TI Automotive Opens New Manufacturing Facility in Liberec, Czech Republic

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan, June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• Facility to produce plastic fuel filler pipes for Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi, and assemble fuel tank systems for Citroen, Peugeot, Toyota and Skoda
• Will produce 1.1 million filler pipes annually with current programs
• The 63,700-square-foot facility to employ 85 people at full production

TI Automotive, a leading global supplier of fluid storage, carrying and delivery technology, opened its newest manufacturing facility today in Liberec, Czech Republic. The all-new, 63,700-square-foot (5,920-square-meter) facility will produce plastic fuel filler pipes for Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi, and assemble fuel tank systems for Citroen, Peugeot, Toyota and Skoda.

Liberec is TI Automotive's fourth location in the Czech Republic, joining two in Jablonec nad Nisou and one in Mlada Boleslav, and will have 85 employees at full production. It is the first dedicated plastic fuel filler pipe production facility in the region.

The new, seamless plastic fuel filler pipes are an integral part of TI Automotive's fuel tank systems technology and provide added benefit to automakers by reducing weight and emissions, while improving packaging options.

"Through our blow-molding process expertise, we were able to develop a seamless filler pipe that provides the same or better evaporative emissions performance as steel, with a significant reduction in product weight," said Hans Dieltjens, executive vice president, Fuel Tank Systems, TI Automotive. "The new plastic components provide a tremendous advantage when designing and integrating a complete fuel system and play a role in helping automakers meet new fuel-economy and reduced-emissions standards."

TI Automotive currently has two dedicated production lines within the facility, and has optimized the floor plan to add two additional lines as needed.

"Eastern Europe features a rapidly growing manufacturing base, and the Liberec location provides us with a facility that is centrally located to our customers within the region," Dieltjens said.

About TI Automotive

Fluid thinking™ shapes the mindset of TI Automotive. Global automotive manufacturers turn to TI Automotive for insight and focus to develop industry-changing fluid storage, transfer and delivery technology.

With 20,000 employees at 130 locations worldwide, our strength lies in our ability to creatively meet and exceed the increasing fuel-economy and emissions regulations of tomorrow's auto industry.