Automotive supplier ElringKlinger has inaugurated a new plant in Bursa, Turkey. The plant, its second in Bursa, will focus primarily on the production of thermal shielding systems and specialty gaskets. 

The Dettingen, Germany based company has been operating a plant in the western Turkish city of Bursa since 2009. As production capacity had become insufficient to meet sustained buoyancy in demand, the company drew up detailed plans for a new plant back in October 2014. Construction work commenced in August 2015. "Turkey is acknowledged as an important manufacturing location for large parts of the automobile industry. Our new plant will help to meet high levels of demand," said Dr Stefan Wolf, CEO of ElringKlinger AG.

Spanning around 10,500 square metres, the new plant was built over a period of 12 months. It encompasses production and logistics areas as well as a three-storied office complex and a tool engineering facility.

The company's order backlog for the current financial year stands at 9 million units, the emphasis being on thermal shielding systems and specialty gaskets. By 2019, ElringKlinger is expecting to see production output of one million additional parts. This may also coincide with an increase in the plant's workforce. At present, ElringKlinger employs around 170 people in Turkey. "Turkey remains a key location for our Group and will contribute to future growth. With this in mind, we have also secured the adjacent plots of land for ourselves so that we can react with maximum speed and flexibility," said Dr Wolf.

ElringKlinger is among the few automotive suppliers worldwide with the capabilities of developing and producing high-tech components for all types of drive system – whether for downsized combustion engines or for electric vehicles driven by batteries or fuel cells.