Delphi is celebrating 10 years of business in Romania with the construction of a new diesel engine management system (EMS) components plant in Iasi. The company has already initiated activities in a leased facility, where it will begin production of diesel pumps and injectors by the end of 2008. "Having worked together for a decade, we built a team of professionals that still has perspective for further growth," says Cristian Gulicska, Delphi Packard EEA Romania Country Director. "We faced numerous challenges and proved that we are ready for further opportunities. From a time perspective, we consider the decision to establish operations in Romania successful." Delphi has been operating in the country since 1997 when the first plant in Sannicolau Mare was opened. Today, Delphi's two manufacturing Electrical/ Electronic Architecture (EEA) facilities in Sannicolau Mare and Ineu (northwest of Romania) employ collectively 10,000 people. Delphi's investment criteria for Romania, as for all new regions, were to follow the group's vehicle-maker customers, develop a skilled workforce, use the existing infrastructure and obtain local government support. Delphi started its business in Romania with Electrical and Electronic Distribution Systems (E/EDS) production to support European car production. In 1999, Delphi completed the site development and construction of the second building in Sannicolau Mare. The construction of the plant in Ineu began in May 2004. In November 2004, the first finished harness was manufactured. Today, the Delphi plant in Ineu is the main employer in the Arad area. Delphi plants in Sannicolau Mare and Ineu manufacture Electrical/Electronic Architecture for several European automakers. The plants supply wiring harnesses — body, interior, doors and small harnesses — to customer assembly plants located in Western and Eastern Europe. Delphi's plants in Romania are committed to being a clean, safe and efficient workplace — offering opportunities for employees at all levels. Delphi's EEA plants in Romania have already been recertified with ISO/TS 16949. In addition, the company has well-developed expansion plans that call for several additional investment projects to launch products specified in new business contracts that have already been awarded. Each of these future multi-million-dollar investment projects is for new buildings, machinery and equipment and will support attainment of long-range planned capacity in Iasi. Subject to Delphi's board of directors supporting future investment projects, Delphi's presence in Iasi could reach more than 1,000 workers and total investment could exceed 100 million euros. For more information about Delphi, visit the company's Web site. |
