Schieffer Romania, a division of the Austrian automotive components producer, estimates a 50% increase in its number of employees in 2007, to 100 people, and plans to invest in expanding its production capacities. “We want to expand our capacities and to increase production this year. Last year we invested 200,000 euros in acquiring equipment for plastic injection and high pressure hoses, whilst the number of employees increased three times,” stated Mihael Curescu, Schieffer’s deputy manager. He added that the company’s first employees, about 30 in number, were recruited from the former plastics division of the Honeywell producer, with the remainder needing training and experience exchanges with the parent company. “For 2007, we have not yet perfected the investment budget, but want to increase the number of employees, although specialised labour in the automotive field is very hard to find in the area,” added Curescu. Schieffer’s production facility is located in the industrial park in Lugoj, where producers Hella Lighting Romania and Autoliv are also located.