British manufacturer of automotive driveline systems and technology enters the first phase of a significant expansion of its operations in Poland.
On July 29, 2015, GKN Driveline laid the cornerstone for the construction of a new production facility, which will be located in Olenica, within Walbrzych Special Economic Zone. This will be the second investment project since the company established itself in Poland in 1996. The expansion will allow for manufacturing a wide range of Driveline technologies, with a specific focus on increased side shaft capacity in the country.
“Poland has enjoyed remarkable success since we started operating here nearly 20 years ago and today Olesnica is one of our most important plants in Europe. We have developed a progressive, forward thinking workforce that always looks towards continuous improvement, and this investment is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team over the past 20 years,“ said Helmuth Rohregger, GKN Driveline President Europe.
The company’s facility has expanded four times so far due to increasing numbers of orders. The new 1 €16.5 million plant will be constructed adjacent to the existing one in Olesnica and will undoubtedly strengthen GKN’s position as the leading driveline technology provider in Europe. With its 15,000 sqm production hall, the new facility is expected to generate as many as 400 new jobs, double the site’s overall footprint and increase GKN’s Poland CVJ production capacity to over 10 million units a year.
“Poland is an increasingly important automotive market, particularly as automakers expand into Eastern Europe, so this investment strengthens our position as the leading supplier of driveline technology to European manufacturers. I’m delighted to be part of this ground breaking ceremony and I look forward to returning to the site next year when the facility is complete and operational,” adds Helmuth Rohregger
GKN has 56 facilities in 22 countries and employs 22,000 people. The new expansion, which is to be completed by April 2016, will supply major car manufacturers in Europe and Russia, including Porsche, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, Mercedes, Jaguar Land Rover, and FCA.
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