BRAZIL: Knorr-Bremse formally opened a €40m development, manufacturing and sales facility in Itupeva on April 17. Housed in new buildings covering more than 32 000 m2, the plant has 30% greater capacity than the site 80 km away in São Paulo which it replaces.
Knorr-Bremse said 'the most up-to-date plant in the entire group' meets its highest standards for process organisation, efficiency, logistics and quality. Under a 'lean conversion' project the materials supply process has been has been enhanced, while manufacturing and assembly have been modified to shorten through-put times.
Around 70% of the plant's output is for the commercial vehicles sector, but it also produces brake controls, bogie equipment and on-board systems for the rail market.
'This factory is part of a far-reaching investment programme being carried out by the Knorr-Bremse Group with the aim of modernising its global development and production network', said Heinz Hermann Thiele, owner and supervisory board Chairman of Knorr-Bremse Group. 'Customers stand to benefit from the in-creased efficiency of these new production facilities thanks to their greater flexibility and improved delivery capacity.'
