In response to new orders from important customer Peugeot (www.peugeot.de), automotive supplier MöllerTech (Bielefeld / Germany; www.moellergroup.com) has established a new facility in Slovakia. MöllerTech Slovakia (MTS, Liptovsky Mikulas) in future will supply parts to the French car manufacturer at its plant in Trnava / Slovakia. Apart from this, MöllerTech – which belongs to the MöllerGroup – will further intensify cooperation with NihonPlast (Fuji-City / Japan; www.n-plast.co.jp). The partnership has garnered its first order from Japanese carmaker Honda (www.honda.com).

Founded in 1949, MöllerTech has eight sites worldwide and around 2,600 employees. Last year it posted sales of some EUR 400m. It is one of the leading manufacturers of injection moulded engineering parts in Europe and operates mainly in the clamping force range of between 1,000 and 15,000 kN. Möller is a direct supplier of European and Japanese automotive OEMs with a portfolio encompassing the visible parts of the car interior, extending from various lining and cladding components, to centre consoles and stowage systems.

The MöllerGroup, which is now managed by the eighth generation of the Möller family, currently has a global workforce of 3,100 and recorded sales in 2005 of about EUR 500m. Apart from the core segment of Plastics Technology / Automotive, it has two other divisions, one dealing with flexible mouldings for industry generally, and the other with leather processing for the automotive, furniture and fashion sectors.

As the group reported at the celebrations to mark its 275th anniversary last year, earnings have stabilised at a solid level following some problems in 2000 and 2001, even if the hefty price increases for energy and raw materials dampen the outlook for the future. In any case, the company has retained its independence. For several years, 5% of sales have been reinvested. By 2010, the group expects sales to rise to EUR 600m.

The two managing directors of the MöllerGroup are Felix von Möller and Axel Müller. The father of Felix, Peter von Möller, retired from active management in 2003 and now chairs the company´s advisory board.