BBS International GmbH

BBS Herbolzheim: Quality and Technology in Series

• Concentration on the OEM market and serial production
• Active growth and opening up of new markets
• Optimizing the production processes
• Increasing productivity
The market for original equipment manufacturing in the automotive industry has changed totally for light alloy wheels over the last few months. One important reason for this was the introduction of anti-dumping tariffs for the import of particular aluminum vehicle wheels which originate in the People's Republic of China. This made European manufacturers – who had previously suffered greatly because of the subsidized products from China – competitive again. Parallel to this EU decision, the demand in the field of original equipment manufacturing has developed extremely positively for BBS from early July. "Since the crisis which lasted until May, we have noticed a constantly increasing demand particularly in the mid-size and luxury car sectors which has caused us to completely rethink our production structures," comments Norbert Zumblick, CEO of BBS International GmbH, on the current situation. This resulted in the decision to considerably strengthen and expand the main business in original equipment manufacturing at the Herbolzheim location by means of process optimization and automation. Among other things, Herbolzheim is to have its own foundry so that the location will no longer need to be supplied from the foundry in Schiltach and the capacities can keep pace with the planned production figures. "In the coming years we want to invest a total of 30 million euros in this location," says Mr. Zumblick.
Both the space available and the production-related conditions were decisive factors for this decision. "While expansion in Schiltach is severely restricted by the geographical circumstances alone, the location in Herbolzheim offers sufficient space for future growth," says Norbert Zumblick to explain the reasons. Consequently all processes for volume production will be optimized in the Herbolzheim plant and bundled step by step. At present around 700,000 light alloy wheels are produced in Herbolzheim. In the medium term, by the year 2013, this capacity is scheduled to increase to 2.9 million wheels. "With a sales share of around 70 percent, original equipment manufacturing already plays a central role for us today. We will expand this without abandoning the traditional BBS values. Consequently the Development department in Schiltach will continue to be a central link in the future. This will enable us to supply the automotive industry with the best possible technology at a favorable price," summarizes Mr. Zumblick. The number of employees is also slated to rise in the coming weeks and months, so there is no longer any talk of the job cuts which were expected in the spring.
BBS has also set its sights on new markets. "Currently we are well represented among the Europe and automobile manufacturers, to whom we supply wheels for numerous models in the mid-size and luxury classes, in particular in Germany, Italy and Great Britain. In addition to further European markets, we are also interested in markets outside Europe. Especially in the USA, of course, where we are represented by our subsidiary BBS of America, Inc.," says Mr. Zumblick of the strategy.
Further information:
BBS International GmbH – Norbert Zumblick
Welschdorf 220 – D-77761 Schiltach
Tel. +49 7836 52-0 – Fax: +49 7836 52-4106 
info@bbs.com – www.bbs.com
Press and public relations:
Press’n’Relations GmbH – Uwe Pagel
Magirusstrasse 33 – D-89077 Ulm 
Tel: +49 731 96287-29 – Fax: +49 731 96287-97 
upa@press-n-relations.de - www. press-n-relations.de
About the company 
BBS – These three letters stand for the leading brand for sporty and high-quality aluminum wheels. BBS wheels repeatedly set new technological benchmarks, both for the sporty models of the vehiclemanufacturers land in Formula 1 or the Paris Dakar Rally. Not without reason is BBS repeatedly chosen as the 'Best Brand' by the readers of the automobile trade press. Founded 40 years ago, BBS produces its wheels 'Made in Germany' in the two plants in Schiltach and Herbolzheim and is an original equipment manufacturer which supplies both the automotive manufacturers and the aftermarket all around the world.