Bosal International N.V. Business Report up until FY ended Dec. 2014
Financial Overview
-In 2013, the Company generated sales of EUR 751 million.
Contract
<2011>
-In 2011, the Company announced that 400 Ford "Transit Connect" taxis, which took to the New York City's streets in early September, 2011, are fitted with exhaust systems from the Company. This model features a 2.0 litre 4-cylinder engine that gets 22 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, an improvement of about 30 percent compared with traditional New York taxis, the Ford "Crown Victoria". (From a press release on September 28, 2011)
-In 2011, the Company announced that its Plant 65 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, U.S. has ramped up production of exhaust systems for GM's Delta II platform. Platform variants include the Chevrolet "Cruse" and Opel "Astra". (From a press release on March 9, 2011)
-In 2011, the Company announced that it is supplying its exhaust systems for the Dacia "Duster" crossover SUV. The system is derived from the one developed by Bosal for the Renault "Logan" built on the same platform. (From a press release on March 9, 2011)
<2010 and before>
-In 2010, Bosal-Oris supplies ORIS-MATIC trailer hitch with an electrical retractable ball neck for the Porsche "Panamera". German-based Bosal-Oris is a joint venture between Bosal and ORIS GmbH of Germany. (From a press release on February 15, 2010)
-In 2006, Bosal Fouman Pars just started to supply OEM exhaust systems for the Renault "Logan" in Iran.
Joint Venture
-In 2011, the Company and GAZ Group of Russia have signed an agreement to establish a joint venture in Russia. New production of emission control systems (exhaust pipe, muffler, catalytic converter) will start in the fourth quarter of 2011. At the first stage the joint venture will produce components according to Euro-3 standard, and starting from 2012 components will be Euro-4 compliant. At the initial stage, annual manufacturing capacity of emission control systems facility will be 350 thousand kits. It is planned to use the products of the joint venture in production of GAZelle-BUSINESS vehicles and in contract manufacture of foreign branded vehicles at GAZ. (From a press release on March 22, 2011)
-In Mar. 2010, a Chinese auto parts supplier affiliated to Ningbo Huaxiang Group and the Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a 50:50 joint venture company. The new company will be based in Shanghai and will engage in the manufacture and sale of motor vehicle exhaust systems for the Chinese market. And the target customers will be the Chinese OEMs such as SAIC, FAW, FAW-VW, Shanghai VW and Shanghai GM. (From a press release on March 26, 2010)
-In 2006, the Company has established a new joint venture in Russia. The joint venture, with Autoflex Russia, is for the manufacture and distribution of towbars in Russia and in other CIS markets.
-In 2006, a joint venture between the Company and ORIS GmbH of Germany has created the market leader and largest manufacturer of towbars in Europe. The combined Bosal-ORIS business will be incorporated into Bosal's Automotive Carrier Systems division.
Restructuring
-In Jan. 2009, the Company announced that a court in France has placed its Bethune plant into administrative receivership. The sharp drop in car sales and production led to significant cutbacks in orders. The plant primarily supplies exhaust systems for the French OEMs. The two other Bosal plants in France, located in Reims and Mitry-Mory, are not affected by the court's decision. (From a press release on Jan 9, 2009)
Awards
-In 2013, Bosal of Brazil announced that it recently won its 6th consecutive annual Supplier Award from Honda Cars of Brazil. The subsidiary of Bosal has also been honored by Toyota with the "Quality Award" and the "Excellence in Cost Reduction Award". (From a press release on May 16, 2013)
-In 2010, Bosal Do Brasil Ltda. has won two 2009 supplier awards from Honda. One award is for Quality & Logistics and the other, for Commercial Distinction, marks Bosal's development of a new jack for Honda's "Civic", "Fit" and "City" models. (From a press release on February 18, 2010)
R&D Structure
-The Company conducts R&D activities at the following location:
- Lummen, Belgium
- Markgroeningen, Germamy
- Gebze, Turkey
- Pretoria, South Africa
- Ypsilanti, Michigan, U.S.
R&D Activities
-The Company's one of reserach themes for hot and cold end includes:
- Weight reduction and alternative materials
- Energy conversion, where waste heat from the exhaust can be used to bring coolant to optimum temperature faster or to generate electricity for ancillaries
- Particulate sensing to optimize filter regeneration
- Active acoustic control
Product Development
Heat exchanger technology
-At IAA Frankfurt 2009, the Company showed two novel concepts in the field of new heat exchanger technology. One is integrated into a compact gas turbine that can be used as a generator producing up to 100 kilowatts of electricity. The other is fitted to a 6kW generator producing 230 volts from a fuel cell. Thanks to the heat exchanger, this unit is highly efficient.
Oris-Matic retractable towbar
-At IAA Frankfurt 2009, the Company showed an electrically-operated retractable towbar. After two years in development, the Oris-Matic is now being fitted as standard to Porsche’s new four-seater, the "Panamera". BMW and Mercedes-Benz have also adopted the device and will be supplying it on their top-end models. Meanwhile, a manually operated version has been created for the Volkswagen "Tiguan".
Investment Outside Belgium
<Russia>
-In July 2007, the Company acquired a 244,000 square meters site at Kaluga, 180 km southwest of Moscow. The Kaluga facility will be the Company's second in Russia (From a press release on July 11, 2007)
<U.S.>
-In November 2007, the Company announced the opening of a 17,000 square meter plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA. The new EUR 17 million (USD 25 million) production facility combines at one site the previously separate Warren production site and Ann Arbor technical center which both are in Michigan, U.S. (From a press release on Nov. 30, 2007)
<Turkey>
-In December 2007, the Company announced the opening of a modern new 19,000 square meter plant in Pelitli, Turkey. The new EUR 12 million (USD 17 million) facility combines on one site the operations of three previously separate Bosal-Mimaysan plants. It features new manufacturing lines and the latest equipment for the production of OE and aftermarket exhaust systems, sheet metal and tubing products, and pressure vessels for commercial vehicle braking systems. (From a press release on Dec. 13, 2007)
<Hungary>
-In 2007, the construction of a new 16,000 square meter plant next to the existing Bosal Autoflex plant has been completed. The new plant will produce jacks, wind stops, machined parts and housings for retractable towbars.
-In 2009, the Company has decided to expand its plant in Kecskemet in Hungary. The project will be completed by September 2009 and the manufacturing of new products will start in 2010. (From a press release on Aug 13, 2009)
<Ukraine>
-In 2006, the Company has continued to drive progress in its new activities in Ukraine, where the joint venture with ZAZ has started to produce its first exhaust systems.