Growth market China

Automotive supplier ixeticopens a plant in Shanghai 

Bad Homburg / Shanghai, 11 November 2011. ixetic GmbH, the world’s leading pump and compressor specialist (based in Bad Homburg, Germany), today opened its new plant in Shanghai. Among the products to be manufactured at the new plant will be vacuum pumps for Audi, with the total investment amount in machinery and equipment totalling several million euros. Georg Wolf, Management Board Chairman of ixetic GmbH and Dr. Harald Nippel, Managing Director of ixetic GmbH, attended the opening ceremony of the new plant in Pujiang Industrial Park (Minhang District, Shanghai). Among the 100 guests present were representatives from the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), from the various authorities and from the Chinese automotive industry. 

Strong in China, strong in the future 

In his speech, Ming Rong Jiang, Deputy General Manager of the economic development agency of the local government of Pujiang, praised the German company’s commitment to the growing Chinese market. ixetic has invested several million euros in the new production site, both in the structure and modern manufacturing facilities. In his opening speech, Management Board Chairman Georg Wolf emphasized the importance of the Chinese market for his company. No other country could boast a similar growth rate to China in the automotive industry, he explained. “In China we see long-term positive growth in both the passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors”, said Wolf. “With this investment we are meeting the desire of our global automobile partners for short supply chains through a strong regional presence. At the same time, this plant is a further milestone in our long-term global strategy of growing in the relevant markets of the future.” 

Excellent operating conditions 

Manfred Wuerz, Managing Director of ixetic Automotive Components (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., praised the investment climate in Shanghai and the excellent opportunities for attracting qualified employees to the company. ixetic has been present in the city since 2008. ”Setting up a domestic production facility was the logical next step for us when it came to expanding and strengthening our long-standing relationships with the major international car manufacturers in China”, said Wuerz. The company was granted an extended business licence enabling it to do this by the municipal government in June 2011. 

From 30 to 100 

One of the products manufactured by ixetic in Shanghai are vacuum pumps for Audi’s Chinese plant. ”Besides the VW Group we also maintain very close contacts with other well-known OEMs”, explained Manfred Wuerz. Currently the plant employs around thirty people. As production is increased, the number will grow to around 100 by the end of 2012. ”Our plant will enjoy a high level of utilization right from the start. At the same time it will still have reserve capacity, so that we can grow together with our customers. In Shanghai – as at all ixetic production sites – the entire production process is geared towards Zero Defects quality standards.  

About ixetic GmbH

ixetic GmbH, which is based in Bad Homburg (Hesse/Germany), is a leading global manufacturer of hydraulic and vacuum pumps for the automotive industry.The company's turnover in 2010 totalled €274 million. ixetic has been an independent company since March 2006. Previously ixetic was called LuK Fahrzeug-Hydraulik and LuK Automobiltechnik and belonged to INA Holding Schaeffler KG. At its sites in Bad Homburg and Hückeswagen (Bergisches Land), Germany, and its plants in Plovdiv (Bulgaria) and Shanghai (China) the company employs a total of approximately 1400 employees. It also has subsidiaries in Brunswick (USA) and Yokohama (Japan), a joint venture with DSI, Bangalore (India), a partnership with DHB in Porto Alegre (Brazil) and a representative office in Korea. The Managing Directors are Georg Wolf (Chairman) and Dr. Harald Nippel. Ixetic’s product range includes hydraulic pumps for steering, chassis and transmission applications, vacuum pumps for brake systems, lubricating oil pumps, and innovative thermal management concepts for electric vehicles. Its customers include renowned vehicle manufacturers such as Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Porsche, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen and all the leading manufacturers of heavy and medium duty trucks such as Daimler, Navistar, Scania and Volvo.