Brano Group, a.s. Business Report up until FY ended Dec. 2014
Financial Overview
-In 2014, the Company had net sales of CZK 3,973 million, an increase of 12.7% from 2013
-In 2013, the Company had net sales of CZK 3,524 million, a decrease of 1.5% from 2012.
Contracts
-In May 2014, the Company's Door Systems Strategic Business Unit had begun production of several components to satisfy various contracts. The SBU had an assembly line dedicated to hood and trunk hinges for the Volkswagen "Amarok". Other components that were being produced included hinges for the Skoda "Superb". (From a press release on May 28, 2014)
-In May 2014, Otsuka Brano, a joint venture between the Company and Otsuka Koki, began production for a hand brake lever for the Nissan "NV200" produced in Barcelona, Spain. In January 2015, Otsuka Brano expects to begin production of hand brake levers, brake pedals, and clutch pedals for a Suzuki model. The joint venture will also begin production of hand brakes for the Honda "Civic" at that time. (From a press release on May 28, 2014)
-In November 2013, the Company's Door Systems Strategic Business Unit began production on seat latches for Faurecia. The assembly line used to manufacture those seat latches also produces seat latches for Lear and Nissan. Parts were shipped to Russian facility in January 2014 to expand capabilities of the assembly line to produce seat components for the Nissan "Tiida". (From a press release on December 3, 2013)
-In May 2013, the Company was engaged in preparations for its current seat latch contracts for the Nissan "Qashqai" and Porsche "Macan". The Company was also planning a production expansion of its PL-7 seat latches from 1 million units a year to 2 million units a year. (From a press release on May 27, 2013)
-The Company announced in March 2013 that one of its projects involved producing seat backrests for the Nissan "Tiida" from its Branoros facility in Niznyj Novgorod, Russia. The Company planned to have a production volume which would supply 37,000 cars a year for five years. (From a press release on March 28, 2013)
-In 2012, Otsuka Brano has contracts with both Suzuki and Nissan. In March 2013, Otsuka Brano began production on a handbrake lever for the Nissan "Note" and a handbrake lever, brake pedal and clutch pedal for the Suzuki "SX4". All of these components were produced at the Company's facility in Jablonec nad Nisou. The Company also had plans to begin production on a handbrake lever for the Nissan "NV200" at the beginning of 2014. (From a press release on March 28, 2013)
-In 2012, the Company's Door Systems Strategic Business Unit has contracts to supply seat latches for Nissan, Lear and Volkswagen. Starting in April 2014, the Company will manufacture seat latches for the Nissan "Qashqai". The Company also has a five-year contract with Lear UK to produce seats with lock gates. The contract calls for an annual production of 465,000 units. (From a press release on October 31, 2012)
-In September 2012, the Company's Plastics Strategic Business Unit was awarded a contract from Skoda Auto to supply fuel tank caps for the Skoda "Superb". The contract calls for 83,250 units to be produced annually for six years. Production is scheduled to begin in Zubri in October 2014. (From a press release on September 27, 2012)
Awards
-The Company's Plastics Strategic Business Unit received the 2014 GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award.
R&D Facilities
-On April 24, 2014, the Company inaugurated its new research and development facility located in Hradec nad Moravici, Czech Republic. Construction of the facility was completed on April 7. Once construction had concluded, the Company started transferring equipment and supplies to the new facility. The new facility has additional room for possible future expansions. (From a press release on April 29, 2014)
-The Company has three development centers located in the Czech Republic: Hradci nad Moravici, Jablonec nad Nisou, and Novy Bor.
R&D Activities
-In 2013, the Company was engaged in a research project with the Czech Technical University to study the efficient combustion of various biofuels, such as biodiesel and bioethanol.
Product Development
Air horn prototype
-The Company's Commercial Vehicles Strategic Business Unit has developed an air horn prototype. The prototype uses a third less plastic than the older version and can be assembled without the use of fasteners such as bolts or adhesives. (From a press release on December 4, 2012)
Investment outside Czech Republic
-In 2013, the Company started developing plans to build a production facility around Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. The new facility is expected to be over 10,000 square meters and will employ 110 people. The production facility is built to help the Company handle an increasing volume of projects from its customers. These projects include supplying pedal systems for the Volkswagen "Jetta" and Skoda "Yeti", pedal mechanisms for the Skoda "Octavia" and rear seats for the Nissan "Tiida". (From a press release on October 29, 2013)
-In September 2013, the Company completed the PQ 35 assembly line in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia to produce pedal systems for the Skoda "Octavia", Skoda "Yeti", Volkswagen "Jetta" and Volkswagen "Polo". (From a press release on October 29, 2013)
Investment in Czech Republic
-In May 2012, the Company's Foundry Strategic Business Unit started the trial operation of a new Heinrich Wagner Sinto (HWS) molding line. The Company invested CZK 55 million in the new equipment. Due to the new filters on the HWS molding line, the amount of pollution released into the air will decrease significantly. Also, the new HWS molding line should increase plant capacity by 20%. (From a press release on August 22, 2012)