Valued system supplier IDEAL Automotive

vaLUED SySTEM SUPPLIER

IDEAL Automotive is an international system supplier and development partner for the automotive industry. Headquartered in Germany, the group operates several production facilities in the Czech Republic, and capacity is constantly being increased. Romana Moares reports.

IDEAL Automotive GmbH, which operates as a subsidiary of IDEAL Group Deutschland GmbH, manufactures textile lining components for the interior and exterior applications for the automotive industry, such as floor coverings, car mats, coating parts made of plastic, side linings, loading floors, spare wheel recess coverings, tailgate linings, seat backrest linings, linings loading sills, and wheel arch liners. The company also provides needle fleeces, tufting products and coatings, including nonwoven fabrics, tufts, coatings/equipment, and carrier nonwovens. In addition, IDEAL Automotive offers concept design and construction, research and development, prototype manufacturing, production, component and material testing, and logistics services.

The company serves Tier 1 automobile manufacturers and its customer base includes most of the famous names: Mercedes-Benz, SEAT, Opel, Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi, Volvo and many others. IDEAL Automotive GmbH, based in Bamberg, was founded in 1964

and was formerly known as Schaeffler Teppichboden GmbH. It changed its name to IDEAL Automotive GmbH in 2000. Today, the company employs over 4000 people at 17 locations worldwide. In 2016, IDEAL Automotive GmbH generated sales of €390 million.

Production base in the Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, there are five factories producing automotive components under the IDEAL Automotive name. The facility in Bor, where the company’s headquarters are located, was commissioned in 2000. When capacity reached its maximum six years later, some production moved to a new hall in Strakonice, and several years later it moved into yet another new hall in Ostrov, where capacity was increased and transferred into another hall in 2014 – so far the latest addition in the Czech Republic. Here, on an area of 16,000 square metres, components for car boots are manufactured, and capacity is slowly reaching its limits again.

With innovative processes and technologies, the company develops new intelligent system solutions for the automotive industry while always considering individual customers’ requirements: the optics, functionality and longevity of the products are just as impor-

tant as cost-efficient production. The low weight of the components, their noise-reducing effect and the good recycling possibilities are just some of the advantages that IDEAL Automotive’s textile lining elements in the vehicle interior and exterior provide. Demand for IDEAL Automotive components is high. They can be found in cars of premium brands such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and also Škoda, although only five per cent of total output of the Czech plants ends up with the largest local carmaker. The rest is exported, primarily to western Europe.

All production facilities are equipped with new, state-of-the-art technology. In addition to machines and equipment, investment is directed towards staff training and development. Retaining skilled and capable people is key in a market that is notorious for its lack of good, technical resources.

Proven route to success

Collaboration between suppliers and customers is based on mutual trust. IDEAL Automotive is a modern company that is successful not only through innovation and quality but also through continuity and reliable partnerships. IDEAL is constantly on the lookout for suppliers that are able to develop new products with, or for, the company.

To meet the quality and environmental requirements of its customers and to ensure environmentally friendly production, all IDEAL sites are certified according to ISO / TS 16949 / VDA 6.1 and the processing plants according to DIN EN ISO 14001. The company strives to continually improve working conditions and environmental impacts. Uniform standards for quality, work safety and environmental protection apply to all plants.

IDEAL Automotive is set to further increase production capacity. In 2016 a new location was opened in Slovakia, and in 2017 another factory was commissioned in Poland. This just goes to show that quality, reliability and commitment to ensuring maximum customer satisfaction is a proven route to success. As the company’s philosophy states: “We want to not only satisfy our customers but also inspire them in the long term. The fact that we have been able to produce for renowned manufacturers in the automotive sector for years now is our promise of quality. The thorough understanding of materials, technology and the market go hand in hand with IDEAL Automotive GmbH projects.” n