MAHLE sales grow in first half 2012, expansion in Thailand
September 12, 2012
Valve guides produced by MAHLE using
the Powder Metallurgy processes are
enjoying more widespread application
in passenger car and commercial vehicle
applications due to their unique properties.
Small amounts of lubricant oil are stored
in the sintered pores of valve guides,
which significantly improve the wear
resistance and emergency running
characteristics.
In the first half-year of 2012 the MAHLE Group, which manufactures a range of specialist Powder Metallurgy products for the automotive industry, recorded sales of EUR 3,207.1 million, outperforming the previous year’s value by some 7.8%. The company stated that the sales increase is based primarily on organic growth (EUR +145.9 million), with the revaluation of numerous foreign currencies, particularly the U.S. dollar, Japanese yen, and Chinese renminbi, also having a positive impact (EUR +87.0 million).
MAHLE increased its European sales by 2.5% to around EUR 1.54 billion, with sales in Asia, an important growth market for the company, increasing by 16% to EUR 649 million. In the NAFTA region, sales increased to EUR 646 million, which represents growth of 26%.
Sales growth is likely to remain at a lower level in the second half of 2012, stated the company, who expect the economic situation in the automotive industry outside Europe to remain generally stable.
The number of employees decreased from 49,103 to 48,084 in the first half of the year (June 30, 2012). In Europe, the number fell by 478 to 20,203, of which 9,041 are employed in Germany—in the previous year, this figure was 9,181. The number of employees rose by 258 to 9,370 in Asia and by 153 to 7,586 in North America. In South America, it was necessary to reduce the headcount by 952 to 10,925.
Expansion in Thailand
In order to defend and increase the group’s market share with Japanese manufacturers, MAHLE is following the trend set by a number of Japanese vehicle manufacturers who are relocating the production of passenger cars and commercial vehicles to Thailand, by expanding its two existing plants in Thailand. The site in Bangkok mainly produces pistons and the construction of a new building to house an assembly line, testing equipment, and subsequently the machining and coating lines, will be completed in September 2012.
Buildings for storage facilities and offices will be constructed in Samutprakarn. The areas that will be cleared will then have space for two new production lines for heat exchangers and capacity for the production of air intake systems and valve covers.
Further developments for the group include a new 10,000m2 logistics centre for the aftermarket in Russia to begin construction in 2013 and a new plant in Kyushu, Japan, for the production of air intake and filtration systems, will begin production at the end of 2012.
Posted by: Paul Whittaker, Editor ipmd.net, [email protected]
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