Automotive & Heavy Vehicles
Perfecting the Art of Electronic Alpine Electronics Ltd in Hungary was established in 1998 and since then it has remained their only production site in Europe. Due to the company’s latest technologies and their commitment to high quality, the Biatorbágy factory today is a key player in the firm’s global operations. Edina Beale reports.
In
Hungary there are at present 149 Japanese companies in operation, 46 of which are manufacturers. In recent decades, Japanese companies have invested over 4.5 billion USD in Hungary and they employ more than 25,000 people. The Japanese Alpine group formed Alpine Electronics Ltd in 1998 and began construction of a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Biatorbágy with a capital investment of 23 million EUR. The plant was to become the European base for the production of Alpine ‘mobile media solutions.’ The Alpine group has a worldwide reputation for quality mobile solutions. The company’s products range from audio solutions to integrated systems that bring together mobile communications, video, audio and navigation. Alpine have a presence in Japan, North and South America and Asia. The group’s European headquarters are based in Munich, with sales and development centres in Stuttgart and the UK.
Steady development Alpine Electronics Ltd began production of quality auto audio systems for the European in October 1999. In 2000, the first full year of production, the product range consisted of two CD Changer modules produced for the aftersales market. The company moved swiftly to meet the criteria for the ISO/TS 16949, the harmonised standard for the automotive supply chain, successfully meeting the certification audit in 2001. Following this award, the company switched its operations to OEM production. In 2002 the company achieved the ISO 14001 environmental certificate and marked another milestone by producing one million units per year in production volume.
Continuous investments In 2004 the factory increased its plastic moulding and painting capacity and enlarged its production facility to 14,000 m2. This increased capacity enabled the internal production of key cosmetic Industry Europe 63
