EUR 350 million order for voestalpine in the automotive safety sector

In fulfilling this framework agreement the voestalpine Rotec Group, based in Krieglach, Styria, will supply up to 350 million seat belt tensioner components and around 120 million airbag components to be built into cars around the globe, starting from summer 2015 through the first half of 2022.

With a staff of around 900 employees, the voestalpine Rotec Group produces high-quality precision steel tubes and tube components for the automotive and mechanical engineering industries at seven production locations on three continents. The company is the global market leader in the automotive safety components sector for seat belt tensioner components, and the third largest supplier of airbag components. Its customers include the world’s largest automotive manufacturers who rely on these parts for seat belt systems, front, side, and knee airbags, seating systems and integrated child seats. “Working closely with its customers, the voestalpine Metal Forming Division is constantly setting new standards in advanced automotive components. Our internationalization strategy, paired with highly innovative solutions, has resulted in this major EUR 350 million order. This long-term contract not only means that existing plants in Austria, Germany, the USA, and China will be operating at full capacity, but also involves expanding production capacities,” says Peter Schwab.

Simultaneously, other customers are also demanding additional production capacities at the worldwide unique plants being built by voestalpine Rotec’s own development and tool construction departments. As a result, in future the production location in Styria will focus more strongly on the production of seat belt tensioner components.

The Metal Forming Division of the voestalpine Group achieved a total sales volume during 2014/15 of 2.3 billion and an operating result (EBITDA) of around 331 million euros. The division employs roughly 10,500 staff members and does business with almost all European car manufacturers. Within the Group, it constitutes the center of competence for highly refined sections, tubes and precision steel strip products and ready-to-install components made of pressed, stamped, and roll-formed parts. Its combination of material expertise and processing competence is unparalleled throughout the industry, and its global presence makes the division the preferred partner to customers who are looking for innovativeness and quality.