BALS, ROMANIA (Oct. 24, 2 p.m. ET) — International Automotive Components Group is launching production of its new auto interior skin process at its newest plant as part of a vertical integration focus.
The FastKast process is debuting at IAC in Bals, Romania, where the company is making instrument panels, center consoles, rear doors, front door panels and headliners for Ford Motor Co.’s B-Max compact multi-purpose vehicle.
The skin is produced in a proprietary process to enhance the aesthetics of the top layer of the vehicle interior, the one that consumers will see and touch, and takes advantage of both processing and resin capabilities within IAC, the company said in an Oct. 23 announcement. IAC will expand FastKast to other facilities globally during 2013.
The 250-employee plant in Bals began supplying Ford’s assembly plant in nearby Craiova in July and had its official dedication on Oct. 23. To ensure quality production, IAC – with global headquarters in Luxembourg – developed a vertical production strategy to make more of the parts in-house. It is also partnering with the Technical School of Slatina in neighboring Slatina, Romania, to provide training for future employees.
The location, about 200 kilometers west of Bucharest, will provide a strategic spot to further expand production to other automakers moving in the region, the company said.
