MERCEDES-BENZ / SOMMER ALLIBERT
French buy Wörth plastic components factory / DM 150m turnover / German development centre with 300 employees
The news has hit the German and the European automobile industry plastic part suppliers like a bomb: Mercedes-Benz AG (D-70322 Stuttgart) has sold its majority share in its Wörth plastic parts factory to Sommer Allibert Industrie AG (Friesstr 26, D-60388 Frankfurt. The French company will take over about 75% of the production equipment from January 1, 1996; the remaining 25% will be used by Mercedes, mainly for the production of spare parts. Mercedes will rent the land and buildings to Allibert. Mercedes has been using the Wörth factory mostly for the manufacture of interior plastic parts for its own cars and commercial vehicles, especially instrument panels as well as door liners and door post cladding panels.
According to Jürgen Vogt, Deputy Board Member of Sommer Allibert Industrie AG, providing additional explanation in an interview with PIE, Allibert intends to install large injection moulding machinery in Wörth in order to provide a complete range of interior parts for other customers. Vogt estimates Wörth turnover at about DM 150m. 500 jobs will be taken over by Allibert. A further 300 jobs will result from the opening of a new development centre in the Wörth area that will be established by Sommer Allibert for the German automobile industry. The objective of the centre is to develop complete automobile interiors. Investment of up to DM 20m is anticipated, and Sommer Allibert will invest a further DM 40m into the Wörth plant over the next few years.
Horst Zimmer, Deputy Board Member of Mercedes-Benz AG, commenting on the spectacular deal: "The plastic parts manufacturer can only survive the difficult, competitive markets of the future as a systems supplier. Our production at Wörth will be developed into a strong, competitive, systems supply by the know-how transfer from our partner, by continuing to supply Mercedes-Benz and by higher volumes resulting from suppling third parties. In this way, the new company will acquire the development and technology competency necessary to improve profitability".
For its automobile supply business in Germany, Sommer Allibert has wholly-owned manufacturing plants at Peine and Sassenburg, as well as the factories of Lignotock, in which it holds a share.
According to Jürgen Vogt, Deputy Board Member of Sommer Allibert Industrie AG, providing additional explanation in an interview with PIE, Allibert intends to install large injection moulding machinery in Wörth in order to provide a complete range of interior parts for other customers. Vogt estimates Wörth turnover at about DM 150m. 500 jobs will be taken over by Allibert. A further 300 jobs will result from the opening of a new development centre in the Wörth area that will be established by Sommer Allibert for the German automobile industry. The objective of the centre is to develop complete automobile interiors. Investment of up to DM 20m is anticipated, and Sommer Allibert will invest a further DM 40m into the Wörth plant over the next few years.
Horst Zimmer, Deputy Board Member of Mercedes-Benz AG, commenting on the spectacular deal: "The plastic parts manufacturer can only survive the difficult, competitive markets of the future as a systems supplier. Our production at Wörth will be developed into a strong, competitive, systems supply by the know-how transfer from our partner, by continuing to supply Mercedes-Benz and by higher volumes resulting from suppling third parties. In this way, the new company will acquire the development and technology competency necessary to improve profitability".
For its automobile supply business in Germany, Sommer Allibert has wholly-owned manufacturing plants at Peine and Sassenburg, as well as the factories of Lignotock, in which it holds a share.
15.10.1995 Plasteurope.com [20492]
Published on 15.10.1995