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General Motors Win Signals Growth for Gestamp
An inward investor is making a multi million pound investment in new technology as it looks to meet a growing order book.
The future is bright for Spanish car parts manufacturer Gestamp which is stepping up production of parts for Nissan’s popular Qashqai and has just landed an important contract to supply body parts to General Motors’ new Opel model.
With sales of the Qashqai strong, Gestamp has invested over €2 million in seven new production robots to meet orders for 75,000 new vehicles.
A further three will arrive early next year – an additional investment of €1 million - in time to begin production of parts for the new Opel Astra in summer 2009. The contract is worth €25 million and will see parts produced for GM’s Ellesmere Port site in Cheshire.
Gestamp arrived in the region in 2000 with strong support from Tyne and Wear Development Company. Initially employing 70, it has now increased its workforce to over 200.
Josep Parcet, managing director of Gestamp’s plant at Washington’s Stephenson Industrial Estate, said: “This is great news for the plant and for our workforce. The new investment is crucial for us to meet the increase in volume of Qashqai orders and improve the efficiency of the plant.
“The contract with General Motors is also excellent news. It’s a new customer and our first outside Nissan which is vital for stability and long-term growth. We’re here for the long run and it’s important to grow our customer base.
“We’ve been made to feel very welcome in Tyne and Wear for the past eight years. The support we’ve received from everyone has been excellent, particularly Tyne and Wear Development Company, Sunderland City Council and One NorthEast. We have access to an excellent skills base and are very happy here.”
Tyne and Wear Development Company has worked with Gestamp for nearly a decade. It played a crucial role in the firm’s arrival delivering a raft of support including help with the location of a suitable site, financial support and recruitment. It has continued to support the company ever since through its aftercare programme to meet investors’ long-term needs.
Paul Buie, manager of Tyne and Wear Development Company, said: “This is further proof of the strength and buoyancy of the automotive industry in Tyne and Wear. We’ve known Gestamp for a long-time and it’s good to see them investing for the long-term on the back of new business.”
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