German tools, equipments and appliances producer Bosch plans to build another production plant in Romania, through a greenfield investment, and to expand the manufacturing of components for machines at Blaj, according to Brigitte Eble, general manager of the company's subsidiary in Romania.

"We will send documentation to the Ministry of Finance announcing our intentions to invest in Romania, which refers to building a new plant and to extending the Bosch Rexroth factory in Blaj,” said Eble.

Bosch Romania expects for this year a turnover increase of 7 percent, reaching a total sum of EUR 172 million. Last year, the company had a turnover of EUR 161 million, with 17 percent more than in 2009. It also plans to hire 300 more people in its Rexroth factory and its communications center in Timisoara. The group currently has 1,200 employees in Romania.

Up to 60 percent of the turnover in Romania came from aftermarket parts and components supplied to vehicle manufacturers. Consumer goods and industrial equipments have accounted for 27 percent and 13 percent of the profit, respectively, according to Eble.

The Bosch Group is present in Romania since 1994 and includes five companies: Robert Bosch SRL - distribution of equipment and spare parts, BSH Electrocasnice - import and distribution of household appliances, Bosch-Rexroth - manufactures electric machinery components, Bosch-Rexroth from Blaj - manufactures power tools and the Bosch Communication Center from Timisoara.

Robert Bosch GmbH is a technology-based corporation which was founded in Stuttgart, Germany in 1886. The Bosch Group comprises more than 320 subsidiary companies.

Alex Camburu, alex.camburu@romania-insider.com