The Schlemmer Group (Poing / Germany; www.schlemmer.com), a developer and manufacturer of cable protection systems, is broadening its activities in Morocco. The company has planned an investment of EUR 1.8m for the expansion of its injection moulding production in Tangier, which it only just completed installing at the beginning of the year. The additional capacity is scheduled to be ready by the end of 2014. Six new injection moulding systems are initially to be added with another two to come later. The company cited a new order from Ford, which has Schlemmer Maroc producing cable systems the US automaker in the near future, as one of the primary factors leading to the decision to expand the Tangier facility. In addition, the demand for injection moulded components from Delphi, a leading supplier of electronics and technologies to the automotive industry, also played a role.

Schlemmer has been in Tangier, a port city in the north, since 2000 and the core business has been focused on extrusion, assembly and logistics. Now the plan calls to double the space for these activities as well. "We now have equip­ment and machinery for injection moulding, extrusion and assembly and can offer customers delivery as well – all from a single point of contact," explained Mohamed Slimani, head of Schlemmer Maroc.

Once finished, Schlemmer will have 2,000 m² of production space to meet its growing demand in Tangier. Its warehouse and storage space is also being increased from around 1,200 to 1,800 m². "With our added injection moulding business and the expansion of our extrusion and assembly capacities, we are working hard to double our revenues over the next four years to EUR 12m," said Slimani. "Since the beginning of the year, we have added more employees and we now have a team of 53. The plan is to increase the number to 100 working in Tangier by 2017."

Schlemmer also made clear why Morocco is strategically important for the group: "The country is politically stable and currently is enjoying a phase of healthy economic growth," summed up Slimani, adding, "As a free-trade area close to Europe, the likelihood of continuous economic development looks pretty good." Certainly, another reason for the decision to increase capabilities in the North African country is that several of the major automakers have in the meantime opened facilities in Morocco providing a customer base for Schlemmer.

Founded in 1954, the Schlemmer Group, with more than 1,830 employees in 37 countries, recorded revenues of EUR 197.5m. With 58 locations – 22 of them stationary production sites and one mobile production facility – the Bavarian-based company develops, produces and markets cable protection systems for automotive and industrial applications including corrugated, smooth and protective tubes, manifolds and connector interfaces as well as customised cable ducts and cable conduits. The company is also involved in connection systems with gland technology, mechatronics systems with probes and sensors as well as air and fluid systems with conveying lines, line systems and reservoirs.