Automotive industry can look back on record year
The situation on financial markets has long also been a major instability factor for the German car industry. Nevertheless, according to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), the sector expects “a car year with potential” in 2012 – “if the financial markets regain confidence”. The industry is even expected to slightly better the record year of 2011.
China is the most important foreign production location
Without a doubt, China has become the most important foreign production location. In total, some 1.8 million vehicles were produced there by German manufacturers in 2011. That is a quarter of all the cars with German brands that were produced outside Germany. Development is also spectacular when it comes to automotive suppliers: this sector has 180 production facilities in China alone.LMT achieves great successes in Asia
This develop is of great significance for LMT. In the last five years the tool specialist’s sales on Asian markets have increased roughly tenfold. Take China, for example: more than 120 LMT employees in nine different sales offices and other locations in China support German and Chinese companies on their continuing growth course. The focal point of LMT activities is the service centre in Nanjing. Its range of services include, for example, a PVD coating machine for the swift reconditioning of rotary tools, which are also deployed in the production of car transmission systems. Additional LMT specialists work at the VW tool management subsidiary. Since 2002 LMT has been responsible for tool management at VW Transmission Shanghai and since 2009 it has been providing the same service at a new VW factory in Dalian.Are you interested in developments of the automobile industry and tool innovations for this field? Register for our newsletter Performance News Flash. We will keep you updated monthly.