Increased demand for automotive mouldings after winning new business with BMW and Honda has led German group MöllerTech (UK: Cwmfelinfach, Newport / Wales; www.moellergroup.com) to invest GBP 10m (EUR 14.8m) at its UK plant. Six injection moulding machines from Engel (www.engelglobal.com) have been added to the previous 20 machines, and staff numbers are being increased by around 100 to 350. The factory has undergone a small expansion and associated moulding and assembly equipment has also been purchased. Managing director Steve Jordan told Plasteurope.com he expected the increased work to lift turnover at the site by 40%, to an estimated EUR 30m in 2007.

In the UK, MöllerTech produces car components such as centre consoles, glove boxes, pillars, boot linings, wheel arches and cowls. Existing customers have predominantly been Toyota, Nissan and Jaguar. Part of the privately owned MöllerGroup, MöllerTech has eight manufacturing sites worldwide and some 2,800 employees. It was anticipating a 2006 turnover of the order of EUR 400m. The group, headquartered in Bielefeld / Germany, expects sales to exceed EUR 700m this year.