expanding its capacities for the large-scale production of composite components for the automotive industry
- 70 new jobs in Ort im Innkreis, Austria
Ort im Innkreis, Austria, October 22, 2012. The new production facility of Benteler-SGL GmbH, a joint venture between Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH and SGL Group, was officially inaugurated on October 18, 2012 in Ort im Innkreis, Austria. Composite components will be manufactured for the first time in serial production at the state-of-the-art 45,000 m² site starting in middle of 2013. Benteler-SGL is investing a total of € 36 million. Automobile manufacturers and customers of Benteler-SGL as well as representatives of the joint venture’s parent companies were invited to the plant dedication.
Dr. Christian Howe, Managing Director of Benteler-SGL: “Benteler-SGL is taking another big step towards the serial production of composite components for the automotive industry with the new production plant in Ort im Innkreis. This will enable us to further expand our technological and market position in this rapidly growing market segment.” Sebastian Grasser, Co-Managing Director of Benteler-SGL adds: “This investment is our response to the increasing demands of our customers. We are hard at work on automating the automotive component production further.”
Benteler-SGL’s product range now includes body shell components such as side blades, doors and visible carbon components. The company’s customer base includes nearly all of the well-known automobile manufacturers, primarily from the premium class. 2 The subject of lightweight construction is becoming increasingly important for the automotive industry in light of more stringent CO2 exhaust standards. Benteler-SGL is benefitting from the rising demand which this entails, since composite components aid in reducing fuel consumption and offer great safety at the same time. Composite materials are ideally suited for the field of electromobility in particular, which requires lighter building materials to compensate for the additional battery weight.