Delphi Opens Wiring Harness Assembly Plant in Romania

Our quality and cutting-edge technology are driving significant growth in our European business as we work with automakers to help them manage the increasingly complex electrical and electronic requirements of vehicles, says Gerhard Mertes, global sales director, Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture. This new plant will allow us to build on the expertise and capital investment we've made at our other plants in Romania in order to support our customers' increasing production volumes.

According to Cristian Gulicska, regional director, Delphi Electrical/Electronic Distribution Systems, Romania East, electrical/electronic distribution systems are comprised of many different modules, each with a specification that is dependent on the content of the vehicle and the options chosen by the consumer.

These modules are increasingly complex, often with built-in control electronics, explains Gulicska. At Moldova Noua, we will focus on manufacturing a range of these customized modules, removing complexity from our other manufacturing operations and allowing for better overall efficiency.

On April 4, 1,400 square meters of the Moldova Noua facility was opened as part of the first phase of development. During this phase, the manufacturing team is validating processes and gaining valuable production experience. An additional 2,400 square meters of the facility will be opened in September 2011.

I would like to thank the city council and M. Ion Chiselita, mayor of Moldova Noua, for working closely with us to successfully recruit and train a team of operators and engineers in our first phase of development, Mertes added.

Delphi currently operates three plants in Romania, employing more than 10,000 people at facilities that manufacture wiring harnesses and components for high-precision diesel common rail systems.

At Delphi, we are driving manufacturing innovation as much as we are driving vehicle technology. It's an approach that is delivering world-class quality as well as employment and training opportunities for many new colleagues, Gulicska said. By striving for the best manufacturing solutions possible, we are able to deliver a fresh approach that continuously improves our business and helps our customers respond more quickly to market changes.

Delphi-E/EA Technology
As one of the only electrical/electronic architecture (E/EA) suppliers able to fulfill every E/E requirement from design and development to manufacturing, Delphi's engineering team works closely with customers from the beginning of the design process to develop an E/E architecture uniquely suited to their needs. This complete system approach streamlines the process for OEMs and brings with it superior cost and engineering efficiencies.

Many of the systems manufactured by Delphi use the company's industry-leading lightweight cable, which has a gage size of just 0.13m2 compared with an industry average of 0.35m2. By substantially reducing the size and weight of wiring harnesses, the new cable helps vehicle manufacturers improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and improve packaging. The small gage cable also reduces exposure to fluctuating copper prices.

Delphi has operated in Romania since 1997. The company's plants in Sannicolau Mare, Moldova Noua and Ineu produce electrical/electronic distribution systems and its plant in Iasi produces diesel engine management systems.