Moving on Relocations and expansions

NEWS

MOVINGON

Relocations and expansions across Europe

Audi invests in new production site

The Audi site in Ingolstadt has been growing for years – but the space available is limited. In order to relieve the plant structurally, Audi has purchased a site measuring around 40 hectares at the Münchsmünster industrial park. The Ingolstadt carmaker will start by developing around 27 hectares of this. Alongside a press shop with transfer presses and production lines for formhardened body parts and facilities for machining chassis components, an aluminum die-casting foundry will open there from 2013.

“The strategic investment in Münchsmünster is part of our growth strategy. It allows us to free up capacity at existing plants and to use sites in the surrounding area for future technologies,” says Audi Production Board Member Frank Dreves. Visit: www.audi.com

QinetiQ and Hyperbaric Test Centre opened

IN January 2012 Commodore Henry Parker RN opened the new Diving and Hyperbaric Test Centre (DHTC) on the QinetiQ site at Haslar in Gosport, Hampshire.

QinetiQ operates the centre in support of the Ministry of Defence and commercial organisations providing assurance that diving equipment is safe and effective in use. QinetiQ experts working in the DHTC use the facilities to help avoid human casualties and in the past have set world records for hyperbaric activities. The newly refurbished facilities within the DHTC includes some of the UK’s leading hyperbaric testing chambers and tanks and have been restored to the very highest standards.

When located on the QinetiQ Alverstoke site a range of diving and hyperbaric test facilities were used to support the development and testing of military submarine escape and rescue systems, diving equipment and decompression procedures. These facilities are now located in the new Centre. Visit: www.QinetiQ.com

Opening of Bentley Lyon

With sales of Bentleys bouncing back to pre-recession levels, the British carmaker is looking to broaden its presence not just in new markets, but in established ones as well. Bentleyís new showroom in Lyon will be responsible for both sales and after-sales and will be operated by the successful Passion Automobiles Prestige dealership group owned by the SOGESA Group.

Welcoming the partnership with SOGESA, Guillaume Chabin, Bentley’s Regional Director Europe commented: “Undoubtedly the power, performance and luxury of our models are a key part of our success but so too is the authenticity of the Bentley name. We look forward to working with the team at Bentley Lyon, whose understanding of the prestige sports car market makes them ideal partners for us.” Visit: www.bentleymotors.com

BASF inaugurates sodium methylate plant in South America

BASF has officially inaugurated its new world-scale production plant for sodium methylate in Guaratingueta, Brazil, its largest site in South America. The plant has a capacity of 60,000 metric tons per year and is supplying the regional market. Production started at the end of 2011 and the plant has been continuously delivering excellent product quality. It is the first BASF plant for this product in South America and the second in the world, in addition to a plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Capital expenditure for the project was in the low double-digit million euro range.

“We have invested in a new production plant to further strengthen our competitive position in the fast-growing market for biodiesel in South America,” said Stefano Pigozzi, president of BASF’s Inorganic Chemicals. Visit: www.basf.com

New AVEVA office in Italy

AVEVA has opened a new office in Genoa, Italy to support the growing Italian market. The office will offer sales and support for all AVEVA’s products and solutions, as well as hosting training courses and customer events.

Fredy Ktourza, senior vice-president West EMEA said, “Genoa has a long tradition in the power, metal and shipbuilding industries and is an ideal location. It supports our drive to continue winning market share against our competitors and it will allow us to play a much greater role in the Italian market.”

AVEVA has over 120 customers in Italy including major owner operators and EPCs in industries such as power and shipbuilding. Visit: www.aveva.com Visit: www.aveva.com