<<BACK TO HOME

BMW is upgrading press lines at three of its plants. Leipzig, Regensburg and Munich will all benefit from an investment that totals "three figures of millions of euros", according to press manufacturer Schuler.

Schuler, which recently amalgamated with the Müller Weingarten group, says the order is to be completed by 2009 and is the biggest in its history.

Plans for the Munich plant have yet to be finalised, but work has already begun at other sites.

A six-station servo press line will be installed at BMW’s Leipzig plant, creating 150 new jobs. The new facilities will allow the plant to produce front and rear lids and doors and the press setup is intended to handle high strength steels. The work at Leipzig is due to be completed by 2009 at a cost of €100 million.

The expansion at Regensburg will see capacity increase by 80 per cent as it readies itself for the introduction of the Z4 successor.

The plant will be capable of moulding 400 tonnes of steel and aluminium body part every day. In addition BMW is also installing a blanking line with servo drive at the plant.