The production of new Mercedes-Benz 9G – TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission was officially kicked off at Daimler’s plant in Sebes, Alba county on Monday, through its two subsidiaries Star Transmission and Star Assembly (STC).
- A long-term investment in dual education.
- Falk Pruscha, STC CEO: “The investment provides a sure future for people in the area.”
- Costin Borc, minister of Economy and Commerce, deputy prime minister: “This investment is due to the continuity of the governmental policies. It’s a step for re-industrialization.”
- Markus Schafer, member of the council board of Mercedes Benz Cars: “Our focus is on further direct labour manufacture”.
- Werner Hans Lauk, Germany’s ambassador in Bucharest: “Predictable governance and infrastructure development will encourage investments”.
The headstone of the gearbox assembly plant was laid down in Sebes, Alba on April 4, 2014.
After exactly two years and following an investment of EUR 300 million of the Daimler German carmaker, the Star Assembly subsidiary starts the production of new Mercedes-Benz 9G – TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission. The Romanian state joined the investment, offering EUR 37.4 million.
It seems that the German carmaker is satisfied with the evolution of its previous investments in Romania (Cugir) by choosing now to develop a new production unit in Sebes.
The production room, which is equipped with the highest production technologies that are also the best for an extremely thorough test, is covering an 80,000-sqm area, counting for about 10 football pitches. Around 500 kilometres of cables and 5,000 tons of metal have been used during construction works.
Daimler representative, Markus Schafer says that the continuous turnover increase of the past years is forcing the group to invest in new production capacities. “In the past six years, the brand has registered successive rises. And the focus is and will be on the direct labour manufacture. The gear box, which is estimated to equip most of the premium brand’s premium models with longitudinal pattern, enjoys a particular attention”, Schafer added.
“The investment and the continuation of the expansion process in Romania prove the appraisal to the commitment and to the know how of our staff. It’s a great pleasure to me to be part of the Star Transmission and Star Assembly team,” Falk Pruscha said. He is the Star Transmission and Star Assembly new CEO as of December 2015.
People make the difference, thence the focus on training
The investment has already created 500 jobs, and another 500 employees are to join the team by the end of the year.
“People make the difference and that’s why they are in the focus of our concerns,” says Markus Schafer.
Considering the high-technology production capacity, the staff needs subsequent training.
The STC CEO, the Daimler’s representative and the Economy minister present at the inauguration, all spoke about this aspect.
There is already an ongoing dual educational programme providing the youngsters living in the area with both practical and theoretical training, which offers them a reliable perspective.
STC, next to other production companies in Alba county, set up such an dual educational programme together with the Trade School in Alba Iulia. STC has already hired 7 pupils who graduated the 2015 class.
A step for Romania’s reindustrialization
Deputy PM Borc said that his presence at the inauguration wants to be the Government’ sign of support for investors. Yet, he stressed that such an investment was possible due to the continuity of the governmental policies, while being a step for re-industrialization.
Borc state that the Government would endorse all automotive suppliers who had already invested in Romania and it’s also open to stimulate further new investments.
“Such investments based on cutting-edge technologies contribute to the re-industrialization of the Romanian economy,” he said, while adding that the development of the dual education and local support are needed for this important challenge. The minister also pointed out that attending these investment ceremonies, he is proud of being Romanian.
Infrastructure-once again recalled when it comes to investments
‘Chance roots the capable ones’, the German ambassador to Romania quoted a German saying in order to praise the effort from Sebes and the good partnership between German investors and the Romanian side, including the central and local authorities.
“Daimler concern gave Sebes a vote of confidence, as well as to the entire region and it proved to be justified,” ambassador Lauk added.
However, the German envoy mentioned the need of achieving all standards for a valid cooperation with other potential investors in the future.
“Predictable governance and infrastructure development will encourage investments,” said ambassador Werner Hans Lauk.
