TRW opens steering wheel factory in Timisoara

US TRW Automotive Holdings announced the opening of its first facility in Romania at the end of last week, following a $16 million investment. The factory is located in Timisoara, covers an area of 2,000 square metres, employs 250 people and will manufacture steering wheels. “TRW’s first presence in Romania will allow us to supply high quality products at better costs,” said Steve Lunn, TRW Automotive executive vice-president and CEO. The manager of the plant in Timisoara, Giuseppe Papparlardo, who also runs TRW’s factory in Naples in Italy, said company employees had completed a three-month training programme. TRW’s business will move to a new location in Timisoara on a site of over 3,800 square metres by the beginning of next year, and the number of employees is due to reach 1,100 by the end of 2005. The company will make wheels for clients such as DaimlerChrysler, Volkswagen, BMW and Toyota. It will also supply the wheels for the Dacia cars built in Romania. ZF